City Buzz

 |  August 3, 2009

At Le Petit Paris, a cool, French style bistro, Philip the congenial English owner has been both a chef and restaurateur for two decades in both England and France. He is now firmly planted in Chiang Mai with his wife where they cook up a storm of English and French dishes. Dishes are mostly staples, including English roast pork dinner, chicken Provencal, beef brown ale, goulash, pork fillet with cream sauce, pate, French onion soup, salads, breakfasts and more. They also, after being at a loss finding great sausages in Chiang Mai, make their own Cumberlands, that you can have as bangers and mash or order and take home with you. Philip recommends his sherry trifle and apple cinnamon dessert for the sweet toothed. Wines, beers and cocktails are also served. Prices at Le Petit Paris are very reasonable, so if you want to taste some fine cooking that won’t stretch the wallet, you have an option here.

Open 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Tel: 087 143 0151
Ratwithi Road just up from UN. Irish Pub
thepetitparis@gmail.com

Charming would be the word. Gingham table cloths, daisies in petite vases, cute chef and staff decked out in pretty cotton aprons and whimsical tea pots as décor accessories, this little restaurant serves up some truly unique Thai and farang dishes. Freshly baked crisp-on-the-outside-and buttery-warm-core bread buns served with rich and creamy green curry with pork, thin crust pizza topped with moo ping (grilled pork) and a variety of other interesting toppings, tasty noodles with rich ingredients and a selection of desserts all at very reasonable prices, makes this a perfect spot for lunch or a quiet dinner. Oregano’s chef/owner cooks and serves up her dishes herself and is proudly on hand to make recommendations. There is also a nice garden area to sit in and enjoy the quiet while sipping a hot cup of tea and munching on a cake.

Open 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed Mondays
Tel: 053 329 240
99/8 Moo 5 Irrigation Canal Road
(Nantakwang Garden Mall)

Spanky’s makes no claims to be a fine, or dare I say even nice, dining experience, unpretentious as it is in every way, though it does claim to be the best value burger joint in the city. They have a point, too. With their 90 g or 150 g burgers, cheese burgers, bacon cheese burgers; their huge Italian steak subs, Philly cheese steaks, chicken burgers, pork burgers, meatball subs, you have enough fast food on offer to warrant five trips a week to the gym. They also sell fries, chili fries, beers and soft drinks. Did we say it’s cheap? Owner of Spanky’s, formerly owner of another Chiang Mai meat focused restaurant, has moved to this no thrills location and so is now able to flog the merry burger addicted denizens of Chiang Mai his stuff at pretty much half the price of many other burger outlets. A must for the value seeking and burger aficionado. Spanky’s is now on mealsonwheels4u.

Open 11.30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Closed Mondays
Tel: 053 251177
Chiang Moi Kao Road
(Just up from Prince Hotel)

Juice Box is a small but nicely decked out juice joint located right at the corner of Klang Vieng intersection in the middle of the Sunday walking street. On offer are myriad drinks and funky mixtures in all different colours, shapes and sizes, from fruit juices, fruit shakes, smoothies, soft drinks and even the old infidel: beer. So when you’re gagging for a drink, sweaty and flustered from battling the crowds in the walking street, this is a perfect oasis in the middle of the mayhem.

Tel: 084 919 1669
Klang Vieng intersection
1 Soi 4 Prapokklao Road

Nimmanhaemin’s hottest noodle joint, this wee noodle shop is packed at meal times, but does a brisk trade throughout the day as well. Serving deliciously brothy beef and pork noodles as well as a few other accompaniments, this noodle shop is about as upmarket as the rest of the chic new restaurants in the area with solid wooden chairs instead of collapsible plastic, it’s also spotlessly clean. It even has WIFI so you can sit around quaff your noodles while following the latest political shenanigans online! Bowls of noodles are not cheap, at about 40 baht per dish, but then nothing is that cheap on the Nim strip anymore.

Open Mondays-Fridays 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tel: 081 472 9619
Nimmanhaemin Road Soi 11

Facing a quiet, dark, stretch of the Ping River, is this little gem of a guesthouse and restaurant. With fewer than a dozen rooms, the River Ping Palace offers intimacy in a lush garden setting. The restaurant itself, built from the remnants of an antique Chinese wooden building is most unique and very chilled. Diners can simply sit and gaze for hours towards the river while nursing a cup of herbal tea, or enjoy a sumptuous meal of Thai and western dishes in a romantic candle light – and swinging red lantern – setting. The Palace has got that exotic Chinese flavour to it, though the food is mainly Thai with a few specialties including the spinach and yum ham with spinach. Wines, beers and all the other goodies are served. But for a riverside dining experience that is quiet, and perfect for private parties or romancing couples, this is a great venue.

Open 3 p.m. – 11.30 p.m.
Tel: 053 274 932
385/2 Charoen Prathet Road

August is the month for mothers, so why not take your mother for a day trip to the ancient Vieng Kum Kam and stop at the lovely Café du Port. Follow that with a delicious lunch at Moxie and Mix Bar at dusitD2 or a luxury dinner at Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Hotel. If your mom loves adventure we highly recommend Flight of the Gibbon or take her to Pai or Mae Hong Son with SGA, or drive to the splendid Chiang Dao Nest, only a short drive from Chiang Mai.

If you have no time just simply surprise her with a pair of comfortable Clarks shoes or a nice gift tailored by Fashion King.

Citylife BIG 18 card holders receive 5% discounts on regular prices and get 10% when they spend up to 5,000 baht (not in conjunction with any other promotions). FREE Clarks shoes cleaning service.
1st floor, Central Airport Plaza,
Mahidol Road
Tel. 053 277 157
www.clarks.com

Voted best attraction in Chiang Mai, it now offers a10% discount from the internet rate (not in conjunction with other promotions.).
112/9 Tasala
Tel: 089 970 5511
www.treetopasia.com

Enjoy premium coffee or tea by the Ping River opposite Vieng Kum Kam old capital and get Passion Fruit Tiramisu for FREE! .
Open daily 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
RatiLanna Riverside Spa Resort
33 Chang Klan Road,Tel 053 999 333
www.ratilannachiangmai.com

Special 15% off food and beverages at Moxie and Mix Bar. During Mother’s Day, Moxie is providing a special lunch buffet and all moms will receive a special gift from Bobbi Brown. For more information please contact dusitD2 Chiang Mai.
100 Chang Klan Road
Tel. 053 999 999
www.dusit.com/d2cm

10% discounts on the entire bill at the Sunday Jazz brunch. The restaurant serves international and Italian cuisine within a luxurious venue.
108 Chang Klan Road
Tel: 053 253 666
www.lemeridienhotelchiangmai.com

Chiang Dao Nest is a must visit. Offering special 18% off rooms plus food, not in conjunction with any other offers.
144/4 Moo 5, A. Chiang Dao
Tel 053 456 242 or 053 455 795
www.chiangdao.com

Think about tailoring, think about Fashion King, located at the Kalare Night Bazaar now with a very special offer of 20% off all tailoring orders for Citylife BIG 18 Card holders.
89/2 (G113, 114) Kalare Food & Shopping Centre Chang Klan Road
Tel: 053 820 342-3
www.fashionchiangmai.com

Buy a ticket with SGA (Chiang Mai to Pai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son) and get a FREE SGA souvenir (limited) and 500 baht cash discount on their ‘Super Green Package’, normal price 4,500 baht, valid until 15th October 2009.
60 Chiang Mai International Airport, Sanarmbin Road
Tel: 053 280 444, 02 664 6099
www.sga.co.th