Salad Mania
If you need a break from the heavy holiday feasting, why not jump on Chiang Mai’s recent salad train with one of these delicious and nutritious eateries (or just say you’re going to a salad restaurant but secretly order a steak, up to you).
Suan Krua Organic Cafe
Suan Krua Organic, or “My Backyard,” is a new, organic, fresh and delicious cafe and restaurant located out in Mae Rim just off the Mae Rim – Mae Jo connecting road. Owned by Pattida, the mother of the household and head visionary, the restaurant prides itself on using only fresh hydroponic salad and organic vegetables grown on their farm. Salad, broccoli, courgettes and bell peppers are just a few of their offerings, and with a wide range of western and Thai influenced dishes, their menu is vast and delicious. Some favourites include bacon roti, rib steak with a rich sauce and their highly popular fruit salad, served inside a musk melon.
Open daily, 10am – 8pm
182/1 Moo Baan 1, Muang Gaew, Mae Rim (from Mae Jo on the
Mae Rim – Mae Jo connecting road take a right into the soi
before the bridge and go 600m down on the left)
www.facebook.com/suankruamaerim
082 888 4254
Jone’s Salad
The pirate-themed d?cor is cute and the DIY salads are fresh and tasty, with a vast range of ingredients to select, from fresh pumpkin to green apple to beetroots, but the real draw is far more unique. Everyone, are you ready for this? Chicken and waffles have come to Chiang Mai, and now all is right with the world. For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of tasting this rather unexpected match made in American soul food heaven, you’re in luck. Salty and succulent fried chicken pairs perfectly with sweet crunchy waffles, and Jone’s Salad makes a mean sandwich that perfectly combines the two into a tasty sandwich served with honey mustard and French fries. Jone’s also serves tasty smoothies, fresh pressed juices, Japanese curry, steak, pasta and a range of yummy waffle desserts, and the staff is super friendly.
Open 24 hours daily until 12 December,
regular hours 10.30am – 9.30pm
Suthep Road, between soi 2 and 3
www.facebook.com/jonessalad.uandme
052 003 889
Million Like Salad
Deep down a soi off the Mae Rim – Mae Jo connecting road sits a peaceful restaurant with a 21st century name, newly opened on a long established hydroponic salad farm in lovely owner Da’s back garden. After a popular start, with people coming to buy fresh product and enjoying a sample salad while there, it was decided that there should be a restaurant where diners could enjoy the scenery of rice paddies. With a new menu of spring rolls, baked clams in garlic butter, mushroom soup and their popular chicken steak served in orange sauce, there is a lot to like, indeed. Fresh from farm to your table is their motto, and their tasty salads, served with all kinds of homemade dressings, are likely picked from their garden that very morning.
Open daily, 10am – 8pm (closed Wednesdays)
77 Moo 9, Muang Gaew, Mae Rim (from Mae Jo on the
Mae Rim – Mae Jo connecting road take a right into the
soi before the bridge and follow the road around 1km)
Facebook: ล้าน ไลค์ สลัด “Million Like Salad”
Tel. 089 637 3751, 086 917 0070
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Holiday Staycations
No time to travel far and wide for the holidays? No problem! There are plenty of fabulous getaways right in our own backyard, from Mae Rim to Chiang Dao. ‘Tis the season for staycationing.
Chiang Dao Nest
A quick hour and half jaunt from Chiang Mai, Chiang Dao Nest is the place to go if you are looking for a tranquil getaway paired with first rate cuisine. Here, you can find the best of both Thai and European fine dining in a beautiful mountain setting. Expanded by popular demand, Chiang Dao Nest now has two lovely locations just a short distance apart. Their Thai menu at Nest 2 includes beautifully succulent lemongrass chicken or a nest made from woven pancake with a Thai spicy salad inside. Nest 1’s European menu offers an ever-changing selection of traditionally crafted western food with unmatched, Thailand Tatler award winning quality. For a perfect cool season snack or dessert, don’t miss the lemon cheesecake or apple pie which goes nicely with a cup of fresh local coffee.
