7 Chiang Mai restaurants worth the journey north

Award-winning chefs Chef Black and Chef Beer are the minds behind this restaurant, and they're not exactly playing it safe with Thai cuisine. They throw all sorts of techniques at their dishes, pushing things well beyond the usual boundaries and creating flavours that are proper complex. Each course feels rooted in a strong sense of place, brought to life through perspectives that are both fresh and genuinely intriguing.

There are only 16 seats going, and the restaurant runs three sittings a day with a seasonal tasting menu. Standout dishes include a seafood ceviche that gets its brightness from citrus notes of som sa (bitter orange), and Thai picanha beef with a deep, spicy kick courtesy of Southern-style cha-plu curry. Book ahead – with seating this limited, you'll want to get in early.

Nimmanhemin Soi 7. Call 093-695-6464. Open Tue-Thu, 11.30am-2pm and 5pm-10pm

The restaurant brings together Lanna-style decor and colonial touches, creating a fine dining setting where Western techniques meet Southeast Asian flavours, and the odd vibrant influence from further afield.

Chef Dan and his partner Khun Pim dream up each dish as a collaborative work of art, precise yet playful. The star turn? Charcoal-grilled lamb ribs paired with a proper scene-stealing Thai steamed rice croquette that honestly deserves its own standing ovation. When it comes to dessert, tubtim Siam and petits fours wrap things up with just the right amount of sweetness, a lovely finishing note that sends you home happy.

Jansapp Alley. Call 092-979-4542. Open Wed-Mon, 11.30am-2pm and 5pm-10pm

At KHAO, the terrace overlooks lush green rice fields that give the dishes a proper run for their money in the beauty stakes. The menu shifts with the seasons, keeping everything fresh and staying true to that farm-to-table ethos.

But the real star? The khao soi. This signature number comes crowned with a ring of crispy fried egg noodles and packs bold Northern-style flavours – Myanmar and Yunnan influences, just reimagined through a creative lens.

Don't skip the fresh pomelo salad either, tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing with bouncy shrimp. If you fancy something fruity, go for the lychee cheesecake, it's topped with seasonal fruits (or longan) and comes with sticky rice on the side.

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Call 053-298-181. Open daily, 8am-7pm

Bodhi Terrace sits beneath a Bodhi tree that's over 300 years old, and you feel every bit of that history the moment you arrive. From under the sprawling green canopy, the Ping River stretches out ahead of you, lotus flowers drifting lazily on the surface. The food is Northern Thai done properly, with premium ingredients that actually earn that description. Khao soi comes loaded with melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu beef, while the Lanna-style tea leaf salad is fragrant, herby and satisfyingly crunchy. The curries are rich and deeply flavoured.

Charoen Prated. Call 053-253-333. Open daily, 06.30am-10.30am, midday-2.30pm and 5.30pm-10.30pm

Palette sits inside the heritage 137 Pillars House, and the name says it all. A spread of flavours as varied and vivid as the contemporary photography and art covering its walls. Old architecture, soft lighting and richly patterned carpets pull the whole thing together, somewhere between classic and nostalgic without trying too hard.

The dish to order is the Northern-style gaeng hung lay. Made with tender lamb and edamame, it's an authentic rendition that the kitchen pairs thoughtfully with both Old World and New World wines, a combination that genuinely works.

137 Pillars House. Call 053-247-788. Open daily midday-10.30pm

Baan Mon Muan is a restaurant where the beauty of the mountains becomes part of the dining experience. Located atop Mon Jam, it has sweeping panoramic views that enhance the richness of every Thai dish. With a wooden terrace extending outward and relaxing seating areas, it provides a peaceful setting for enjoying fine cuisine.

The salads and spicy dishes feature fresh vegetables sourced from the surrounding hills, served with vegetable soup and side dishes, with vegetarian options also available. The highlight menu item is lemongrass-baked pork ribs, paired with a bold, spicy dipping sauce.

 Pong Yaeng. Call  083-318-6444. Open daily 9am-7pm

Some meals fill your stomach. Others teach you something. Ekachan sits in a beautiful teakwood house where food wisdom flows naturally between chef and diner, an unspoken agreement that makes learning genuinely delicious.

Chef Ekaphon Pitchawong knows northern Thai cuisine deeply and talks about each dish with real conviction. He traces the origins behind what lands on your table, so every bite comes with a story worth hearing.

Don't leave without trying gaeng rawaeng neua, slow-simmered in turmeric curry paste, or the stir-fried river prawns made with local ingredients. Both are best eaten while watching the Ping River drift past the window.

Chang Klan Road. Call 097-962-6445. Open daily, 11am-9.30pm