One of the things most travellers have on their checklists before coming to Chiang Mai is most probably to have a feast of Thai and Lanna food. Well, once you are here in Chiang Mai, who wouldn’t want to savour those dishes that are so vibrant, flavorful and rich in tastes right? After having stuffed yourself with Khao Soi, green curry, BBQ pork skewers, or mango sticky rice, i'm pretty sure at one point you would crave for some western food.

In this article, I have picked five best brunch spots in Chiang Mai for you. These five places are perfect for those who want to save their time on meals by combining their breakfast and lunch, or for those who just want to indulge themselves with excellent westernised brunch.

Rustic and Blue

Since 2014, Meen, the owner, has created Rustic and Blue to be the place where friends and families can get together and catch up over great food. Rustic and Blue has a casual and cozy set-up. You can also choose to sit inside the A/C dining rooms or in the lovely garden overlooking the bar staff pulling espresso shots or shaking their refreshing cocktails.

Most of the ingredients used in the dishes are grown on Rustic and Blue’s farm. As a result, their menu can be changed seasonally according to the fresh produce. The menu covers from sweet to savory, from light to warm and hearty. Their menu is also allergies and special diets friendly. The chefs bake their own artisanal bread, make their seasonal fruit jams, and even smoke the meat themselves.

Apart from the café in town, Meen is also very famous for her farm dinners which are mostly held only in winter at the farm. You really should get a ticket for her upcoming farm dinners. It will be worth it, I promise! Moreover, Meen also offers catering services both on and off the farm and the farm has now turned into the famous venue for weddings and events in Chiang Mai.

Recommended menu: Rosy Egg Benny - 225Baht, Sriracha Maple Chicken & Cheddar Cheese Waffle - 275Baht, Pork Chorizo Burger - 285Baht, Peanut Butter Stout with Chocolate Ice Cream (Vegan & Gluten free)- 85Baht, Lemon Lime Bitter - 125Baht, Jagerstone cocktail - 390Baht

Address: Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 7, Hours: 08.30 – 22.00 hrs. Daily, FB: @rusticandbluechiangmai, Parking: Street parking

The Larder Café & Bar

This small yet cozy and super chill café is hidden away in the quieter part of Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi Suk Kasem. The owners, Toey & Naz had lived and worked in Sydney for a few years. When the couple moved back to Chiang Mai, they wanted to offer something new and fresh and opened The Larder in 2013.

The Larder gives the vibes of being in a small café somewhere in Europe, not in Thailand. I think it is the size, the set-up, their style of food, their western patronage and how active and friendly their staff are. Even though the café is not big, you can choose to sit at the front courtyard, inside at the tables or at the bar.

Their menu is not that extensive but definitely more than enough options for you to choose from in order to treat yourself an excellent brunch. They are famous for their freshly prepared open sandwiches, top quality coffee and yummy homemade baked goods. For those with special dietary needs, just tell one of the staff, the kitchen is more than happy to prepare something for you.

Recommended Menu: Parmesan Scrambled Eggs - 150Baht, Breakfast Hotdog - 265Baht, French Toast - 270Baht, Roasted pumpkin open sandwich (vegetarian)- 150Baht, Nutella Cocoa Almond Milkshake - 155Baht, Flat white - 102Baht

Address: 3/9 Suk Kasem Road, Hours: 08.30 – 15.00 Hrs. (Kitchen closed at 14.00 hrs.) Daily. IG geotag: The Larder Cafe and Bar, Parking: Street Parking

Manifreshto

I have been in love with this small little tiny café because of its baked goods and fruit smoothies for a few years now. After have been baking in this 10-square-meter studio for 4 years, the owner, Kay has decided to start serving breakfast and brunch a few months ago!

Kay’s family started to raise chickens on their farmland at the start of this year. They feed the chickens with milled rice, rice bran and milled corn, leftovers from the family-owned mill. At first, Kay started to use her homegrown cage-free eggs in the baked goods. It resulted in there being too many eggs, which is why Kay decided to serve a few egg-based dishes too.

There are only 5 tables along the covered corridor in front of the studio. It can get very busy around 10.00 – 11.00 hrs, so plan wisely.

Recommended menu: Croqe Madame - 165Baht, Baked Eggs with Mushroom, Bacon Bits & Cheese - 175Baht, Vegan Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Panini - 135Baht, Chocolate Banana Muffin - 50Baht, Cold-pressed juice - 78Baht

Address: 14/2 Between Nimmanhaemin Soi 3 & 5, Hours for breakfast & brunch: 07.30 – 14.00 Hrs. Daily except the 1^st & 3^rd Tuesday, Hours for baked goods & drinks: 07.30 – 21.00 Hrs. Daily. FB: @manifreshto, Parking: Street Parking

Natwat Home Café

Sometimes Chiang Mai can get very busy and crowded. If you are looking for somewhere quieter to relax and treat yourself to a nice meal, I think Natwat Home Café is the answer. It is nestled in the grounds of the owner’s own home. Even though it is a bit out of town, by the Ping River, it is worth a visit.

The title ‘home café’ best describes this place. It has a homey and relaxing atmosphere. The inside seating is spacious and is perfect for small or large groups. You can also choose to sit in the lovely garden with a spectacular waterfall for a view.

Natwat Home Café offers a great selection on the menu. In my opinion, Natwat has one of the best poached eggs and pasta in town. Eggs are always cooked to perfection and pastas are always al dente. Moreover, Natwat is serious about his coffee. So, great food with high-quality coffee, this place is definitely perfect for brunch.

Recommended menu: Natwat Benedict - 180Baht, French Toast with Bacon & Brie - 180Baht, Baked Eggs & Meatballs - 180Baht, Cappucino - 65Baht, Green Smoothie - 95Baht

Address: 330/2 Charoen Rat Road, Hours: 08.30 – 17.00 Hrs. Daily. FB: @nhc.cnx, Parking: Yes

ABCD: A Better Cup & Design

I recently just discovered ABCD myself and I quite liked the concept and of course, its brunch menu. Kwan, a graphic designer, together with Game, a barista opened up this café to be ‘a room to think’ for you.

Kwan and Game believe that each of us has our creative side dormant within us. They want to offer ABCD as a place to inspire and help bring out our creativity through their drinks and brunch menu. Their menu is simple but has been well-created. They also believe that just a good cup of coffee with a piece of their homemade cookie or a just bowl of their homemade granola with yoghurt can help you explore the ways you see or look at things in the ways that you haven’t seen before.

Recommended Menu: Granola bowl - 129Baht, Who says bacon sandwich - 129Baht, Chicken & Avocado Sandwich - 129Baht, Cappucino - 60Baht, Moving on (Signature drink)- 89Baht, Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte - 69Baht

Address: 1 Huaykaew Road (Adjacent to the Yamaha showroom), Hours: 09.00 – 18.00 Hrs. Everyday, Closed on Thursdays, FB: @abcd.cnx, Parking: Yes