Thai people love their sweets, and if you rely on the options that your local take-out place offers, you’re missing out. Usually, ending a meal with a plate of seasonal fruit like papaya, watermelon and pomelo is standard in the average Thai diet, but it’s just as easy for one to indulge in the array of intricate and coconut-rich desserts that Thailand has to offer.

These creamy and fragrant bite-sized desserts are cooked in a charcoal-heated pan with small craters, which result in little, rich coconut cups. They are a favorite among Thai people and are widely eaten in the mornings at street vendors around Bangkok. Common toppings are green onions, sweet corn and taro and these treats are best eaten piping hot off the pan.

Luk Chub

These pretty little desserts are shaped into mini Thai fruits and vegetables like mangos, chilis and mangosteens. The process of making them is uncommonly labor-intensive and it requires grinding steamed mung beans into a sweet paste, shaping them, dipping them in food coloring, and glazing them in gelatin. No wonder this dessert was only available for the royals back in the day.

Tup Tim Krob

This dessert is made of water chestnuts dipped in red food coloring, then tossed in cassava flour which gives it a soft, chewy exterior. The water chestnuts are then served in ice and coconut milk, which is lightly seasoned with salt. It’s perfect for a hot day. Tup tim krob is a good example of how Thai desserts typically balance sweet and salty flavors.

This is a popular after dinner treat. It calls for mashed, steamed taro mixed with sticky rice flour and shaped into small balls, which are then boiled in water until they float to the top and served in warm coconut milk. The name of this Thai dessert means “floating lotus” and it comes in different colors created from infusions of pandan leaves and mashed pumpkin. The texture of bua loy is smooth and soft, which makes it very comforting to eat. Sometimes, a poached egg is served with it, because…why not?

Fin Market: Chiang Mai Farmer Market in Chic and Clooney style.

Fin Market

Farmer's Market, Chiang Mai is the Event Market, market leverage of Chiang Mai. Organized by Finhouse work team and NIM City Daily company to the Chiang Mai atmosphere market a new model with a superb selection of shops throughout Thailand. Using fresh produce from the farm, cooked and served to live. Casual Like a picnic in the backyard of their own to Event This incorporation of new generation in the source markets looking to follow their dreams in the concept that doing what. I like to be the best And they will be happy to forward it to others as well. The event is titled with the name "Chiang Mai Farmer Market Episode Farmer Market," This event is considered a warm-up before we could find a job. Ping Fai Festival 2016 firat the end of the year under the theme "Befriend a farmer, eat locally" Say that it was warm and there are more than 70 stores featured in Chiang Mai, then I like to keep track of such a review. Mai say that because we have to come out to contribute to this. Just watch it, Dauphin ago. Is that I have to go

Nimmanhemin is an area in Chiang Mai well known for its modern restaurants, arty atmosphere and a thousand and three coffee shops. With so much choice, finding the best is no easy mission.

We have been to most coffee shops in Nimman. Chain or independent, we give every place a try. Many places are too expensive, too boring, too small, too laptop unfriendly... the list goes on. 

 Chan Neung is one of the best.

It opens from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm. Location on Nimmamhaemin Soi 1, this simple, unassuming cafe and offers an insulated little world of creative coffees, free WiFi, plenty of plug holes, air conditioning and teddy bears.  It's one of our favourite coffee shops in Nimman.

I love Chan Neung because...

#1 It has the most creative coffee menu in Nimman*.

Drinking a peppermint cappuccino frappe from Chan Neung increases my productivity by at least eighty seven percent.  You can try mocha macadamia, English toffee latte or americano soda, all for around 70 baht.  All the drinks we've had are big.  I'd recommend Chan Neung Chic frappe. They also do cakes and bakery things, including cherry pie, so Andy can eat it and say "that's some damn fine cherry pie", just like Agent Cooper from Twin Peaks.

#2 You can always find a place to sit.

Chan Neung is pretty big and has two floors.  You can choose from sinky sofas, wicker chairs, wooden chairs and more, all with squishy cushions.

#3 It has decent free WiFi and plenty of plug holes.

