City Buzz

 |  January 28, 2013


Do you find the bread in Thailand too soft and sugary? The owner of Dailycious did, which is why she decided to open a Chiang Mai cafe specialising in authentic European breads. The restaurant uses fresh dough that is fermented overnight, then cooked in a specialty oven from France that can heat up to 400 degrees. The menu offers a large variety of food and will cater to all your carb cravings, including Italian focaccia, pizza, pasta, bagels, French toast and pita with hummus. There are also plenty of sweets to pack it in, from cupcakes to cheesecakes to pies to macaroons. You can even watch your dessert being made thanks to the restaurant’s open baking kitchen, perfect for those who appreciate maximum transparency. Dailycious is spacious and clean with a small patio outside and free Wi-Fi. If you’re not looking for a big meal, it’s also a sweet spot for a quick hangout over coffee and cake. 

Open Daily, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

77/3 Kotchasarn Road

www.facebook.com/dailycious

083 321 3621 


A great new addition to the ever-expanding Nimmanhaemin party scene, Beer Republic is pulling in a roaring trade for its great selection of draft beers (a whopping 16 different kinds on tap) and quality grub. Old Speckled Hen English ale, Hoegaarden White and Rose, Leffe Abbey Blonde, Stella Artois Pilsner, Erdinger Dark, Ohara’s Irish Stout…the list goes on! They even have beer samplers if you can’t quite make up your mind: taste five beers for 250 baht or ten beers for 500 baht. The food is also great, and the owners have clearly put a lot of thought into food and beer pairing. Offerings range from fin de Claire oysters to hearty German sausages served with curly chips. Not a beer lover? The house wines at 80 baht a glass (and we’re talking a nice, big and refreshingly full glass here) are a steal. Pop in and join the after-work crowd or gather a bunch of friends and party the night away. Beer Republic is set to stay.

Open Tuesdays-Sundays, 5 p.m. – midnight

(Closed Mondays)

28 Nimmanhaemin Soi 11

www.beerrepublicchiangmai.com

083 944 1919, 081 531 4765

This cosy new music venue, located just west of the Iron Bridge, combines the low-key aesthetic of a neighbourhood dive bar with delicious food and excellent live music nightly. The owner, a friendly and talented sax player in his own right, is striving to support local artists and create a haven for serious music lovers to kick back and enjoy an impressive array of jazz, blues, funk, Latin, pop, rock, folk and fusion acts starting at 9:30 p.m. every night of the week (except Sundays, when the bar is closed). Check out their website for weekly schedules and artist bios. And definitely come hungry _ Bear Bar offers a full menu of Thai food, bar snacks, and delicious pizzas named after famous bears of yore, from Fozzy to Paddington to Boo-Boo. Wash down your grub with a variety of creative beverages, including the ‘bear juice’ cocktail and the ‘small piece of fluff (in his ear)’ shot (that’s a Winnie the Pooh reference, for the bear-challenged among you). Nightly Happy Hours last from 6 – 10 p.m., with a three-beer special for 199 baht.

Open Mondays – Saturdays 6 p.m. – 1 a.m.

(Closed Sundays)

68/5 Charoen Prathet Road

www.thebearbar.com

082 766 8419 


Want to learn how to design and build a robot? Come to the Click Robot Engineering Centre and take a course in Lego Mindstorm NXT Education. Using state-of-the-art technology, Click Robot holds courses for students of all ages, so whether you’re five years old or pushing 80, your robot-building future is bright. Courses range from absolute beginners to the more advanced, and skills will be tested before enrolment to determine your proper level. All students will be provided with personal laptops on which they will design and assemble the robot with the guidance of a bilingual professional instructor, before getting tested at the end of the 12-hour course. Click Robot will also teach students skills as problem solving, dedication and discipline, and provides special certificates for all students upon completion. 

The Ring, 2nd Floor, Nimmanhaemin Soi 17

clickrobot.chiangmai@hotmail.com

089 504 9973



A gorgeous restaurant on the moat, The Olive Tree serves up scrumptious and authentic Middle Eastern fare. The décor is exotic with a charming downstairs dining room seating large groups as well as intimate couples while the sumptuous second floor lounge could be set in a bazaar in Marrakesh: all velvet ottomans, massive print sofas, antique tables and Middle Eastern art, perfect for a loungy after dinner drink…or two. If you have gorged yourself on a selection of mezze, chicken tajine with dried fruits, roast lamb with couscous, chicken liver with raisin and brandy and still hanker for more, sign up for a one day cooking class. There you can learn the art of Middle Eastern cuisine and wow your friends from your very own kitchen. Chef Zahavit of Jerusalem Falafel has been serving up her food here in Chiang Mai since 1991 and this latest incarnation looks like it is going to be around for a long while. 

