Aydan Stuart

Much like its thriving coffee culture, Chiang Mai’s bakery scene is flourishing, with artisanal pastry shops and cafes on nearly every corner. Whether it’s flaky, buttery croissants paired with a perfectly brewed coffee or eye-catching cakes adorned with sugar-laden icing, the city has an undeniable sweet tooth. With so many options to choose from, narrowing down the best can be a challenge, so we’ve done the work for you.  Here’s our list of the must-visit bakeries this year – a growing list of both beloved classics and exciting newcomers that are worth checking out on your next trip to Thailand’s northern capital.

This week’s a week for the nerds – whether you're a movie buff looking for a new favourite film, and art fanatic looking to tour a city full of exhibitions or a medieval role playing geek keen to meet new friends on the fantasy battlefield, Chiang Mai’s got you. And even if you’re only on the fringes of any of these, why not get stuck in and make the most of the city’s alternative offerings this weekend.  

People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now🌎 The best things to do in the

Beyond the all-star cast of actors and razor-sharp satire, The White Lotus has always had one constant, scene-stealing presence: yes, its hotels. These opulent resorts are more than just backdrops – they are living, breathing entities that shape the fate of their guests, whether its poor old Tanya McQuoid-Hunt (Jennifer Coolidge) or you, the reader, on a set-jet adventure.

One year ago, Chef Puhbase, the visionary behind the acclaimed Aquila, embarked on a new culinary adventure with the opening of Aquaria in the heart of Chiang Mai. After months of fine-tuning and innovation, his second city venture has hit its stride, captivating diners with a bold yet comforting take on classic Italian cuisine – infused, as always, with his unmistakable personality and flair and a distinct, intentional lack of pizzas.

Getting a haircut in Thailand can be a real gamble. Whether it’s old-school barbers stuck in a time warp, offering cuts better suited to your grandfather, or just the lack of language skills to really communicate what you want, the struggle is real. So, when all else fails, the only way to guarantee a sharp trim is a trusted barber who knows their craft inside out. Luckily, Chiang Mai has transformed this simple service into one of the coolest professions on the streets. From vintage-inspired parlors to contemporary grooming hubs, the city is home to some of the coolest barbers around, with hipster scissor slingers who DJ vinyl on the side to famous rappers who know their way around a decent pair of clippers. If you're after a fresh fade, a classic cut, or a beard lineup that turns heads, here’s our list of the best barbers in Chiang Mai that will guarantee you a good chop off the top.   

Fine dining isn’t for everyone, but those who love it have the highest of expectations. And while Chiang Mai may not be your first choice destination for fine dining, it’s quickly becoming one for many thanks to its affordable prices and daring chefs that are taking experimental food to the next level, albeit in a very Northern Thai way. As the city grows, undoubtedly so will this list, so bookmark it and book a reservation and try fine dining in the north, Chiang Mai style.   

It’s happened again. You’ve had a busy week and completely forgot that it’s Valentine’s Day…today! Your favourite restaurants are booked out and your special someone is just waiting for the call. With nothing in mind, you turn to the internet for help. Thank goodness we’re here.  As the evening looms, here are our top picks for last minute Valentine’s Day dates in Chiang Mai that still look like you’ve planned weeks in advance. We got you, just take your pick. 

Centuries ago, French cuisine rose to the top of the pecking order and became the world’s best. Several hundred years later, those techniques and flavours are still defining fine food and exceptional dining the world over. From techniques being adopted by thousands of other countries, to the classic dishes that stand the test of time, many chefs will say there’s a little French flair in every great cook today – whether they realise it or not. Chiang Mai is probably as far as you can get from France, but even in our humble city, the true flavours of France can still be enjoyed. While there are a number of boulangeries and rustic french bistros, there’s only one spot in the city serving classic, un-adulterated French fare – Le Crystal.  And, as its owner tackles the nuances between classic fare and their modern interpretations, its food is only getting better.

