City Buzz

 |  July 31, 2012


This restaurant, believe it or not, is by the moat. It offers a large menu of Thai and international food that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Vegetarians will be gratified to find a vast selection of options including banana flower salad, mushroom satay with peanut sauce and pumpkin curry, veggie dishes are priced on average between 50 and 60 baht each. The English and Thai couple who own The Moat Restaurant & Bar (of Rattana’s Kitchen fame) have included some traditional British classics on the menu such as a generous serving of cottage pie with a rich meaty sauce and mash which is slightly browned in the oven, and side vegetables priced only 80 baht – which is rather good value for money. Other main courses include steak and kidney and chicken and mushroom pies priced 150 baht. As well as more international foods such as the Hawaiian and cheese burgers with fries and steaks with various side dishes. They also serve beer, wine, coffee and a range of soft drinks. There is seating inside with air conditioning and outside where you can watch the world pass by.

82/2 Chaiyaphum Road (opposite Somphet Market)
053 233 459

The little cafe is very romantic, simple, stylish and charming with a little stream running through the restaurant for those with smelly feet. After walking around and admiring their stylish decor, their home-grown organic vegetables and taking in the ambiance, sit down by the water and chill out. The menu has coffees, teas and drinks to offer and there are a few single-dish meals as well. Recommended dishes include pad tai, krapao chicken and roti with crispy prawns…simple, but each dish offering just a slight twist from the norm. The crispy prawn, when bitten into, made a crunch that must have carried all the way to the Royal Flora. The large NO Wifi sign is quite admirable, taking away our civilisation crutch and forcing us to appreciate the immediate surroundings. Highly recommended, Ban Suan Cafe is chilled, relaxed, offers great – if limited – food, and is apparently THE hip and trendy cafe to be these days.

Go towards the entrance of the Royal Flora. At the roundabout turn left in the direction of Wat Phra That Doi Kham, keep going straight on. From the temple it is about one kilometre to the restaurant you will see signs for the restaurant every 300 metres, the restaurant is on the left hand side.

(Excerpt from Sun Seubsaeng’s food blog on CityNews)

170 Moo 3,  T. Mae Hia
086 472 1042

It is well known that breakfast is the most important meal of the day; you know how it goes…eat like a king at breakfast, queen at lunch and pauper for supper. If you are a breakfast lover, you no longer need to be an earlier riser, at Chiang Mai Breakfast World, a flowery little café next to Tha Pae Gate Lodge guesthouse, they serve breakfast all day until 10 p.m. Here you can have your bacon and eggs not only the morning after a night out on the tiles, but even before the big night begins as an evening meal. You may at first be slightly overwhelmed with the huge choice of brekkie options, there are over 80, not to mention the 30 different types of jam. The restaurant, which also serves European and Thai meals, is run by a German chef, so there are many European style breakfasts on offer which contain yummy cheeses, smoked salmon, salami and sausages, oh and the bread is homemade at the adjoining bakery. Chiang Mai Breakfast World also does American and English breakfasts, pancakes, waffles, croissants, muffins and cereals.

Open Daily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
38/7 Moon Muang Road, Soi 2 (enter from Soi 1, you can park in the temple car park until 7 p.m.)
053 207 134
www.chiangmaibreakfastworld.com

Go loco at Loco Elvis, where you can sit back in this casual Tex-Mex diner and watch the backpackers go by while chomping down on build-your-own burritos and chimichangas, snack on dips, sandwiches and all sorts of goodies, slurping ice cold margaritas or knocking back a chilled Chang. The location is great, the vibe is fun, most nights, especially weekends, it is rocking with the expat teacher crowd and tourists. But the highlight – depending on your acoustic snobbery – has got to be the fact that it is the first farang-styled karaoke venue in town (they even claim, in Thailand). You heard us! You can get up and sing your favourite Pet Shop Boys, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Rihanna or any song from a massive song list – 167,000 songs! – the likes of which you have never see in a Thai karaoke venue. The massive Texan manager gets up on the stage and does some fantastic performances and promises to bring in future acts to keep punters entertained. The crowd is surprisingly appreciative, so get down to Loco Elvis, get up for a song and lounge back for a great time. There will be a new pool room and an air-conditioned restaurant opening in a few months along with live music. So watch this space.

Open Daily 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.
129/3-5 Moon Muang Road
www.LocoElvis.com
www.facebook.com/LocoElvisThailand

 

Lovers of malt whisky and Cuban cigars are in for a treat at The Chedi with its new floor-to-ceiling pacific cigar prestige humidor offering Cuban cigars from – and we are going to pretend we know what we are talking about here – 250 baht petite coronation Punch to big daddies such as the 1,910 baht Cohiba Behike, the most exclusive line of the prestigious Habanos brand. Sit back by the Ping with a Montecristo, Ramon Allones or, if you are not too brave, a mini cigarillos (65 baht).  Now, on to the stuff we do know about. Lovers of malt whisky will find themselves spoilt rotten with the selection of single (and a few blended) malt whiskys at the hotel’s relaxing outdoors lounge. The highlight of the menu is the 30 year old Glenfarcas at 2,200 baht a glass but other nectars include the Provenance Big Peat (900 baht) and Asyla (650 baht) 11 year old Craggamore (800 baht) among 23 premium choices. The selection and quality will satisfy most discerning Scots and lovers of the water of life. Sláinte!

Cigars are sold at retail prices and are subject to VAT. A 10% service charge is applicable when smoking onsite.

Open Daily 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
The Chedi Chiang Mai, 123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Road
053 253 385
www.ghmhotels.com

 

This charming little – well, mini – café and wine bar is a delightful surprise. Owned by a group of young Thai friends who love good food and good wines, it serves up scrumptious Italian fare paired with quality wines (house wines 160 baht per glass, though there is an excellent, if pricier, wine list). The chef used to work at the Four Seasons and brings with him creativity, consistency and flair. Whether a crispy tortilla bruchetta or a homemade terrine served with organic salads and cranberry sauce, each dish is delightful and imaginative. There are pastas, lamb shanks and all sorts of great dishes and while the price isn’t cheap, it is well worth that extra little bit for such fresh flavours. Brand new, Café Mini is already making a name for itself and it won’t be long when we suspect bookings may be required. Beat the crowds and get a bite in.

Open 5 p.m.-midnight, closed on Mondays

12/2, Soi 9, Nimmanheamin Road (right opposite Monkey Club’s ATM)

053 212 468, 084 488 6114

www.facebook.com/Cafeminichiangmai