Open Saturdays – Thursdays, lunch 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 

dinner 5 p.m. – 11p.m. (closed on Fridays)

29/7 Moon Muang Road (just up from the Rachamankha corner)

053 271 196

Opened on 12-12-12, this brand new lunch and dinner destination is a nutritious and delicious addition to the Nimman neighbourhood. Located inside Kantary Terrace shopping centre, Green Table has a bright and modern design with indoor and outdoor seating on their spacious terrace, perfect for a leisurely lunch or a posh but casual night out. The lunch menu offers a plethora of scrumptious salads _ from the seared tuna to the roasted duck to the signature Green Table salad, a mix of organic greens and seasonal fruits topped with a yummy herb dressing _ as well as hearty soups, sandwiches, carpaccios, and pasta dishes (the creamy fettucine salmon is a winner). For dinner, try the tender pork steak with blueberry sauce, an unexpectedly delectable combination served with steamed veggies and pickled cabbage. The full bar offers an assortment of wine and cocktails, including Sex on the Table, Green Table’s own tasty twist on the classic beach drink, which comes with a bird-shaped fruit sculpture perched on the glass. Save room for dessert; the chocolate créme brulee is to die for.

Open Daily, lunch 11.30 a.m. – 2 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. – 12 a.m. 

Kantary Terrace, 2nd Floor, Nimmanhaemin Soi 12

www.facebook.com/greentablerestaurant

053 223 529

This funky little eatery, recently relocated to a small soi just outside the Old City, is a local favourite among expats and travellers alike. Just look at the abundance of TripAdvisor reviews, most of which start with something along the lines of “This is my favourite restaurant in Chiang Mai.” Indeed, it’s the kind of place you try out and immediately want to share with everyone you know. The owner and head chef, Jacky, is like a little ray of sunshine decked out in the coolest indie rock attire and an ever-present smile, cooking up the kind of comfort food that can turn a bad day into a good one. From omelettes to pancakes to quesadillas to curries, everything on the menu is fresh and delicious, and nothing costs more than 100 baht.  The sandwiches are especially great, made with Jacky’s homemade bread and served with salad or an assortment of fries (zucchini! pumpkin!) and creamy dipping sauces that are worth every calorie. Wash it all down with a mouth-watering shake or smoothie – the peanut butter banana is a notable gem. 

Open Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m – 9 p.m. 

(Closed Sundays)

25 Chaiyapoom Soi 1

086 196 8422

The Brasserie is back! Now located in a convenient new spot along the northeast side of the Old City, just across the moat from Ginger Kafe, this former Riverside favourite is in the process of re-establishing itself as one of the city’s prime destinations for excellent live blues, rock and folk.  Back with it is Took, Chiang Mai’s resident guitar hero who, after a long absence, has returned to Chiang Mai ready to rock again. Schedules are still being devised, but you can pretty much guarantee that there will be live music any night of the week, starting around 9 p.m. Took’s ex-wife Jeed runs the show, and has turned the spacious street side venue into a lush garden of greenery, bamboo accents, colourful lamps and tapestries. A large assortment of beer and cocktails are available, as well as a food menu that features plenty of good old-fashioned Thai and Western standbys, including sandwiches, pizza, pasta, sausages and big juicy burgers.

Open Daily, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. 

95/1-2 Chaiyaphum Road

082 892 9283


Attention English expats, you are in luck. The meats you loved back home, from sausages to ham to bacon, are now offered up at this brand new Chiang Mai restaurant, set in the beautiful garden of the owner’s home. You may recognise Sausage King’s high quality meat products at various supermarkets like Tops and Rimping. In fact, Sausage King is a western food manufacturer and supplier to Thailand’s largest supermarkets. The owner decided to open a restaurant serving dishes that use the very products he distributes, including English breakfasts, steak burgers, fish & chips, and pies. Classic Thai and Indian dishes are also available, and most plates cost only 99 baht. The restaurant itself is a little hard to find, so leave yourself some time and keep an eye out for the signs. You’ll quickly forget about the tricky navigation once you’ve taken a bite of the oh-so-succulent sausages.

Open Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

soon to open in the evenings 

332 Soi 13 Moo 2 Nong Chom, Nangleo, San Sai Noi

053 127 585, 085 706 0105