Thankfully, we’ve done our research and found the best places in Chiang Mai for proper massage experiences – free from light hands and dodgy extras. Whether you need to shake off the travel fatigue, soothe sore muscles or just indulge in an afternoon of pure relaxation, the city has you covered. We’ve rounded up Chiang Mai’s best massage spots – reputable, professional and guaranteed to leave you feeling healed. 

Chiang Mai, with its blend of ancient temples, busy markets and local beauty offers countless ways to explore – but look to the Ping River and there’s surprisingly little to do along its banks and tributaries.  Aside from a few banged up kayaks from Wat Fah Ham (just B50 for a little self-guided excursion) there’s a noticeable absence of any watery activities bar a few riverside restaurants. The one river cruise that was once a staple activity died along with many other businesses during the pandemic, but thankfully Anantara Chiang Mai Resort has filled the void with a luxury experience that stands out for its unique charm: the JAO Ping River Cruise.

L'Opéra is another one of Chiang Mai’s most authentic French bakery spots, often frequented by french-speaking visitors who always seem to pair a visit with a cup of hot espresso and a cheeky choux cream treat. Reminiscent of a traditional French café, its bright yellow exterior is hard to miss, while the inside features barley cabinets filled to the brim with eclairs, opera cakes, pain au chocolate, croissants, baguettes, quiches and more. The prices are also not to be sniffed at, making it a popular choice for locals and a must-visit for those passing through. Chocolate lovers can indulge in the chocolate mousse with praline croustillant, while those with a ponchant for sour tastes can opt for the zesty lemon meringue tart and a side serving of pastis…if you’re lucky.  Specialities: French eclairs, opera cakes and tarts

Another long-standing Chiang Mai bakery, Forest Bake is like something out of a story book. Make your way through the garden trellis and follow the scent of freshly baked bread through a jungly garden tucked away in the Wat Gate area. Wooden interiors decorated with dry flowers set the scene for a menu of beautifully crafted cakes, tarts, and naturally leavened breads with zero preservatives or additives. Channeling country garden vibes, their Earl Grey Cake, infused with aromatic tea flavors and layered with velvety frosting, is a sophisticated and popular choice, however most enjoy to order a main course of lightly toasted sourdough bread topped with eggs, salmon, yoghurt and fruit, although not necessarily all together. They also offer snack boxes and catering services around the city.  Specialities: Cakes, tarts and sourdough bread

If you’re looking for naturally fermented breads and creative toast snacks, you’ve found the right place. Flour Flour first started selling handmade sourdough from a hole-in-the-wall shopfront, but once the secret was out the demand for their bread was so high they had to relocate, opening a new bakery that focuses on homemade breads, baked goods and high-quality local coffee. Their show-stopping sourdough is by far their best sold product, with both pick-up items at their bakery and wholesale delivery for larger restaurants and hotels. If you’ve had good sourdough in the city recently, there’s a good chance it’s from here. Their sourdough game is so good, they even hold regular 101 training sessions that take people from starter to loaf over two days.  Specialities: Sourdough and more sourdough  

Artful and delicious, Saruda Finest Pastry is without a doubt one of the finest patisseries in the city. Their creations are best known for their looks, assuming the shapes and arrangements of tropical fruit, flowers and even rocky asteroids – yet one bite and you’ll find flavours just as good as their looks. Their orange bliss is a long-standing favourite, although easily mistaken for a real orange, it’s sweet white chocolate casing with zesty bumps and all offer a sweet-sour taste profile through layers of orange syrup and crispy hazelnut base. Each month, new seasonal creations emerge so there’s never a dull moment and it’s made headlines so much they even had to open a Bangkok branch to better satisfy the city-dwellers cravings.   Specialities: Cakes that look like fruit and other bizarre creations

Be part of a gathering of fantasy and Dungeons & Dragons lovers in Chiang Mai at this magnificent medieval fair and activity event. For seasoned DnD players, there’s a ‘Party on Duty’ adventure led by a professional dungeon master, along with heroes tales (a semi-reality role-playing show) and puzzles, quests, fighting rings, quest boards and performances that let you explore the secrets of Lysandra. Whether you’re a newbie eager to try DnD for the first time or a seasoned adventurer seeking an epic quest, this is the perfect place to dive into an engaging and immersive fantasy world. This event welcomes everyone to dress up in medieval, fantasy, or cosplay attire to fully immerse themselves in the adventure created by CMU student Woranat Lek-on.  Mar 8. B180 entrance. More info here. Chang Phuak Park. 10am-7pm. 