Open daily 8am – 11am (breakfast), 11am – 3pm
(lunch), and 6pm – 9.30pm (dinner)
144/4 Moo 5, T. Baan Tum, Chiang Dao
053 456 612, 086 017 1985
The First Residence & Cafe
Owned by a family of airline stewards, a life of travel has given this lovely new establishment a nuanced palate for delicious cuisine. Add that to the five years owner Por spent working as a chef for Le Cordon Bleu, and you will find that The First Residence and Cafe is worth the wander. Tasty comfort food meets modern minimalist d?cor with beautifully presented homemade Thai and Western dishes at surprisingly low costs. Meat lovers must try their tasty eight-inch pizzas and their beef, chicken and pork steaks. Other top quality dishes include succulent shrimp soup, sweet chocolate lava cake and a multitude of Thai dishes. The restaurant is partnered perfectly with a relaxed atmosphere and 24 rooms ranging from just 450 baht to 2,000 baht per night.
Open daily, 11am – 9pm
35/76 Moo Ban 1, Rim Tai Road, Mae Rim
www.facebook.com/thefirstresidenceandcafe
053 860 898
Chic39
Surrounded by green stretches of rice paddies and fields of wild flowers, the lovely Chic39 Bed, Bar and Bakery is a unique getaway with a whimsical, modern country style lovingly created by owner, designer and architect Jok. The four unique rooms each have their own design, some with glass walls and open air patios, all with spectacular views. Prices range from 1,590 baht to 2,790 baht per night at this intimate and unforgettable Mae Rim getaway. Spend a romantic evening at the Sunset Bar, where you can kick off your shoes, lie on the grass, enjoy a cold beverage and watch the sun go down and the stars come out, far (but not too far!) from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Bar and bakery open daily, 5pm to 11pm
240 Moo Ban 4 Muang Gaew, Mae Rim
092 275 3939
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Mum’s Day Out
Playing Santa is no easy task, which makes the holidays a stressful season for mums far and wide. So why not take a day to unwind?
A Nail
A nail salon which you will not want to leave, A Nail offers traditional Japanese onsen spas for both your hands and your feet. Sit back in a soft arm chair and soak your weary digits in steaming warm mineral waters before heading into the cocoon of a first-class-plane-seat-esque nail chair embedded with a back massager – with your very own remote control for personalised adjustments – while the nail artists go to town prettying up your hands and feet. Take your time, there is no rush, hours of pleasure can be spent at A Nail as you not only spoil your fingers and toes, but can also get your hairy bits waxed as well as indulge in a full and invigorating body scrub.
194/9 Kampaengdin Raod
088 115 5022
Vava Frozen Yogurt
The American craze for frozen yogurt has officially reached Chiang Mai! Meet the newest addition, Vava, located in the Rachadamnoen Plaza just off Tha Pae Gate. With over 36 flavours of yogurt that are rotated though six machines, this self-service froyo bar never gets old. Flavours such as caramel, green tea and peach mango are popular choices, with the classic original (chockfull of sour-meets-sweet, real yoghurt flavour) always on tap. Vava also provides over 50 fruit and candy toppings, again self-service, so you never have to pick the same thing twice. Once you are satisfied, take a trip to the scales, weigh your cup, and pay an inexpensive 49 baht per 100 grams. Simple, tasty, healthy and highly customisable, Vava is the place for true yogurt experimentation!
