Chiang Mai’s 8 best hidden cocktail bars

At the back of a dimly lit parking lot framed by other bars and a dubious massage parlour, a single red light beacons the way to Noir CMI, a Brutalist hideaway that channels a 1960s speakeasy. Step through the stark concrete-framed entrance and you’ll find a moody, low-lit lounge where live jazz plays nightly. The vibe is sultry and cinematic, designed for listening, sipping and staying far longer than initially planned.

The drinks here are just as memorable as the music. The Winter Strawberry Fizz – a crisp blend of dry gin, fresh strawberries, sparkling wine, yuzu, and a velvety yoghurt cream cap – is playful, elegant and surprisingly balanced. For the bold, the Caterpillar delivers a tropical, slightly savoury punch with rum, passionfruit and vermouth – topped with a real dried caterpillar and a pureed version inside the drink itself. 

However, arguably the best part of Noir CMI is that it’s just one of three hidden bars tucked side by side under the same creative direction. Next door, Noir Counter offers an intimate, omakase-style cocktail experience, while Demon’s Murmur channels a darker, more theatrical mood. Together, they form a mysterious, meticulously crafted trifecta hidden inside a secret ventricle at the heart of Chiang Mai’s after-dark scene.

Noir CMI. Cocktails from B320. Charoen Prathet Road, behind Melodic CNX. 7pm–1am.

When it comes to cocktail bars, Bar Not Found flips the usual concept of dark, emotive spaces with jazz bands and cigar smoke on its head. Instead of dark-lit corners, expect a brightly lit living-room space with a long, multi-coloured bar that accounts for most of the seating. The vibe is fun, unpretentious; and the menu is equally colourful – each cocktail named after a specific colour swatch that reflects its colour and flavour. 

The award-winning mixologists dress in drab army-green jackets, creating a 'yin and yang' contrast with the bar's vibrant orange, green and pink decor. The venue is owned by the same talent responsible for Continental Bar (number three on this list). The entrance is an experiment in itself, with a bright orange stairway off an otherwise unassuming street that leads to four primary colour doors, each leading to a different surprise destination. 

Drinks here swing from bold to botanical. Think Jameson whisky lifted with cacao nibs and beetroot, or pine-green gin infused with jasmine rice and pine needles. This is a bar for the curious and the courageous, where pushing the boat out might cost a few extra baht, but the flavours are anything but ordinary. And while it’s yet to make the official menu (it updates every few months or so), our favourite has to be the ‘tua nao’ – a bold, off-menu creation that’s yours if you dare to ask. The star ingredient is fermented soybean, but don’t let that scare you off. Blended with Sonklin’s contemporary Thai spirit and topped with torched chunks of celery and cheese, it’s hands down the most surprisingly drinkable cocktail on (actually, off) the list – funky, savoury and totally unforgettable.

Bar Not Found. Cocktails from B360. Changphuak Soi 4. 7pm-midnight.

Hidden inside the historic Kiti Panit Building – a fabulous Lanna cuisine restaurant and one of Chiang Mai’s architectural gems – North Country is a masterclass in subtlety and atmosphere. The journey is a portal, unbeknownst to the diners downstairs: a discrete side entrance, a long narrow corridor, a staircase to the top floor and finally a walk outside guided by flickering candlelight. Then, tucked away behind an unmarked door, you’ll find one of the city’s most elegant hidden bars.

Inside, the space is Japanese-inspired minimalism with northern Thai soul. At its heart is a striking, polished slab-wood bar that runs nearly the length of the room – warm, elemental and commanding. The lighting is soft, the acoustics ideal and the vibe just right for intimate conversation. 

The cocktail menu is tight but thoughtful, emphasising clean flavours and quality ingredients. Expect a mix of classics and seasonal creations made with both imported spirits and locally distilled standouts. North Country isn’t trying to be a scene – it’s a refuge. A place to slow down, savour and stay awhile.

North Country. Cocktails from B320. Upstairs in Kiti Panit Restaurant, Thapae Road. 6pm-12am.

You’ll spot the faint glow of a white rabbit sign beckoning you up two rickety flights of stairs through what feels like an abandoned building. The climb is part of the experience: past displays that include mysterious jars containing preserved ‘somethings’, eerie dolls posed in dusty corners and old TV sets that sit like forgotten junk left over from the building’s previous owners. The vibe is unsettling in the best way –  part haunted curiosity shop, part immersive installation.

At the top, a sliding door opens into a dramatically different world – a sleek, low-lit bar of black leather, cool glass and refined elegance. The bartenders are focused and deliberate, serving inventive cocktails that lean precise and experimental, often incorporating local ingredients and subtle twists on the classics. Every drink feels like a small act of alchemy.

