Nimmanhaemin Road

With craft beers, live music, rooftop views, and even old English pubs on offer, Nimmanhaemin Road's nightlife holds something for every kind of preference and budget.

1. Warm Up Café is over 15 years old and continues to be the go-to party destination. The sprawling venue has a main live room, an al-fresco garden, and a small dance room. After 10:00 PM, it becomes very crowded and difficult to get entry.

2. Infinity Club is hugely popular amongst locals, expats, and tourists alive for its laser-beam dance floor indoors, great DJ line-ups, and huge outdoor area with plenty of comfortable sofa seating.

3. Myst Rooftop Bar is on the roof of Maya Shopping Mall with one of the best sunset views in Chiang Mai. It offers cocktails by glass or bucket, and although they aren’t cheap, the ambience and view more than makes up for the price.

4. Maldives Resort, as the name suggests, aims for a comfortable beach vibe. It has palm tree decorations, comfortable beach chair seating, and promotions on beers every single night.

5. Nap Gastrobar offers another beer-centric experience with plenty of local and imported beers on tap.

6. Beer Lab in Kantary Terrace complex brews their own craft beer and stocks bottles from around the world. Even if you aren’t a fan of beer, their beer-cocktails receive rave reviews.

7. The Pub Chiang Mai hopes to bring a slice of English drinking to Thailand with its cosy old bar ambience. The menu includes unmistakably British items like fish and chips, pies, and even a Sunday roast. On tap, they often feature Kilkenny and Guinness.

Within walking distance of one another are Nimman’s dozens of eating options. They include a wide range of cuisines like Japanese cuisine, American cuisine, Italian cuisine, and local dishes.

1. Café de Nimman is popular for their traditional Thai dishes like fried rice, papaya salad, stir fried squid, and coconut curries.
2. Khun Mor’s Cuisine dates back to 1999 and serves Thai dishes like pad thai, homemade sai ua (local herb sausages), grilled pork, and their signature boat noodles.
3. Beast Burger was once a burger truck, but now has expanded to a two-floor restaurant to meet its massive demand. Their menu includes eight burger types, three sides, and six non-alcohol drink options, but each dish has been curated to perfection. Popular dishes here include The Beast, a beef/pork patty topped with bacon, cheese, and their secret sauce. Aside from non-vegetarian options like a chicken burger and pulled pork burger, there’s even a vegan burger for those with special diets.

4. The Salad Concept encourages healthy eating with a variety of unique salads, along with pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches. Their drink options include fresh, delicious fruit smoothies.

5. Anchan is an all-veg restaurant that sees huge crowds despite their lack of meat options. The dishes change every day and you’ll have to check their outdoor blackboard for the day’s menu. They serve wholesome, healthy Thai food in generous portions.

6. Tong Tem Toh, generally called Tong, sees long queues as early as 5:00 PM for dinner. They have a barbeque grill right at the entrance and their recommended dishes are grilled pork neck, spicy chicken curry, and other grill-based dishes. They are known for having very spicy food. Why Not? specialises in pizzas and pastas made from the best quality ingredients in one of Nimman’s more upmarket restaurants. 

Aside from these restaurants, Nimman’s young crowd guarantees a quirky café culture in the area. The coffee shops like God Mother Mocha, Ristr8to, Graph Café, and the Lost Garden provide some of the best coffee in all of Nimman. There are plenty of street vendors too in case you’re looking for a budget meal like noodle soup or papaya salad. Maya Lifestyle Centre has a food court on the fourth floor is plenty of restaurants, bakeries, and fast-food chains. The café C.A.M.P (Creative and Meeting Place) is open 24 hours of the day and is especially popular amongst the Chiang Mai university crowd.  At the night market, you’ll find lots of stalls serving Thai, Japanese, and even Korean cuisine.

The water festival of Songkran takes place every April and is hugely popular in Thailand. Nimmanhaemin Road is filled with revellers holding buckets, water pistols, and even garden hoses for the notorious water fights. It’s one of the best times to visit the area if you’re eager to take part in the festivities.

Nimmanhaemin Road is located in Tambon Su Thep, Amphoe Mueng, Chiang Mai. It is 3.7 kilometres (10 minutes) from Chiang Mai National Museum, 3.5 kilometres (15 minutes) from Chiang Mai’s Old City and around 5 kilometres (10 minutes) from Lanna Golf Course.

When coming from downtown Chiang Mai, you will need to follow Huai Kaew Road and pass Central Kad Suan Kaw to Rin Kam intersection. This is where Maya Shopping Mall is located, signalling the beginning of Nimman area. Alternatively, you can use Suthep Road to Maharaj Hospital and Wat Suan Dok before you reach the Public Health Office of Chiang Mai. From there, Nimman area begins on the right.

If you’d like to opt for public transport, you can use the local red trucks called songthaews. Prices will vary based on the distance but it generally around THB 20 to THB 40 from the Old City and THB 150 from the airport. Be sure to determine the price before the trip and don’t hesitate to negotiate!