Open daily, 10am – 10pm (10am – 11pm on Sundays)
Rachadamnoen Plaza, Rachadamnoen Road
053 326 626
Chef {Pho}tographer & Preaw
This brand new restaurant has opened up in a small quirky glass-walled building tucked in behind Lanna Hospital just waiting to be found and enjoyed. Chef Tui, a professional photographer by trade, has expanded his skillset to create delicious Thai influenced and western food. His personal take on the Caesar salad is a popular choice for his regulars, and his spaghetti, omelette with bacon, toast and sandwiches, salad and a few Thai dishes each hold their own merit. Tui’s grilled pork or chicken topped with teriyaki sauce or balsamic dressing is not to be missed. For something sweet, try the rich banana flamb? with the chef’s very own homemade caramel sauce. And listen up, all you mums in need of a beverage: Chef Tui claims the uncanny ability to create any kind of cocktail, suited to your personal tastes, simply by taking one look at your face. Drink up!
Open daily, 8am – 10pm
A9 Place Boutique House, Soi Lanna Hospital, Sukasem Soi 9
www.facebook.com/Cheftographer
053 224 289
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Wat Gate Updates
Along the east banks of the Ping River, the neighbourhood of Wat Gate, once the heart of Chiang Mai’s social scene, is in the midst of a full-on revival with fabulous new bars, restaurants and shops popping up nearly overnight – it all seems to have taken off since Citylife moved here a year and a half ago – coincidence? We think not! Here are three (two brand new and one newly improved) to check out today!
Woo Cafe
Minimalist modern style meets rustic chic with splashes of fresh greenery and artful faux antler chandeliers at this cosy yet uber-hip new cafe, art gallery and lifestyle shop beside the Ping. Known for his attention to detail and fabulous design sense, the owners have several other successful ventures in Chiang Mai and beyond, including having managed Ginger & Kafe at The House as well as owning Khumpoon Gallery. Dressed to impress (or, to woo!), the cafe features comfy outdoor patio seating and a cool air-conditioned interior, perfect for sipping a vast selection of wines by the bottle and iced tea by the mason jar. If you’re hungry, take a bite from a slice of freshly baked goodies, munch on fresh salad, sandwiches or rich and tasty pasta dishes. At the adjoining lifestyle shop, you’ll find everything from scented lotions to handmade earrings to sleek furniture, and don’t forget to check out the latest works from Thailand’s up-and-coming artists at the gallery upstairs.
Open daily, 10am – 8pm
80 Charoenrat Road
052 003 7178
Hinlay Curry House
A beloved Chiang Mai favourite, Hinlay Curry House in Wat Gate has been serving up fabulous Indian, Burmese and Thai curries for the past decade. Closed for a few months for renovations, Hinlay is now back and better than ever. The simple open air dining area has been replaced by a beautiful glass house surrounded by greenery, with air-conditioning in the hot season and cool breezes through open windows in winter. The menu has had an upgrade as well, retaining old favourites such as the signature Hinlay curry and many vegetarian options, while adding a number of new delights, such as delicious Indonesian chicken satay, tender spicy lamb curry, and zesty mushroom dopiaza (75-150 baht per dish). Wash it all down with a refreshing pomegranate ginger spritzer, homemade ginger ale, or a glass of wine. Credit cards now accepted.
Open daily 8/1 Na Wat Gate, Soi 1
053 242 621
Oldies Cafe
If you are looking for a place to enjoy a cool winter’s evening, with even cooler blues and soul tunes resonating out of antique country doors, Oldies Cafe is the perfect setting. Tucked on the corner of Prince Royal College’s soi and Charoenrat Road, this rustic cafe looks as if it has not changed in style since the 50s. Several old Vespas parked in front welcome you into a cafe, restaurant and bar stocked with a glorious array of food, which is served from 6pm on. Try their extremely popular kai toon or steamed egg dish served in a classic tom yum hotpot bowl with your choice of original, tom yum or green curry flavours. Their prawn toast and crispy catfish are also popular while you sip a beer listening to their live acoustic blues, soul and rock and roll duo, with incredible finger skills.
Open daily, 10am – 4pm (cafe) and 6pm – midnight (restaurant and bar)
(Closed Sundays)
Charoenrat Road
www.facebook.com/oldiescafeandrestaurant
089 094 9998