The Best Bars in Nimmanhaemin, Chiang Mai

Warm Up has long been a Chiang Mai party institution and is particularly popular amongst the Thai university crowd. With multiple rooms playing everything from house, trance to Thai pop – there is something for everyone! The usual Thai “beer fairies” offer beer deals and there is also a cocktail bar on the outside terrace. Make sure to not turn up in your backpack attire and dress to impress!

Beer Lab is one of the most hipster bars in the neighbourhood and is a welcome addition to the Chiang Mai bar scene for craft beer lovers. Choose from around 200 bottled beers and 20 draught beers along with a delicious dining menu. Beer Lab is a great place to meet locals and practice your Thai.

Hidden down a small side street off Soi 13 in an adobe mud-brick house is Baa(n) Din bar. This cosy bar has the atmosphere of a Thai beach bar with cushions on the floor, thatch roofing and the signature “brainwash” bucket (literally alcohol and mixer in a bucket). Anthony, the friendly owner, and his crew are not only super welcoming, they also make great cocktails!

The Pub has been going strong for 5 decades and offers the quintessential English pub experience in the centre of Chiang Mai. Expect to find all your favourites, including comfy armchairs, Guinness pints and roast dinners. The Pub also has a relaxed outdoor garden set away from the main road – the perfect place to relax with a cold beer!

Sangdee Gallery is a gallery, community event centre, bar and nightclub all rolled into one. One day you could be attending a sketching workshop, the next you could be dancing ’til 4 am to the tunes of Chiang Mai’s top DJs. Sangdee Gallery is located on Soi 5, Siri Mangkalajarn Road and five minutes’ walk from Nimman.

Likely the most hipster bar on our list is Yayee rooftop bar, located on top of the boutique Yayee Hotel. This to-be-seen location is the ideal place to watch the sunset over Doi Suthep mountain. Yayee is owned by a Thai celebrity and attracts doting fans, high-so Thai’s and the expat crowd. Yayee has a wide selection of drinks including beers, wines and cocktails along with stylish culinary creations.

Beer Republic is tucked down a charming Nimmanhaemin Soi. However, its ambience is comparative to a central European bar. Here you’ll find an impressive selection of imported beers and delicious tapas-style bites. Finding it hard to choose which beer to pick? Try the five-beer taster for maximum bang for your buck.

Rise Bar is the sleek Akyra Manor Hotel’s rooftop bar. This contemporary bar comes with a stunning pool that has a glass wall and breathtaking view of the mountains. Make the most of their happy hour between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm. Be sure you’re suitably dressed to mix and mingle with the bar’s clientele.