In search of the best cafe in the Nimman neighborhood of Chiang Mai, Thailand?
Have no fear, we’ve tried some of the best cafes in the area (and there are A LOT!) and put this list together for you.
While there are always new cafes opening up in Nimman, some have been been around for a while and are great to work in or enjoy some social time with friends.
The coffee in Chiang Mai is absolutely amazing and some of the cafes below serve up organic, locally grown coffee that your taste buds will do flips for!
This post has been in the making for a long time now. It’s not a complete list of all of the cafes in the Nimman area, not even a scratch at the surface.
There are so many little cafes in this area and more and more are popping up daily.
I’m guessing I might be adding to this in the next few months that we are still here so come back and check it out again later.
I originally wrote this article when we were living here, in Chiang Mai, back in 2016 and updated it in 2017.
Things have changed a lot since (and they keep on changing fast in the Nimman area).
We just got back to Chiang Mai after 7 years and have been checking out all the new cafes in the span of 3 weeks so we could give you an updated list!
Check out where we used to go and still love as well as some our new favorite cafes in Nimman!
It’s a list of our most frequented locations. Our favorites. The ones we get our work done it. Where all the blog magic happens.
You might also like our article on best places to eat dessert in Chiang Mai and our list of best places to eat street food
I hope the pictures are a good representation of the feel of the place for anyone trying to pick a place for themselves.
I just wanted to give the essential basic details, but if you want to know more please drop us a comment.
Pro-Traveler Tip: If you are in northern Thailand and you are a fan of coffee we suggest also visiting Chiang Rai as well as Chiang Mai for the ultimate experience.
1. Nine One Coffee
This cafe has been around for a long time and I think it will outlast everyone else because they are just THAT good! It is our ALL TIME FAVORITE and one we will always come back to.
The staff is wonderful and the coffee is DIVINE!! We love working on our laptops here because the interior is nice and cool and bright. It is a very comfortable and inspiring cafe.
People get a lot of work done here but they also come to journal and sometimes socialize.
This place is an absolute gem! Oh, and did I mention, the coffee is the BEST!
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 11 |
| Bathroom | Detached, has TP, no soap |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Outside and inside |
| Best quality | Nice staff, great indoor and outdoor seating options |
| Worst quality | The inside of the cafe is small so space is limited if they get busy and you want AC |
2. Barisotel
This is probably our second favorite cafe in the Nimman area of Chiang Mai.
Not only is the coffee pretty fantastic but the service is also very friendly and the space is open and inspiring.
The second level is perfect for a focused work session and there are plugs for your laptop.
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Large |
| Outside seating | No |
| Location | Soi 9 |
| Bathroom | Inside, has TP |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Yes |
| Best quality | Great coffee, nice work environment |
| Worst quality | The lower level is quite full |
3. Ristr8to
Roast8try Flagship Store, Roast8try Lab, and Ristr8to coffee shops in Nimman area all serve the same quality coffee and pretty much have the same vibe.
The specialty coffees are skillfully crafted and presented more as an art piece than your average “cup o’ Joe.”
This is the original one and most popular.
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Small |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Nimmanhaemin Rd. |
| Bathroom | Inside, has TP |
| Price | $$$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | No |
| Best quality | Great coffee, best for socializing |
| Worst quality | Very busy almost all the time |
4. Roast8try
This cafe is located in an even more quieter area of Nimman.
It’s probably the best one if you want to take your laptop to and get some work done, but you’ll still see most people here taking photos for social media.
There is, however, a good amount of plugs around and it is very spacious.
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Large |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 17 |
| Bathroom | Inside, has TP |
| Price | $$$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Yes |
| Best quality | Great coffee, best for socializing, “instagrammable” |
| Worst quality | Very busy almost all the time, hard to focus on deep work |
| Bonus | They have a vending machine outside if you want to buy their coffee beans |
5. Roast8try Lab
This one is a bit quieter and has mostly outdoor seating. It’s a great place to sit and people watch as it is located away from the busy Nimman soi.
Everything else is pretty much like Ristr8to.
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 3 |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | No |
| Best quality | Great coffee, best for socializing and people watching |
| Worst quality | Not suitable for laptop work |
6. Taste Cafe
This coffee shop simply tops the charts with their coffee! They have a specialty “silky latte” that is my absolute favorite! I would drink 3 of these if I could!
The cafe is a bit of a walk if you are staying in the heart of Nimman and you have to go to the “other side” of Nimman Road which is a bit of a pain.