Get ready for Thailand’s biggest OTOP showcase, featuring the finest handicrafts, textile masterpieces, gourmet food products and traditional fashion from across the country – now in Chiang Mai. In addition to all the goodies, there’s a busy line-up of cultural performances, live music and product showcases to enjoy. OTOP, which means ‘One Tambol One Product’ is a government initiative to help support local artisans and producers, promoting unique products of communities across Thailand.  Mar 10-16. Free. Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre. 10am-9pm  

Chiang Mai welcomes the Largest International Indoor Pet Show in ASEAN, covering a wide range of pet supplies, animals, activities and entertainment, all in one place. Brought to the city by SmartHeart, this event offers a range of booths, vendors and markets to explore, as well as a pet-friendly stay with entertaining lineups of competitions and playground activities. Now entering its twelfth year, that makes it almost a century old…in dog years at least!  Mar 6-9. Free. Central Airport Exhibition Hall. 11am-8pm  

Join the media arts and design faculty of CMU in uncovering the truth of existence through three films by Lee Chang-Dong plus a documentary by Alain Mazars, exploring the journey of one of South Korea’s most renowned filmmakers. The first showing, Peppermint Candy (1999) starts at 7.30pm on Friday Mar 7, followed by Oasis (2002), Poetry (2010) and documentary Lee Chang-Dong: The Art of Irony (2022) at the same time on subsequent days. All films have both Thai and English subtitles and will be shown on the rooftop of the Media Arts and Design Faculty building.  Mar 7-10. B80, B50 for students. Media Arts and Design Faculty Rooftop. Doors open 7pm. 

As part of the wider ID Thesis Exhibition (a photographic art thesis showcase archived by senior creative photography art students at Chiang Mai University), this Sunday features a market packed with food, second-hand clothing, craft items, photography and artwork – organised by and run by students from the Faculty of Arts. For the artistic, there’s vintage stalls selling vinyl, tapes and old cameras, as well as a line up of artistic performances throughout the afternoon. Mar 9. Free. Sri Prakan Hotel. 4-10pm

has opened its doors in the heart of Chiang Mai, bringing traditional baked goods to the city’s hungry. The little wooden house in which it sits perfectly matches their menu of dragon desserts, egg tarts and the swan dessert kanom pia packed with a creamy bean filling and waxy pasty aromas. Their most popular item, however, must be the lava croissants – flaky and freshly baked French parcels filled with a hot, sweet lava of cream, milk and vanilla. And despite perfecting the Thai desserts best, the owner enjoys experimenting with other sweet traditions and flavours, resulting in an otherwise simple menu peppered with fleeting Osaka cheesecake and fudge brownie visitors.  Specialities: Thai flakey desserts and chiffon-like cakes

This is one of the few Italian-style bakery experiences in Chiang Mai, garnering praise from both locals and visitors in recent years. All of their European-inspired items are handcrafted in their open kitchen on a daily basis, including quiches, sandwiches, focaccia, croissants, and, of course, biscotti. What makes this place so special is the additional vegan menu that attracts a new crowd eager to try their creamy vegan chocolate cake, and a children's play area that makes it a more than welcoming spot for families who can let kids burn off the extra sugar before they head home. In addition to the sweet baked goods, they also serve homemade Italian bread alongside pasta, sandwiches and soups for a well-rounded meal.  Specialities: Italian-inspired baked goods and breads