I've really gotten into working at a coffee shop rather than at home.  I think a change of scenery can really boost creativity and I know I produce better work. When your computer needs more juice, a useable plug socket is important.  I absolutely do not want to pay to use a plug socket (more common in Nimman than I can believe), and I don't want to have to go home to charge up when I'm in the middle of making a brilliant worksheet. I don't want to have to move from my seat to plug in, either.  A round of appreciative applause please for Chan's free WiFi and unlimited handily located plug socket use!

#4 The staff are friendly.

I hate mardy staff.  When I'm eating or drinking somewhere I don't want to be glared at.  When I ask for the bill, I don't want to hear a sigh.  Likewise, I don't really like over-the-top staff.  I don't want my chair pulled out for me, or to have a napkin placed across my lap.  I do want smiles, helpfulness and genuine interactions.  Yay for Chan Neung's friendly staff!

Good for those wanting something a bit different.
Gaze down on the city from up high at the top of the Maya shopping mall. Sometimes live music plays and there are themed events every so often. They serve beer, mixers and cocktails and weird syringe drinks (I still don't know what they are though!). Opposite the Maya shopping mall is Think Park, which also has really delightful places to drink beer and listen to chill live music; just take a walk around. Think Park is popular with locals and non-Thais alike.

Roof Bar @ Maya's Facebook

Good for those who want to immerse themselves in Thai night-life culture
There are a lot less travelers over at the JJ Market area, but it's super popular with Thai people looking to drink beer and relax. An eclectic mix of bars line either side of the street and most have beer promotions. Some bars end up PACKED whilst others remain more relaxed. Just walk down the road till you find something you fancy.

Pun Pun Organic Farm is a working farm as well as a seed saving, sustainable living and learning center outside of town in Mae Taeng. The farm also runs two restaurants in town, the first of which is located within a temple complex, Wat Suan Dok, on Suthep Road. The excellent food, Thai and Indian veggie dishes and salads, and relaxing atmosphere make it a unique lunch spot. 

On the same road as the Wat Suan Dok location (situated at the base of the mountain across the street from the last entrance to Chiang Mai University) Pun Pun Lang Moh is open later than the first location (so you can go for dinner) and still has similar dishes and prices.

Food-4-Thought serves a range of fresh fusion dishes including several creative wraps (BEST homemade tortillas in Chiang Mai!) and salads made from high quality ingredients. They also offer some raw desserts, kombucha and artisan coffee from the conjoined Bay’s Cafe. The restaurant is in a funny location, just off of the Canal Road close to the intersection with Huay Kaew, and the address won’t help you much – take a look at the map on their Facebook Page to help find them.

A solid standby in the Nimmanhaemin neighborhood, you’ll be able to recognize this Thai shop (in the little street to the side of 7-11, across from The Salad Concept) by their simple sign that says ‘Organic Vegetables Food & Drink’. While not strictly vegetarian, this is one of the local Thai restaurants that doesn’t get confused when you asked to substitute meat for tofu. They seem to make almost any Thai dish you could think of – noodles, soups and stir fries – and the place is popular with Thais as well as foreigners – partly because of the food, partly because the prices are normal Thai prices (around 30-50B per dish) in an area that mainly only has trendy, and expensive, restaurants.

I love the area Cathouse is located in – a little soi off the east side of the moat – because even though it’s so close the center of the tourist area, it feels much more traditional and local. The restaurant serves fusion fare, including salads and quesadillas, and of course, yummy shakes and juices. The fries with different dipping sauces are also good choice – especially as a treat in a place where you don’t eat french fries very often!

I actually haven’t made it to this spot yet but it’s on the top of my list to check out. They serve organic, veggie Thai and fusion fare and do, from what I hear, wonderful shakes and lassis that are similar in price as you would pay at a street stall. (Many of the other veggie restaurants jack up their drink prices a bit…)

Local เจ restaurants and street stalls are found scattered around town and often serve pre-cooked dishes cafeteria style, meaning you can choose one or two of the dishes they have that day served over a plate rice.

The following restaurants offer even more vegetarian options, though personally I think the places above are better in either value, variety or taste. The ones listed below, however, are all located near Tha Pae Gate so easily accessible for many travelers staying in the Old City (which is probably a reason why the prices seem slightly higher than other similar restaurants…) and do more western style breakfasts.