Having grown up here in Chiang Mai since more than 30 years ago, there were hardly any western-style bakeries here. The most western things I remember eating were buns filled with dried shredded pork or buns with coconut fillings. In the past ten years, there have been a lot of new bakeries owned by both Thais and expats in Chiang Mai offering baked goods in Western style. These new bakeries do change the scenes of bread, pastries and cakes. Good crusty bread, buttery flaky croissants, and moist scrumptious cakes, you can have them all right here in Chiang Mai.

Today I have picked three small local bakeries that are small in size but big in flavors. Let me introduce them to you. These hidden gems definitely shouldn’t be missed.

Biscotti House

Source: Biscotti House

About 2 months ago, I heard that there’s a new bakery with really good bread and cakes that just opened in the neighborhood. I went to check it out and indeed I was right.

Biscotti House is a medium-size townhouse shop. It’s bright, clean, and airy. The pastel green counter and the small pink espresso machine give a bright and cheerful atmosphere. Then I met a petite Italian woman; Raffaela ‘Raffa’, the owner. She was holding a tray full of newly baked Golden Ciabatta loaves. They smelled amazing and looked divine!

Raffa told me she’s been living here with her husband and her son in Chiang Mai for 13 years now. Raffa is from a big Italian family in Cagliari, Sardinia. She’s been baking and cooking with her family recipes since she was young. She also used to work at a famous bakery shop on the weekends when she was a teenager.

Apart from the Ciabattas, Raffa also bakes Focaccia, Lemon cake, Vegan Chocolate cake, Chai tea cake, Pineapple Upside Down cake, Biscotti, Baci di Dama (Italian Hazelnut cookie sandwich with chocolate in the middle), Ginger and cinnamon cookies. She also rotates her baked goods almost every day. I’ve tried almost everything that Raffa bakes, they all are amazing! Raffa’s Ciabattas are denser in textures, not the ones with a lot of pores. They are soft inside, but with really good gold crust. I love what she bakes and I have been going there at least once a week since I found this gem. So pop in and go check this place while you are in town. A little piece of Sardinia right here in Chiang Mai, you won’t regret it!

Recommended Menu: Ciabatta - 45Baht, Lemon Cake - 80Baht, Vegan Chocolate Cake – 80Baht, Cookies - 15Baht

Address: Right in front of Wat Pong Noi, Hours: 10.00 – 18.30 Hrs. Open daily except Mondays (Closed on Mondays) Parking: Available at the temple

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiscottiHouseChiangMai/

Bunny Buns Coffee and Restaurant

Source: Bunny Buns Coffee and Restaurant

This cozy café runs by a lovely couple, Aof & Dao. Dao is in charge of all the drinks while Aof is in the kitchen baking and cooking. Aof is a self-taught baker and has been baking only for a few years but he can bake really well. He first started to bake only burger buns for a friend who owns a burger joint. He then started to explore baking other things like brioche, English bread, Japanese style Azuki buns. I like his croissants which are buttery, beautifully layered and flaky. All the bread and pastry are usually sold out just after lunch time, so try to go a little early and you will have many choices to choose from.

Even if you miss the bakery, you can try their breakfast, lunch or even dinner. Aof offers a varied menu of Thai & Japanese dishes, pizzas and burgers (Of course, with his own pizza dough and burger buns). The dishes are excellent too. Dao also makes great coffee. So Bunny Buns is a perfect place for any meal of the day.

Recommended Menu: Butter Croissant - 22Baht, Chocolate Croissant - 30Baht, Ham & Cheese Roll - 35Baht, Brioche - 60Baht, Azuki Buns - 40Baht

Address: On Ratchapruek Rd. At the night safari intersection turn towards Chiang Mai – Hang Dong Road and drive about 600 Metres. Hours: 08.30 – 21.00 Hrs. Open daily except Mondays (Closed on Mondays) Parking: Street Parking

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bunnybunsbaked/

Nature Chiang Mai

Source: Nature Chiang Mai

Nature Chiang Mai bakes bread and desserts for people who are concerned about their health. The recipes are made for people who are vegan, clean-eaters, or those allergic to dairy products.

The owner, Nan has been baking for 5 years. She found the first outlet for her baked goods at the J.J. Sunday farmer’s market. The J.J. Sunday farmer’s market is famous for its concept of selling organic fresh produce, healthy & vegan cooked food, flowers, and handicrafts. Because of the concepts of the market, Nan decided to start baking with no butter, no milk, no eggs and uses only fresh and organic ingredients from local farmers.

I have been buying Nan’s baked goods for over one year now. At first, I wondered how the baked goods without dairy products and eggs would taste like? Nature Chiang Mai does a very good job on showing that clean-eating bread and desserts can taste really good. They taste just like normal baked goods. My favorites are whole wheat buns filled with cultivated bananas and peanut butter fillings and charcoal buns filled with purple yam filling.

Nature Chiang Mai does not have its own shop. You can find Nan at the J.J. Sunday farmer’s Market every week. But if you are not in Chiang Mai on a Sunday, you will be able to find Nan’s baked goods at Rimping Supermarket; there are 5 branches in Chiang Mai.

Recommended menu: whole wheat buns filled with cultivated bananas and peanut butter fillings 30 - Baht, charcoal buns filled with purple yam filling - 30Baht, Oat-Walnut-Cranberry loaf - 65Baht

Address: At J.J. Sunday farmer's market from 06.00-12.00 Hours. every week, Market has parking spaces

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nature.chiangmai/