Northern Thailand's most layered city
Chiang Mai is known for its tranquility, but there's so much more to this place than meets the eye
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Discovery is easier than ever. Then why does it still feel so hard?
Chiang Mai is the cultural heart of Northern Thailand - a laid-back mountain city where centuries-old structures and traditions meet buzzing food and coffee scenes. The question is, how do you make sense of it all?
You get tons of recs from too many sources
Carousels, reels, TikToks, subreddits, group chats. You bookmark everything and still struggle to find whatever you were looking for.
Your "saved places" become a junk drawer
Cafés mixed with temples mixed with night markets and massage spots. When you finally want to go somewhere you scroll indefinitely and still can't find the right vibe.
Decision fatigue
is real
You don't want to spend 30 minutes picking a restaurant before every meal. So you end up going back to the same spots. Every. Time.
I've felt this myself.
Hi, I'm Ed. After years of traveling and spending extended time here, I realized that my problem wasn't about finding new places, but knowing which ones are worth picking and worth remembering. I wanted a system that could centralize everything while making my decision process easier.
So I built one.
Right in Google Maps.
What this Google Maps list includes
Thai Restaurants
Proper Thai food across every style — khao soi, northern specialties, and sit-down spots doing regional dishes worth seeking out.
Under 100 Baht
Street local food and other mom-and-pop shops that keep you on a budget with delicious and authentic Thai classics.
Global Plates
Non-Asian food done well: French, Italian, juicy burgers, and more. Chiang Mai's international scene punches well above its size.
Asian Eats
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and more, spread across the city's quieter corners.
Bars
Cocktail lounges, jazz bars, craft beer spots, and riverside hangs worth a proper evening.
Cafés
Chiang Mai is one of Asia's great coffee cities: specialty roasters brewing locally-grown beans, hole-in-the-wall gems, and beautiful spaces worth lingering in.
Markets
Night markets, weekend walking streets, morning markets. Chiang Mai's market culture runs deep, and this tag covers the full range.
Hikes
Trails, waterfalls, and viewpoints around Doi Suthep and beyond — the mountains are half the reason to be here.
Escapes
Neighborhoods worth wandering and green spaces worth knowing, from the riverside to the quieter corners outside the old city.
Cultural Wanders
The temples, museums, and cultural landmarks worth your time. Centuries of Lanna history hide in plain sight here.
Fitness & Wellness
Gyms, yoga studios, spas, massages and more. A full spectrum from hard sweats to proper recovery.
I've Spent Years Curating the Good Stuff So You Don't Have To
Get the Chiang Mai list →Pick a vibe with curated filters
Every place in this Chiang Mai guide is tagged across categories. Whatever you're in the mood for, tap a tag and see what's already been curated.
More context with personal notes
All places saved include notes about either my experience or why I chose to save it if I haven't yet visited it.
Updated regularly by someone who's lived here
I've spent multiple stints in Chiang Mai and personally use this list on every visit — based on my own discovery and recs from people whose tastes I trust. Now it can be yours.
Get the Chiang Mai list →
Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I get?
After purchase you'll receive the direct link to this curated Google Maps list, which you can save directly in your own Google Maps app so you can easily come back to it anytime.
How is it different from other guides or lists?
Think of it like a living ecosystem of saved places, native to Google Maps. I personally use this list on every visit. It includes tags so you can easily filter places I've saved, read notes whenever available.
Can I save places on top of yours?
Sadly not, it's not a feature of Google Maps right now. You can layer this list on top of your own on the map, but you can't edit another list directly.
Do I really just pay once?
Yes. Buy once, keep forever, including future updates to the list. No subscription.
Who's it for?
People visiting, moving to, or already living in Chiang Mai who want to be more intentional about where to go without the endless scrolling and overhype from social media. Whether it's your first visit or your fifth stint, it's built to save you the discovery work.
Save Yourself Some Headaches
Explore the city with an already curated and living Google Maps list.
Ed's Curated Chiang Mai Map
200+ places across cafés, Thai food, Asian eats, markets, temples, bars, hikes, wellness, and more. The definitive insider map for Chiang Mai.
Stop scrolling.
Start exploring.
The best curated places in your own Google Maps app.
GET THE CHIANG MAI LIST →Other curated gems
Ed's Ultimate Bangkok Guide
The complete Bangkok list. Over 500 places across major categories — cafés, restaurants, bars, rooftops, markets, temples, work spots. Built from 5 years of actually living here.
