Chiang Mai

6ixcret

Located in the Night Bazar building, this famous gay bar is transitioning to a night club to attract more people including tourists. Drag show and cabaret show starts at 21:30 to midnight. No entrance fee, but there is a two drink minimum.

Ben Cocktail Bar

A tiny, hole-in-the-wall (~15 seat) cocktail bar that just may serve the best cocktails in Chiang Mai. Certainly the best price/performance. Run by Ben, an irrepressible, animal-loving, lovely female and her partner, Keng. She is especially proud of her mojitos, but all the 270 cocktails on offer are delicious. The conversation is good too as she speaks excellent English. Free Wi-Fi. Great place to people watch.

17:00-last man standing·Chang beer 60 baht; cocktails 120 baht

Blow

A small bar with young crowd. Small scale drag show on Thursday and Saturday from 22:15 to 23:30 approximately (sometimes it started later if queens arrived later). No entrance fee for drag shows. The show stage is simply space between tables on two side, and one staff will stand near the entrance door holding a flashlight for lightning.

Boy Blues Bar

The owner, "Boy", is a nephew of Chiang Mai legend "Took", of the now defunct Brasserie. Monday night is jamming night with great visiting musicians. Bangkok blues legend, Chai (of Chai's Blues Bar fame), often joins in. Well worth a visit.

Mon-Sat 19:00-24:00

CaveCave 洞洞

A small club for about 50 people — positive atmosphere with Techno and Psy music or the accidental Old School Electro. Also, one of the less expensive venues with an according more alternative crowd.

Thu–Sun 20:00–·From 100 baht

Chapter 2W0

A gem of a cafe set in a sprawling garden. Excellent coffee and juice concoctions. Mouthwatering breads and desserts.

Daily 06:00-17:00

Chiang Mai Cabaret Show

A nightly revue, dancing to Western tunes by ladyboys in lavish costumes. The one hour show is tame and family-friendly, with children frequently in the audience. Lots of dancing to ABBA tunes and extravagant costumes, with no nudity. The show's length is perfect and the price is surprising affordable. Good fun. Happy Hour precedes the show, 19:30-20:30, and also follows the show.

Daily show, 21:30-22:30·200 baht cover, includes one drink

Chit Hole CNX

Besides the funny name, it is a place with 16 different kinds of draft beer, some local ones from Chiang Mai. Small music groups of 2-3 persons.

195 baht for a 350 mL glass and 250 baht for a 550 mL glass

Deaf Shop

A small vinyl listening bar with a cozy atmosphere that seems to serve as a shop during the day. At night a curated selection of LPs and hosts events with guest DJs makes it a unique spot for music lovers in the city. It fits only a tiny crowd of about 30–50 people, so don't come too late! After midnight they will close the front gate to continue raving — don't worry, this is not a scheme to distort money!

Daily, late

Dragonfly Bar

One of the smaller bars at the top of Loi Kroh but also one of the most cosy. What really make this place stand out is the friendly staff and that this bar has two floors so you can get away from the bustle of street level and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere from the balcony.

J. Ju Coffee

Run by "Oil", this little place has excellent espresso-based drinks, free Wi-Fi, or ten minutes on the computer with your coffee. Very modern design; seating in the front is open-air while the back is air conditioned. Oil speaks excellent English and is happy to give you the low-down.

Liquid Room

A full blown EDM club (House, Techno, and Trance) with regular international DJs. It features a lively bar experience with eclectic drinks for those guests willing to spend. Probably the largest of the clubs in Chiang Mai.

Daily 21:00–·From 200 baht

Noise

A prominent and cozy Chinese Underground Techno Club, if that doesn't sound too racist. A dark venue with likewise darker kind of electronic music for a crowd that enjoys deep and experimental tunes.

