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As the undisputed digital nomad capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai has many places to work form, and not only co-working spaces. There are plenty of hipsters cafés especially in the Nimman area (where we stayed) which are perfect for getting some work done in. These were our favourites.

Expect to pay around 60฿ for a coffee in these places, most of which also have soy milk.

(Last update: 24th January 2017)

SS1254372 Cafe

Perhaps our favourite café to work from in Chiang Mai, this nicely designed place is attached to a pretty cool art gallery and shop and serves nice food and drinks. One or two of the brunches are veganiseable and the Thai (soy) milk tea is excellent. There aren’t a huge number of tables or power sockets, but the staff are friendly, the chairs are comfortable, the wifi is decent and the atmosphere is conducive to work with a mix of digital nomads and brunching couples.

Details

Address: 22/1 Soi Nimmanahaeminda 17, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: yes

Nine One Coffee

With lots of natural light and gentle music, this café is a nice place to work. There are a couple of low chairs and a high desk with high chairs that can also be used as a standing desk as well as a few power sockets. Located in a quiet soi off the Nimmahaeminda road and facing a cute courtyard with a hipster barber shop, wine bar and nail parlour as neighbours, the vibe is relaxed and conducive to work. I recommend the Thai (soy) milk tea.

Details

Address: 11 Soi Nimmanahaeminda, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: yes

9th Street Café ( Closed! )

This narrow little café has several good spots for working, good coffee and decent wifi. The chairs are a little hard but there are several power sockets and staff will leave you alone to work. It can be a little dark inside, but this is probably a good thing on intensely hot and sunny days!

Details

Address: 12/4 Nimmana Haeminda Lane 9, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: yes

Kaweh ( Closed! )

The only place on this list that is open 24 hours, Kaweh is an excellent place to come to work for several hours and be left alone. The drinks are tiny and perhaps a little overpriced, but the space is large with varied places to work including regular tables, high tables and sofas. Some of the power sockets may have seen better days and a few of the cushioned bench seats are extremely uncomfortable, but there’s enough space that you should be able to find a decent spot.

Details

Address: Sirimangklajarn Road, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: yes

Bay’s Café

Attached to Food4Thought (an excellent restaurant with plenty of vegan options) Bay’s Café is the place to come for drip coffee in Chiang Mai. The eponymous Bay is extremely knowledge about coffee, perhaps one of the authority on the subject in Thailand, and can talk extensively about it and his approach to serving it.

The café is also something of an accidental cat café as Charles and Bay feed and welcome in a few strays who will happily curl up with you while you work if you let them. There are power sockets in the indoor section as well as a few outside. As well as all the food available from Food4Thought, there are also some excellent vegan brownies and cookies for sale here.

Details

Address: 15/5 Moo 1 Soi Sudjai, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: yes

The Barn: Eatery and Design

Perhaps the most hipster arty café we found in Chiang Mai, this place is a decent workplace. The interior is not huge, and there are only about four or five decent tables to work at, and not an over abundance of power sockets, but the vibe is both arty and conducive to work with a few local students also often using it to study from. The juices are recommendable and they have a few cakes, though none vegan.

Details

Address: 14 Srivichai Road (at Soi 4), Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: no

Artisan Café

A very cosy space with only space for about six people to work on laptops at one time, this small café specialises in drip coffee and has a few baked goods (none that are vegan, unfortunately). The wifi is excellent and the soft background music mixed with the gentle hubbub of the staff and customers chatting serve to create a nice work environment. There are not many power sockets and chairs are somewhat hard but there are a few cushions lying around.

Details

Address: Soi Mengrairassamee, Sermsuk Road, Chiang Mai

Foursquare; Facebook

Soy milk: no

My Secret Cafe in Town

The only place on this list in the Old Town, this somewhat hidden café may not scream workplace upon first viewing, but we found it actually ticked quite a few boxes: fast wifi, comfortable (and varied) seating, free water, cool but unobtrusive music and a few power sockets. Also, there is a small art gallery upstairs when you want a quick break from your screen. The staff are friendly but leave you alone to get stuff done. It’s nicely designed and we found the atmosphere very calming and conducive to either working or just relaxing.

Details

Address: 175/12 Rachadamnoen Road, Chiang Mai

Foursquare

Soy milk: yes

I have created a Foursquare list of all these places so you can easily save and find them.

You can also download this guide in the GPSMyCity app!

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