Lucie Grace

Chiang Mai has long worn the crown as Thailand’s unofficial vegan capital – and after living (and eating) here for the past few years, I can confirm the title isn’t just hyperbole.   When I first moved north in 2021 as a dairy-free vegetarian, I genuinely couldn’t believe my luck. What started as relief quickly turned into curiosity, and while researching a piece for a UK newspaper, I found myself digging into the city’s plant-based roots.   Aside from the ‘jay’ vegan eateries clustered around the city’s bigger temples – shout-out to Ming Kwan, Suan Dok’s long-running vegan favourite now relocated to Moon Muang Soi 6 – fully fledged plant-based restaurants were once a rarity. Rewind all the way back to 1982 and you’ll find Chiang Mai’s first, Aum Vegetarian, one of Chiang Mai’s original meat-free pioneers. Back then, the scene here already felt generous – especially when every other tofu dish still came with minced pork. But since those early days it's snowballed, with almost 400 restaurants now listed with vegan options on Happy Cow, every travelling vegan’s go-to restaurant resource, aside from Time Out that is.  So, in the interest of research (and with the loosest trousers I own), I hit the streets again to track down the very best in town. Some are new and some stalwart, but all are absolutely delicious.   Check out Chiang Mai’s best farm-to-table restaurants Keep up the health fix with a visit to Chiang Mai’s best yoga studios

Multi-award winning outfit Good Souls is a Chiang Mai institution at this point. A classy affair with high ceilings and a 1950s feel, their huge offering of vegan versions of Thai food as well as a recently added pizza menu (watch out Rad Rabbit!) cooked in the hand-fired stove outside presents us with only one problem – what on earth to order? There’s also enough provisions for any vegan cheat day, with the chocolate banana pancakes or tofu wrap our favourite. The good souls at Good Souls (see what we did there?) have since opened two other restaurants just minutes away, namely The Reform Cafe and Downtown Vegan Garden, both sharing almost exactly the same menu, minus the pizza.    52 Sinharat Road, Soi 3, Old City. 8am-10pm

Relatively new kids on the block, on the eastern stretch of the moat, Begin comes with lovely views and an even better menu. As the name suggests, it’s a great starting point for any newly initiated vegans. Have a chat with the exceptionally sweet staff about what’s vegan and what’s vegetarian here, as they’re happy to break it down, make recommendations and speak pretty good English. Having opened little over a year ago they’re already being heralded as making the best vegan khao soi in Chiang Mai in all the vegan-friendly Facebook groups, and with prices that are extremely budget-friendly, it’s one to run and not walk to.   183, 1 Moon Muang Road, Old City. 9am-10pm

This sustainability-minded, Italian spot is probably the first place in Chiang Mai – maybe even Thailand – where pizzas come exclusively vegan. With a lengthy menu of toppings and different bases to choose from, five years of practice shows. The pasta and gnocchi are tip top too, all utilising local produce (including Chiang Mai made cashew cheese) to keep the carbon footprint down. The team also supports numerous charitable causes and runs a sweet ‘pay it forward’ scheme so you can donate a meal to someone in need. The new (-ish) brunch menu is the perfect weekend treat too, especially if you’re a bit sick of pumpkin curry and rice.   27, 2 Moon Muang Road, Soi 9, Old City. 8.30am-10pm

Hang Dong locals rejoice – this one’s for you. A classy affair with seitan ‘meat’ versions galore to try, like the ‘bacon’ spaghetti or pad krapao with minced ‘meat’ and an ‘egg’ on top, we love The Vegano Bistro for many reasons. Sure, the idea of fake-meat isn’t every vegan’s cup of chai, but there’s something to be said about having the classics and eating them too. Talking about cake, the biggest draw is their incredible desserts; there’s no better chocolate lava cake in the city, vegan or otherwise. If chocolate isn’t your thing (really?) then try the gluten free carrot cake, complete with soy yoghurt cream. Utterly mouthwatering stuff.    69/1 Nong Kwai, Hang Dong. 10.30am-9pm

Celebrating their 17th anniversary in 2026, this cafe-with-a-cause has brightened the days of many waves of people coming and going in Chiang Mai. Whether that’s the Burmese community employed, educated and supported by the charity side of Free Bird, or the Thais and expats attending the extremely welcoming and regular social and cultural events. It’s a not-for-profit so after chowing down on delicious Thai and Burmese plates, know that your bill money is going to a very good cause.   14 Sirimangkalajan Road, Muang. Tues-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm. Closed Monday.

This Sunday, DemoCrazy! is hosting one of the city’s biggest fundraising events of the year, aptly named No One is Free Until Everyone is Free. A packed schedule of workshops and activities that run all morning and afternoon, the main question is deciding what to attend – will it being a chance to get arty and learn how to make your own zines and comics, learn some self care self massage skills or bliss out at a healing sound bath or cacao ceremony. All activities are priced individually, plus there’s a cafe and thrift stalls to check out so pop in and dig deep – 100% of funds raised go to The Sameer Project in Gaza and Minmahaw School in Mae Sot, supporting kids from Myanmar.   Feb 1. B100. DemoCrazy! Chiang Mai. 9am-6pm