Fri Sat 22:00–·Often 200 baht (include 1 free drink)

Number 1 Bistro/Cafe

Great expat bar. Free Wi-Fi with electrical outlets spaced at one metre intervals under the bar. They specialise in Belgian beer as well as having eight draught beers on tap, including domestic and Guinness. Excellent kitchen serving Thai and farang food, although the latter can be pricy: pad Thai is 80 baht, while the cheeseburger is expensive at 250 baht (July 2015). Number 1 is a refuge in Chiang Mai's red light district as it has no bar girls hassling you for a drink. And it's one of the few places on Loi Kroh where you can comfortably take a date. Two excellent pool tables, 20 baht per game (July 2015).

Closed · opens 3 pm·Small Leo beer 80 baht

Ram bar

A locally owned and gay owned, straight friendly gay bar featuring daily shows.

Red CNX

A western orientated club known for its energetic atmosphere with famous host DJs from time to time and electronic music genres like House and Techno. Young and hip. Due to its size (more than 150 people), it will need a decent crowd to be fun. Don't pay entrance if you are not 100% sure that there is a crowd inside, ready to let loose.

Fri–Sun 21:00–·100–300 baht entrance

Ristr8to

A trendy art cafe featuring an award-winning barista (world champion latte art 2017), choices of single-origin beans and a varied drink menu. Very friendly atmosphere at much higher standard than is normally seen in Thailand.

Closed · opens 8 am·89 baht for a doppio ristretto

Riverside Restaurant

The live music starts around 19:00 with dinner music from the Eagles, Beatles or soft jazz. Starting at 21:00, the music changes to more rock and pop. The restaurant gets very crowded, so arrive early to get a table. The Riverside also offers a nightly dinner cruise departing at 20:00 for 110 baht/person extra.

Sky Café

Nice situation on a busy road with across that road a pond where often horses are bathed around 11:00. Espresso is brewed very well, using good coffee beans.

The Baristro Coffee Roaster

Small local chain of coffee places, this one is at the river with garden seats direct at the river. See their website for the other locations.

Closed · opens 8 am

The Good View

Thai and Western varieties of rock, jazz, pop and country music in the evening. Their extensive menu offers more than 150 Thai, Chinese, and Western dishes, including curries, noodles, rice and pizza. Full-service bar serving wine, beer and spirits. If you want to get in, get there early and there's a queue every night.

Closed · opens 10 am

The Moat House

John's Place

Rock and blues bands in the downstairs bar and a chilled out rooftop bar above. Long list of cocktails, beers and wines.

Wed-Sun 14:00-00:00·Free entry

The North Gate Jazz Collective

Nightly jazz performances starting around 21:30 with different performers and occasional guests from the audience. A surprisingly young crowd for the type of music they play here. If you are a music enthusiast, the performance can be a mixed bag: sometimes great, sometimes mediocre. However, the range of available stimulants in Chiang Mai will ensure that you will have a great time, especially if you come here with friends. Serves a variety of drinks not normally found in Chiang Mai, notably red and white wine, mojitos and other mixed drinks. The staff are quick and efficient, and the prices are reasonable.

No admission. Small beer 100 baht

The Sax Music House

Music groups of 6-8 persons, each group playing for about one hour. Large collection of liquor with high end ones like a 21-year-old Glenfiddich.

The Writers Club

An old fashioned bar and restaurant purportedly for SE Asia's community of authors, journalists and screenwriters, though everyone's welcome. A good, informal source of information about SE Asia. This is where some of those writing guidebooks gather.

Warm Up Bar

This chain bar/restaurant/club has several venues in Thailand. The venue in Chiang Mai is a lot less touristy and the dance hall packed to the brim with Thai students.

Zoe in Yellow

Very large indoor/outdoor bar and club with a dance floor, live music or DJ, including lots of outdoor seating and multiple bars. If you're looking to party with foreigners in Chiang Mai, this is the place to be. Closes exactly at midnight except on special occasions, such as New Year or Songkran.

86's Room

A decent dancing gay bar.

18:00–00:00

Akha Ama

Moved to this new location from the Santitham area.

08:00-17:00, closed Wed

Akha Ama Phrasingh

Now next door at a bigger location, having two floors.

Closed · opens 8 am