If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know about my love for all things coffee related. That’s why I love Chiang Mai so much – it’s a paradise for coffee lovers! This northern Thai city is packed with incredible cafés, from cozy hidden gems to trendy spots serving up world-class brews. But there is more! Chiang Mai coffee shops often sell locally sourced and ethically grown beans, supporting sustainable farming. Add to that highly skilled baristas and artisanal brewing techniques and you got yourself the ultimate city for coffee shops! Whether you’re here for a day or staying longer, Chiang Mai’s café culture offers something special on every corner.
Below, you’ll find my ultimate guide to the best coffee shops in Chiang Mai, covering everything from aesthetic Instagram-worthy spaces to specialty coffee spots run by passionate local roasters.
Chiang Mai is naturally more than coffee shops. If you want to know what to do and where to go, check out my “local’s guide to Chiang Mai” blog post and discover all the best places to visit!
What qualifications do I have to be recommending you coffee and coffee shops – none! But after being obsessed with speciality coffee shops I can definitely tell the difference between cheap tasting Starbucks or Costa and properly brewed quality coffee. Plus you know, it’s only my very subjective list.
So grab your caffeine fix and let’s explore Chiang Mai’s buzzing coffee scene!
It’s packed with my favourite temples, markets, cafés and local gems – all neatly pinned and ready to use!
9 of the best coffee shops in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai’s commitment to high quality, ethically sourced beans and sustaining relationships with farmers from the nearby highlands has solidified Chiang Mai’s reputation as a coffee destination. But it’s also about creativity infused in every café. Each coffee shop has its own ambiance and story, many featuring unique interiors, art displays, or multifunctional spaces that double as galleries, co-working spots, and music venues. The range of options endless! But I hope that this list will help make choosing easier.
A small note, this list isn’t in any particular order. I love all these places equally, but you have to start somewhere! So let’s start with number 1:
1. Ministry of Roasters
The first thing that strikes you when arriving at Ministry of Roasters is the cafe itself. Inspired by Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry, the building has won several design awards and is a beautiful piece of flowing architecture.
Ministry of Roasters serves a huge variety of top-tier coffee sourced directly from local farms and from around the world. Their house-roasted beans are carefully curated, and the spacious seating arrangement makes it an ideal spot to relax, work or have a front row seat to watch the brewing processes.
The friendly, expert baristas create a memorable experience, with their knowledge and brewing skills. Even if you just pick this first place on my list you’ll soon realise why Chiang Mai is the ultimate city for coffee shops.
Recommended coffee: Drip Filter – served in a wine glass alongside tasting notes and brewing method
2. Brewginning
Brewginning is famous for two reasons: their great coffee and their prime location for photographs. Because, just across the road is one of the most famous insta-spots in all of Chiang Mai. A simple wicker basket shop and a street sign. You can visit Brewginning just to watch the streams of tourists and locals alike come to take a photo here.
But, back to the coffee. They serve a range of hot and cold coffee drinks using their own roasted beans. I love a flat white in the morning here, in their open-air seating area where I can watch the world go by. In the afternoon you can come to grab an Iced Espresso Orange and sit and do some work in their air conditioned space.
The baristas are super friendly and welcoming and have honestly made my stays in Chiang Mai a better experience.
As an added bonus, in the afternoons or during the weekends they invite local bands to play live. Great experience if you want to chill and listen to Thai music.
Recommended coffee: Flat White or Espresso Orange
3. Roast8ry
Roast8ry has two branches in Chiang Mai (both in Nimman) although the flagship store is one of the best places to go for a morning coffee. Both branches are busy all day and you might have to be patient for a seat, I guarantee it’s worth the wait.
The flagship store is built in a modern brutalist style, combining concrete and wood it’s definitely an eye-catching building.
The mastermind behind Roast8ry is Arnon Thitiprasert, also known as @ristr8to. Ristr8to is a previous winner of the World Latte Art Championship and this shows in the offerings on the menu. You can choose from a range of technically difficult latte arts or delicious coffee cocktails.
The dedication to the craft of coffee and the wonderful staff confirms once again that Chiang Mai is the ultimate city for coffee shops.
Recommended coffee: Satan Latte or Ficardie – served in a cool skull class
4. Toffee Roasters
Toffee Roasters (or as I call it: Toffifee :)) is a small, but perfectly formed café in the heart of the Nimman Neighbourhood in Chiang Mai. With it’s huge glass windows allowing in plenty of natural light, simple decor and great coffee it gives off such a welcoming vibe. The owner and the baristas are very friendly making Toffee a perfect place to enjoy a great cup of coffee or meet friends.
