The newly opened Dejavu Café, located on Nimmanheamin, Soi 11, is decorated with inspiration taken from the owner’s tattoo studio, namely Dejavu Tattoo. The café is painted in shades of red and black, and when you first step inside, the colours seem to boost your energy. The entire left wall is decorated with Salvador Dali paintings, and the right wall is covered with big Ganesha in red. Several illustrations from Thai literature are also used as wall décor. At the bar, you can pick your favourite drink and enjoy it at one of the wooden tables. The wooden chairs are sculpted in the shape of elephants. There are tables outside for those who prefer the fresh air, and for those who would like to smoke. The menu offers stuffed cheese and veggies chicken balls, deep fried chicken wings, lime seasoned pork and much more. Dejavu Café provides free wi-fi connection for customers. This is a great venue for all who love rock and heavy metal music.
Open daily 5 p.m. – 0.30 a.m.
Nimmanheamin Soi 11
Tel: 081 445 3508 (Art)
www.dejavutattoo.com
A new place has graced the yuppy tract and it may impress the many beer aficionados of Chiang Mai. If you’re disenchanted with Chang, sick of Singha or have had it with Heineken then Neighborhood can refresh a part of you that other places just cannot reach. Here you can get all kinds of imported brews that include: Hoegaarden draft, Erdinger, Stella, Memminger, Paulaner, Kwak, Duval, Rochefort, Chimay, Foris Chocolate, Kriek, Kasteel, Old English (cider), and lots of other specials and even some of the ordinary beers (though they don’t go down well after those great special brews). The imported beers don’t come cheap (150-180 baht) though some of them have the ability to make you very drunk very quickly – and they taste great. Neighborhood is also a restaurant serving mostly Thai food, and is always a busy and cool place to hang-out any night of the week amongst the city’s iPhone parvenu.
Open daily from 6 p.m until midnight
Nimmanhaemin Soi 17
Tel : 081 885 8855
neighbor_hood@live.com www.facebook.com/neighborhood17
Smiley Kitchen Japanese restaurant must be doing something right because a steady stream of Japanese – mainly retired – expatriates walk in and out of it all day, every day. Most of these regulars spend hours sipping tea or beer, reading Japanese newspapers, chatting to their friends and chowing down great Japanese food. A plain Jane restaurant with a nice simple outdoors terrace and townhouse interior, Smiley Kitchen serves up authentic Japanese, no frills, grub. The prices are as modest as the décor and the simple dishes delicious. Try some of the standard Japanese food sets: mackerel, chicken, pork, grilled salmon, etc. Other yummy dishes include their soba and udon noodles, and many single dishes with unpronounceable names, but very delicious indeed. Pudding and beer and soft drinks are served.
Open on Mondays-Saturdays 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
(closed on Sundays)
Nimmanhaemin Soi 3
Tel: 087 176 7566
This small coffee house is great for all coffee lovers looking for that original and unique place offering the finest tastes in coffee. At Ramida Coffee you can try the ‘House Blend Coffee’, which is based on Thai, African and South American coffee blends, or the ‘Espresso Single Origin’, which is brewed on beans imported from Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia and other countries. On the menu you will also find traditional options like Cappuccino, Espresso Con Pana and more. If you are in the mood for something cool and refreshing, go for one of the smoothies, such as the cookie and cream frappe, caramel smoothie frappe, roses, butter scotch or Malibu. There is also a selection of little cake bites (chocolate fudge, brownie and most recently, freshly baked strawberry smoothie cake). Ramida is a self-serve coffee shop, w hich means that you are free to add sugar or cinnamon as you please. Inside has air-conditioning, or you can sit next to the small soi. Wi-fi is available here.
Open daily 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
T 20/1 Soi 7 MoonMuang Road
Tel: (66) 053 – 289593
Fax: (66) 053 289 593
www.baanramida.com
A new Moroccan-styled restaurant, Sahara offers a selection of Western, Middle Eastern, and Thai food. From tasty pizzas for only 99 baht to badmejan (a Middle Eastern dish comprised of braised chicken stew with tomato and eggplant) for 129 baht to a delicious chicken pesto panini for 99 baht…you can’t go wrong. Their hummus and baba ganoush are lovely, as are the generously portioned kebabs. The large spread downstairs has nice chilled sofa seatings and dining tables, both indoors and out, where you can watch the craziness of Nimmanhaemin (and Warm Up) unfold while sipping a cool beer. As of early February there will also be a rooftop bar with Moroccan-style drapings, vibrant lanterns and nice seatings. Relax with chilled drink while you hang with friends
Open Sundays-Thursdays 11 a.m.-midnight and Fridays-Saturdays 11 a.m.- 1 a.m.
59/9 Soi Nimmanhaemin Road (Across from Warm-Up Café)
Tel: 053 222 088 Fax: 053 222 877
Nina Restaurant offers original Thai cuisine for a reasonable price: an average meal here is 100-150 baht (for two people). This is a quiet venue where you can avoid the hectic city noise while indulging in delicious food. The menu holds traditional Thai options such as pad tai, along with many southern Thai style dishes, since the chef is from southern Thailand. International options are also available, such as American breakfast, beef steak with baked potatoes, grilled chicken breast, home made pumpkin soup. They also have their own home made yoghurt.
Excitingly, and you need to call and ask when, they will have special days and nights each month where you can sample Russian cuisine – Chiang Mai’s first!
The Dome No.1 Soi Plub Plung,
Huay Keaw Road
Tel: 053 405 400 ext 500