White Rabbit also plays host to visiting bartenders and special events, regularly featuring talent from around Thailand. If you like your cocktails with a side of mystery (and don’t mind a little strangeness on the way in) this might just be the place for you.

The White Rabbit. Cocktails from B350. Phrapokklao Road. 6pm-midnight.

It might be the least hidden bar on this list, but Brine earns its place not for secrecy of location – but for what’s hidden inside the glass. In a nutshell, each cocktail conceals layers of unexpected flavour, daring ingredients and subtle surprises that reveal themselves sip by sip.

Brine is where Chiang Mai’s cocktail connoisseurs venture to explore a more savoury cocktail menu, with flavours that are smokey, salty, sour and downright daring. Brine Smoke is a darkly aromatic blend of smokey tea, salted plum and olive brine – a mix that sets the scene for this vinegar-forward cocktail spot. Other standouts include the floral Botanical Bay, mixing Sonklin with cinnamon, bay leaf, rosemary, tamarind and ginger, and the peculiarly addictive Wolffia Risotto, mixing bourbon with mugicha, lemon, olive brine, cream cheese and wolffia. 

Aside from their cocktails, they also serve up a selection of ‘savours’ that complement the drinks menu exceptionally well. Following their brine-themed concepts, expect dashi-marinated cherry tomatoes, fresh scallops with orange peel, salmon gravlax, smoked and cured mackerel and deeply smokey sides of apple wood-smoked pickled green olives. 

Brine. Cocktails from B380. Nimmanhaemin Soi 5. 6.30pm-midnight.

Nimmanhaemin’s sprawl makes it hard to hide, but Continental finds its corner exceptionally better than we can find it. Venture onto Soi 5 and poke your head down a few alley doorways until you find a glaring neon sign down a long, black hallway that warns you to ‘enter at your own risk’. Proceed up two flights of very quiet stairs and you won’t see a sign, just a bookshelf that, when pushed, opens into one of the most luxurious little bars in Nimman. 

Inspired by the cinematic world of John Wick, Continental draws from the mystique and exclusivity of The Continental Hotel, creating a space that feels like a refined secret society – a little dangerous and full of character. Inside, the vibe is intimate, with dark tones, vintage details, and a great little nook, draped with heavy black velvet curtains.

Their most popular cocktail, ‘helen’, is a beautifully balanced mix of pink gin, Aperol, lychee puree, jasmine, lime and egg foam topped with a tiny red rose bud. However our favourite might just be the savoury bowl-served cup of ‘khao soi’ – a clarified cocktail mixed with Sonklin contemporary spirit that infuses notes of Chiang Mai’s favourite dish. The bar also hosts regular guest shifts from award-winning bartenders across Thailand and beyond.

Continental. Cocktails from B320. Nimmanhaemin Soi 5. 6.30pm-midnight.

Tucked down a quiet alley off Thapae Road, Thapae East feels like Chiang Mai’s best-kept secret. Part warehouse, part living room, the space was designed to be raw yet welcoming – a place where artists, musicians, and curious minds come together. It's not just a bar, but a gathering point for musical exchange, experimentation and open conversation.

Every night they host original live sets from both local and international musicians, ranging from jazz and ambient to electronic and sound art, as well as workshops, artist talks, and collaborations with festivals. Mondays are known for spontaneous jams, while the rest of the week offers a rotating, eclectic lineup that keeps things fresh. After their sets, many musicians hang around, and it's not uncommon to find yourself deep in conversation with a visiting sound artist or one of the local players.

Thapae East. Cocktails from B250. Thapae Road. Open 6pm-1am, closed Wednesdays.

Everyone knows North Gate Jazz Co-Op, the famously lively open-air venue just inside the old city walls. But few realise that four floors above it sits its quieter, more introspective sibling – North Gate Arkive. 

Designed with a nod to vintage speakeasies, Lanna rice barns and rooftop hideouts, the Arkive blends raw urban textures with warm lighting, handmade details and panoramic views of the old city walls. The atmosphere is low-key but soulful, with a soundtrack that leans jazz, blues and acoustic soul. Live music is offered in two intimate time slots – 7.30pm and midnight – with local and international musicians playing close-up sets.

Unsurprisingly, the drinks reflect the venue’s unique character. Whiskey sour, made with smooth Thai whiskey and fresh lemon, is a crowd favorite. But for something even more local, try Summer in Arkive – a signature cocktail made with house-distilled North Gate rice spirit, mango and coconut. Basically, mango sticky rice in a glass.

North Gate Arkive. Drinks from B250. North Gate Jazz Co-op. 6pm-1am.