In a land where it’s easy to grow pretty much anything under the sun, Chiang Mai offers a plethora of meat-free dining options. Going the extra mile and finding vegan cuisine can be a little trickier however, so we hit the pavement to bring you a list of seven mouth-watering, vegan-friendly diners and cafes around town.
Bodhi Tree Cafe
Bodhi Tree Cafe’s rustic ambience transports you back to your backpacker days, many young travellers sitting cross legged on one of the low tables, eagerly scribbling their adventures into their journals. All ingredients used when possible come from the cafe’s very own garden. Dried herbs and fruits are homemade and so are the incredibly delicious and unique tasting mayonnaise, nut milks and yoghurts which are a culinary highlight not just for vegans.
Open 8 am – 9:30pm
Tel: 085 708 4998
13 Ratchadamnoen Road Soi 4
www.bodhitreecafechiangmai.weebly.com
Taste from Heaven
There is one very good reason to visit Taste from Heaven frequently which is their warm, gooey and incredibly chocolaty brownie, which, not only according to vegans, is arguably the best brownie in town. Take a trip to chocolate heaven, you will definitely not regret it.
Open 9 am – 10pm (Wednesday 9 am- 10pm)
Tel: 091 859 8920 or 089 951 1167
34/1 Ratmakka Road
www.taste-from-heaven.com
Amrita Garden
The atmosphere invites you to sit back and relax on either one of the tables or the more comfy bean bags while listening to some smooth jazz. This completely vegan restaurant specialises in microbiotic cooking and offers set lunch menus from 10am to 3pm. Traditional Thai cuisine is the main focus but Western dishes such as burgers can be found on the menu too.
Open Wednesdays to Mondays 9 am – 9.30pm
Tel: 086 053 9342
2/1 Soi 5. Samlan Road
www.amritagarden.net
Ice Love You
This cruelty free ice cream parlour is playfully decorated with all kinds of superhero themed drawings and objects. Although it is rather small, the choice of ice creams offered seems endless with nearly 40 different unique flavours ranging from green tea with choc chip to mango sticky rice and black bean sticky rice. The less adventurous ice cream fan will also be delighted with delicious staple flavours being offered as well.
Open 10.30am – 10.30pm
Tel: 085 616 4312
Srivichai Road Soi 1
Facebook: Iceloveyou
Aum Vegetarian Restaurant
Located just opposite Tha Pae Gate on Moon Muang Road, walk straight past the downstairs area that offers normal seating in a brightly lit room and take off your shoes to find yourself a cosy cushion on one of the low tables upstairs. Aum offers Thai and Western food but it is their steamed dumplings, the pad Thai and juices that deserve special mentioning.
Open 10.30am – 8.30pm
Tel: 053 278 315
Moon Muang Road
www.aumvegetarianfood.com
Free Bird Cafe
Free Bird Cafe offers a wide selection of unique smoothies, refreshing juices, and Thai and Shan specialities. Their vegan pancakes, made with mashed banana and served with brown sugar syrup, are fluffy and most filling. All of the profits made go to Thai Freedom House, a non-profit arts community and learning centre that is specifically designed to assist Burmese refugees and members of Thai minority groups.
Open 9am – 5pm, closed Mondays
Tel: 081 028 5383
116 Manee Nopparat Road
Facebook: FreeBirdCafe
Bamboo Bee
Step into the tiny little restaurant nearly completely made out of bamboo, for indulgent thick chocolate frappes, to sweet smoothies, tangy lemonades and warming teas. Thai classics with some western offerings too. Make sure to book a table because there are only a handful and they fill up very quickly.
Open 11am – 8.30pm
Tel: 090 463 6583
177 Ratchaphakhinai Road
www.bamboobeecm.com