Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
STIMULATING BREWS
Chiang Mai's creative and sociable temperament has eagerly adopted the global phenomenon of cafe culture. There
are so many coffeeshops in town that they appear to outnumber the ubiquitous 7-Elevens. Many shops serve Arab-
ica beans grown in the surrounding highlands, introduced as a replacement crop for opium. Thai coffee tends to be
lighter than the brawny Starbucks beverages but most people opt for the dessert-in-a-cup drinks, such as iced cof-
fee. For drinks that require steamed milk, Thais take great artistic expression in foam art. Courting a cafe is a com-
mon Chiang Mai pastime and here are a few introductory dates:
Unassuming Libernard Cafe is run by Pong who roasts her own beans daily, making adjustments based on the day's
climate. She brews a smooth latte, which hardly needs to be spiked with sugar, and her banana pancakes will make
you a fan of this often-derided dish.
cafe transforms a cup of coffee into a tasting experience. The complicated menu requires selecting coffee strength
(beans to water ratio), bean origin and then coffee type (coffee to cream ratio). Your drink comes with tasting notes
(juicy with hints of berries) and is easily the best cup of mud in town.
from 50B; 9am-9pm) Organic, fair trade coffee is the centrepiece of this cafe, the brainchild of an enterprising
Akha who was the first in his village to graduate from college. His personal story adds sweetness to each cup.
There is a second branch (
www.akhaama.com;
175/1 Th Ratchadamnoen;
8am-8pm;
) in the old city.
ern mountains also produce Assam tea, served in this Victorian-era cafe within the Siam Celadon shop. It's a beau-
tiful setting for a cuppa and a snack.
Old City
Zoe In Yellow
BAR
(40/12 Th Rathwithi; 5pm-2am)
Everybody's party pal, Zoe is a beer garden, club and live mu-
sic venue. Start off in the garden for sobriety cure-alls then stumble over to the dance floor
with your new found confidence.
Writer's Club & Wine Bar
BAR
(141/3 Th Ratchadamnoen; 10am-midnight)
Run by a former foreign correspondent, this bar and
restaurant is popular with expats, including current and retired writers, and anybody else
who wanders by. There's also English pub grub to help anchor a liquid meal.