They roast their own beans and brew excellent espresso and filter coffees with what I would say is an Australian style. Adding to that they have a selection of sumptuous home made cakes to tempt your sweet tooth. I love spending my mornings there watching the world pass by.
Recommended coffee: Flat White
5. Fohhide
Having a coffee at Fohhide allows you to see Chiang Mai from a different perspective. That’s because it’s tucked away on the 5th floor, overlooking Nimman and the mountains and Wat Doi Suthep.
The decor is light and airy with a combination of light woods and a white counters. They have a small merchandise section with some of the nicest designed t-shirts around. It’s always peaceful and relaxing even when it’s busy and you can choose whether to enjoy your coffee inside with aircon or outside on the balcony.
If I was going to recommend a coffee here it would have to be a Dirty Latte. They use a homemade longan syrup to give the milk some sweetness and it’s really one of my favourite coffees in all of Chiang Mai. And even better, they can make it with oat milk!
Recommended coffee: Dirty Latte (obviously)
6. Once in a Blue Moon
Once in a Blue Moon is not just a coffee shop, but also a budget friendly hostel. But don’t let that put you off.
It’s one of my favourite places for coffee in Chiang Mai old town, far from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist areas and with an interior that’s perfect for some stylish Instagram photos. Next to Brewginning, this is my second most photographed café.
This visually stunning café is a must-visit for coffee lovers who enjoy high quality brews in an enchanting environment. Friendly owner Bank (also a super famous Thai photographer), wonderful baristas and a relaxing atmosphere further proof that Chiang Mai is the ultimate city for coffee shops.
Now, I know I said Fohhide make an amazing Dirty Latte but so do Once in a blue moon! They use their own beans, under the name Usual Coffee Roasters and they really know their stuff.
Recommended coffee: Dirty Latte, Flat white or filter… it’s all great!
7. Terroir
For those who love to explore the origins of coffee flavor, Terroir is a dream come true. This café takes single-origin beans and creates carefully controlled roasts to highlight each variety’s unique characteristics. The knowledgeable staff are happy to discuss the flavour profiles of each roast, making it an ideal spot for coffee enthusiasts. The dedication to quality and education at Terroir showcases the depth of Chiang Mai’s coffee culture.
Plus if you’re willing to spend a little extra they have competition grade beans that will open your eyes to how special speciality coffee can be.
Recommended coffee: One of their Geisha hand brews – it’s like a cup of fruit
8. Akha Ama
More than just a café, Akha Ama is a movement that emphasizes fair-trade practices and sustainable coffee production. It was the first specialty coffee shop I ever visited in Chiand Mai (when they had a small, mostly outdoor shop) so it holds a special place in my heart. Founded by Lee Ayu, a member of the Akha hill tribe, Akha Ama connects local farmers with international coffee lovers. Every cup here represents a piece of Thailand’s rich culture and the café’s dedication to ethical practices adds another dimension to the city’s coffee scene.
Supporting Akha Ama not only means enjoying great coffee but also contributing to a positive impact on local communities. They stock a wide range of their own beans plus as an extra special bonus they have single cup drip bags and nespresso capsules so you take something back home with you.
Bonus tip:
If you’re heading out of town, especially if you’re visiting Pai their roastery – Akha Ama Living Factory is a beautiful place to stop for a coffee on the road.
Recommended coffee: Americano or Hot Drip
9. Don’t Worry Be Happy – DWBH
As the name suggests, Don’t Worry Be Happy is a laid-back café perfect for relaxing with a great cup of coffee. Just outside the main city, I’d say it’s more famous with locals and you rarely see tourists here, which I think is a bonus.
Their milk based coffees always come with incredible latte art and for those wanting to try something different they make several drinks with coconut water, plus they do bubble tea – something for everyone.
The guys running it are super friendly and produce the best t-shirts and merch, so why not pick up something to remember your visit. For those seeking a cozy spot to unwind, DWBH (as it’s called on google maps) is a must-visit.
Recommended coffee: Oat flat white
And that’s it!
Hope you enjoyed my little list of the best Chiang Mai coffee shops and you’ll visit at least a few. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.
Exploring coffee in Chiang Mai is an adventure in itself and each of these ten spots offers something unique, from expertly roasted beans to creative brews. So, next time you find yourself in this amazing city, make sure to visit these cafés and experience firsthand what makes Chiang Mai the coffee capital of Thailand.
And don’t forget to check out “my guide to Chiang Mai”, so you won’t miss on anything during your visit.
Hi, it’s Aga, the author of this blog. If you found this blog post interesting, entertaining or useful, please think of buying me a virtual coffee to support the site’s running costs. But if you know me, I might actually spend it on coffee. Thanks!
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