10 Great Restaurants in Chiang Rai

Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House, Bistro & Bar is nestled on the edge of the Kok River, on the outskirts of downtown Chiang Rai. It sits in a charming, colonial-style home with vines crawling up the sides and leafy gardens shaded by big bamboo blooms. Inside, you'll be immersed amid quirky antiques and Victorian-styled dining rooms.

Here, the philosophy is organic, locally sourced food served with a smile. Patrons can pick from fusion dishes like wild mushroom soup and pan-fried seabass, along with international additions like chilli dog and duck eggs benedict. You can reach Chivit Thamma Da Coffee House within a 15-minute bicycle ride from the city centre.

Lu Lum Restaurant Chiangrai a waterside restaurant that fringes the Kok River on the northern side of the city. It's actually housed on a boat, which means you'll dine with the river rolling by, not to mention lovely views of the rising jungled hills to the north.

Menus at Lu Lum Restaurant Chiangrai are all about showcasing the traditional flavours of Northern Thai cooking. Standouts include chicken tom yum and steamed beef in chilli. There are also dishes primed for the more adventurous eater – think snakehead broth and intestine soup.

De Lanna Riverfront Café & Restaurant channels a touch of modern edginess with its sprawling, industrial-chic interiors. You'll find it gazing at the reflective waters of the Kok River, a 5-minute tuk-tuk ride from the Chiang Rai Clock Tower.

The food offering is eclectic, to say the least. Pizzas mingle with carbonara pasta and grilled salmon salads, while stir-fried seafood offers a local dining experience. It's a top spot for eating on a balmy Thai evening because the main area is half indoors and half out, all bathed in the cooling breezes that roll along the river.

The Peak Wine & Grill has arguably the best spot of any eatery in Chiang Rai. Part of The Riverie by Katathani Collection, it soars on a rooftop next to a bend in the Kok River, about 7 minutes in a tuk-tuk from the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar and the city’s buzzing downtown.

The views are something pretty special – you'll be able to see the silhouettes of the Lam Nam Kok National Park to the east and the rooftops of the city to the south. Food-wise, this is proper fine dining, with meticulously put-together plates of European meat cuts and vegetables.

Favola is the in-house bistro of Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort. It occupies a bright and airy glass building at the base of the hotel on the riversides of north Chiang Rai, offering sweeping views of the banks and the green parks that encompass the establishment.

Guests can sample some of the finest BBQ buffets in town – everything from grilled chicken to honey-roasted ham cuts is cooked up over the coals here. The a la carte menu also comes with plenty of European staples, including tomato pasta, quiche and Croque monsieur. Pair that with one of the many labels on the extensive wine list, which includes champagne and sparkling Italian prosecco.

Surf and Turf Bistro is wedged into the vibrant heart of Chiang Rai centre. Look for it just south of the Clock Tower on Jetyod Road, surrounded by Irish pubs and drinking holes that get busy on the weekends. A small alfresco dining space marks the entrance, leading to an intimate interior with beach-themed art on the walls.

That's a nod to the food, which, just as the name implies, mixes meat and marine flavours in a medley of fish burgers, salads, and BBQ-grilled sausages. There are also options for vegetarians in the form of soups and pasta. Surf and Turf Bistro is a top spot for starting a night out in Chiang Rai since the main nightlife areas start just across the road.

Melt in Your Mouth transports diners to the suburbs of Paris with its elegant interiors and charming outdoor patios. The francophone bistro is perched on the side of the Kok River, about a 20-minute walk from the beating core of the city, offering a relaxing spot to eat on the side of Ko Loi Public Park.

Diners with a sweet tooth will be pleased to find an abundance of cakes and biscuits, which pair fantastically with iced coffees or teas. For something more filling, consider a basket of potato wedges or a pizza, which comes topped with gooey cheese and herbs plucked from Melt in Your Mouth’s very own garden.

La Ola churns out a paprika-scented, lemon-doused medley of Spanish tapas from its place amid the quiet Chiang Rai suburbs – the joint is located on the north side of the Kok River, a quick 5-minute tuk-tuk ride from the middle of the city.

Dishes run the gamut from spicy patatas bravas (fried potatoes) to fully-fledged paella. It's all cooked up by Spanish-born chef Dani Betancor, who channels the homey vibe of Iberia to tropical Chiang Rai. The atmosphere is casual and chilled, with tables spilling out into a breezy garden.

Ribs&co is a modern grill house in the beating middle of Chiang Rai. It’s right between the Chiang Rai Night Bazaar and the Clock Tower on bustling Phaholyothin Rd, one of the main thoroughfares of the city.

The menu reads like an all-American steakhouse – beef, beef, and more beef. You can also pick homemade burgers with all the usual pub-grub sides or go for the speciality pork ribs that come marinated in house dressing. There's a menu of craft beers to match and a good array of red wines that partner well with the rich mains.

Two Lung is an out-of-town Italian-Thai kitchen with a focus on fresh and filling food. The location is worthy of remark on its own – you need to travel south of Chiang Rai for about 20 minutes, to where the narrow Lao River cuts through the forests of the Pong Sali Arboretum. The restaurant is right there on the banks.

The inside has a touch of the bohemian about it, what with exposed brick walls and dangling bulb lights. Two Lung’s menu brings together vegetable pasta and European sausages with a whole medley of fish and meat cuts that are served simply grilled with a side of mashed potato.