However, the coffee is all worth it but don’t expect to have a comfortable workspace for working on your laptop. I do recommend buying their beans to take back with you!
| Coffee taste | 10/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | 2 Chiang Rai Rd. |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | No |
| Best quality | AMAZING coffee |
| Worst quality | Not suitable for laptop work |
7. Cafe Rosemary
We loved the fresh, organic and well-prepared food here. On our last day in Chiang Mai we went to this cafe for brunch and it left us with the perfect memory of Chiang Mai.
Their coffee is delightful and we would go here for quick work sessions but not to stay very long.
| Coffee taste | 4.3/5 |
| Size | Small |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 3 |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Yes |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | BEST BRUNCH, very peaceful and quiet location |
| Worst quality | More of a restaurant than cafe |
8. Durianism Cafe
We love that there is now a cafe with a kids play area in Chiang Mai. The place is usually empty and quiet so you can go even if you don’t have kids.
Our daughter loved playing there for a couple of hours while we got some work done. It is fun for the whole family!
| Coffee taste | 3/5 |
| Size | Large |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | Inside, first level |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Yes |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Play area for kids! |
| Worst quality | Coffee and deserts are not that great (but good if you love durian fruit) |
9. De May
| Coffee taste | 3/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 15 |
| Bathroom | Detached, has TP and soap |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Very peaceful garden and outside seating area, cute interior |
| Worst quality | No plugs outside |
10. Shift Cafe
| Coffee taste | 4/5 |
| Size | Small |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | 25/9 Soi 15 |
| Bathroom | Inside |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Some breakfast options |
| Plugs | Yes |
| Best quality | Very good coffee, nice and easy to get to, food available |
| Worst quality | A bit small |
11. Not,_,Sofar Coffee
| Coffee taste | 4/5 |
| Size | Small |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Yes |
| Best quality | Very good coffee |
| Worst quality | A bit small |
12. Wabi Sabi
| Coffee taste | 5/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Centrally located, great tasting and inexpensive coffee |
| Worst quality | A bit cramped space |
13. Mingmitr
| Coffee taste | 3/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | ? |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Big drink menu |
| Worst quality | No plugs outside |
14. Roastnyom
| Coffee taste | 4/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | Detached (have to go to the apartment building lobby bathroom), has TP |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | No |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Good place to work |
| Worst quality | Finding the plugs inside can be challenging |
15. Jeab Cafe & Thai Food
| Coffee taste | 2.5/5 |
| Size | Large |
| Outside seating | No |
| Location | Soi 13 |
| Bathroom | Inside, level 2 |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Yes |
| Plugs | Inside |
| Best quality | Great food, very big inside, nice decor, comfortable, great staff |
| Worst quality | Can get a bit busy |
16. Pai Yan Yai Coffee
| Coffee taste | 1/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Some |
| Location | 12/13 Soi 15 (where Soi 15 ends turn left) |
| Bathroom | Yes |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Yes |
| Plugs | Plenty of availability |
| Best quality | Tons of space, it is surprisingly spacious and seats a lot of people, three stories, very quiet work environment |
| Worst quality | The coffee tastes like the powder instant stuff, internet is super slow |
17. Roastnyom Cafe
This is a popular one and offers a lot. It’s on one of the other major roads so it gets a lot of folks in.
If you like having a lot of people around and busy coffee shops, this is good for you. The coffee is pretty solid.
| Coffee taste | 4/5 |
| Size | Large |
| Outside seating | Lots all around |
| Location | Siri Mangkalajarn Rd. |
| Bathroom | Yes, inside |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Some snacks |
| Plugs | Plenty of availability |
| Best quality | Internet is great, quiet place to get work done, staff is very nice |
| Worst quality | The AC could be turned up a bit more, but other than that, it’s a solid place |
18. Seascape Cafe 1254372
| Coffee taste | 4.7/5 |
| Size | Medium |
| Outside seating | Yes |
| Location | Soi 7 |
| Bathroom | Yes, outside, has TP and soap |
| Price | $$ |
| Open 24 hrs. | No |
| Food available | Yes, great breakfast and lunch |
| Plugs | No |
| Best quality | Great garden and outdoor seating area in the back, great menu for breakfast and lunch, a real nice place for a weekend treat, lots of different kinds of drinks and cocktails, beautiful and deliciously prepared food |
| Worst quality | It’s a great place to socialize and enjoy a huge variety of food and drink, but not really recommended as a place to work on your laptop for long periods of time |
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