Nana is one of the city’s OG bakery shops, once being the only place to get quality French bread goods, baked freshly every early morning a-la-Europe! Today, there’s many contenders but none quite pull off the soft, flakey and fluffy treats in the same way Chef Nicolas Delamarche and his wife Rattikarn have managed to create. Their flagship store in Chang Phuak also serves nice breakfasts with over-easy eggs on slices of warm sourdough, while their satellite shops in Sansai, Ruam Chok, Doi Saket, Chang Khian and on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun road stock a selection of their most popular baked goods, cooked fresh in-house. This way, everyone in the city can get their hands on their buttery croissants, quiches and other scrumptious morsels without any hassle.  Specialities: French-style croissants, French bread, Sourdough  

Here in Chiang Mai, it’s no surprise to us locals to hear that yet again, our city ranks as one of the greatest cities in the world. Quirky, arty and perfectly combining modernity, tradition and nature, our humble city seems to charm all who pass through its four gates. Of course, we may be biased but today is one to announce from the top of Doi Suthep that Chiang Mai makes an appearance in Time Out’s 50 Best Cities for 2025 list – and we couldn’t be more proud.  With great plans for 2025, Chiang Mai is fast becoming a city of culture, but not the culture you may imagine. Traditional Lanna cultures and festivals still define this northern Thai city, but its the uptick of more modern festivals, events and communities that continue to draw people from across the world decade after decade. Pair that with the city’s people who are as artistic as they are entrepreneurial and you get a city that stands very much its own as a bastion for positive city living. Alongside Chiang Mai, the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, steals an incredible second place, second only to Cape Town. Ranking 28 on the list is no small victory, putting us ahead of other great cities like Jakarta (No. 29), Tokyo (No. 30), and Prague (No. 35).  More than 18,500 people from across the world shared their thoughts on their favourite cities, ranking everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and atmosphere. With livability taking the most important rank overall, cities like Chiang Mai ga

Each winter, as the Chiang Mai skies above clear back to blue, as temperatures drop to single digits across its tallest peaks and as flowers burst into blossom and bloom at every turn, Chiang Mai gears itself up to become a city filled with festivities and activities.  Yet aside from the cool climes and packed lineup of cultural activities, a growing music festival scene is populating the January calendar, flooding the city with locals, tourists and musicians looking to make the most of the glorious weather and festive party vibes. Standout among the crowd is Thantawan Music and Lifestyle Festival, starting its debut music festival last year, treading in the footsteps of the mega successful annual Jai Thep Festival, which folded at the start of the pandemic. Taking place last weekend (Jan 11-12), the festival brought some world-famous performers to the picturesque hills of Chiang Mai, and we were there to check it out.  Photography: Thantawan Festival Chiang Mai’s Biggest International Lineup This year’s festival saw 14 Thai bands and 32 Thai and international DJs perform across three stages dotted around the large garden – said to be the largest number of international artists at any one event in Chiang Mai to date.  Thai and foreigners crowded around to catch highlight performances this year included alternative rock band Musketeers and popular singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit, both performing live to a chorus of applauds and karaoke singing. On the international side, UK

Set on the upper floors of The Market Shopping Center, Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong is the city’s latest addition to the buzzing Ratchadamri Road (opposite CentralwOrld), strongly positioning itself as a playful, hip and stylish hotel experience for city travellers and young-at-heart locals looking for the next best hangout.  Photograph: Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong by Marriott First impressions leave us keen to revisit, with a fun, vibrant and colourful 9th floor check-in bar that offers an unconventional experience for guests and passing visitors. Although a little confusing as to where to go on first arrival, friendly staff that feel more like your quirky cousin are ready to lead you to the bar for a welcome shot and a walkthrough of what Moxy has to offer.  Mixing modern travel luxuries with a do-it-yourself expectation when it comes to things like breakfast, ironing and table setting, it seems to nail the expectations and able-bodiedness of the new, younger generation of aspiring travellers.  Guests and day visitors can comfortably enjoy happy hour drinks, bottomless brunches and regular parties that happen almost every week. There’s also a plug and play area perfect for digital nomads who are keen to stay inspired by the buzz of the city, as long as you can work with the loud music playing seamlessly across every floor and zone.  Each of their 504 rooms cleverly do away with old unnecessaries and focus on what’s important – spacious showers, a mini-fridge that's just the