The Ada House journal
Food & coffee
Local culture, hidden corners and practical tips — from the people who actually live here.
Eating gluten-free in Chiang Mai: rice paradise, hidden wheat
Thailand runs on rice, which makes Chiang Mai look like a gluten-free dream — until the soy sauce shows up. Here's how to eat well here, whether you're strictly coeliac or simply skipping wheat.
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Thai street breakfast in Chiang Mai: what locals actually eat
By the time hotel buffets open, Chiang Mai has already eaten. Here's the local street breakfast repertoire — jok, patongko, hot soy milk — and how to join in for under 100 baht.
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Sai ua: Chiang Mai's herb-packed northern sausage
Lemongrass, makrut lime and chilli packed into a coil of grilled pork: sai ua is northern Thailand in sausage form. Here's how to find it, eat it like a local and take some home.
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Halal food in Chiang Mai: the Muslim quarter, halal khao soi and more
Chiang Mai has been home to a Muslim community for well over a century — and its most famous dish has halal roots. Our guide to the mosque quarter, halal khao soi, certification marks and Ramadan in the city.
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Food courts in Chiang Mai: eat brilliantly for pocket change
Food courts are Chiang Mai's most underrated way to eat well for very little. Here's how the card system works, where to go, and what to order once you're there.
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Cha Yen, Oliang and the Blue One: A Guide to Thai Drinks
Beer's fine and the coffee scene is booming, but Thailand's real everyday refreshment lives on the market cart: sweet orange tea, midnight-black oliang, bright pink milk and a tea that changes colour. Here's how to drink your way through it.
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Fine Dining in Chiang Mai: Where to Celebrate Something Special
Chiang Mai has quietly become a city worth dressing up for. Here's how to find a memorable special-occasion meal — and why it costs a fraction of what it would back home.
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Chiang Mai Street Food: A Local's Guide to Eating Well for Pennies
Smoke curling off a charcoal grill, a queue of locals, a bowl handed over for the price of a coffee back home. This is how we eat in Chiang Mai, and we'd love to show you the ropes.
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The Royal Project: From Poppy Fields to Doi Kham Shops
That gold Doi Kham logo on the supermarket honey hides a half-century story: a king, an opium problem, and the highland farms that replaced the poppies. Here is the history, and where to shop it.
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Rooftop bars in Chiang Mai: where to catch the sunset drink
There's a moment, most evenings here, when the heat lifts, the light turns to honey, and the only sensible thing to do is find a high place with a cold drink. Let us point you to a few.
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Eating well in Chiang Mai on a budget
One of the quiet joys of living here: you can eat superbly for the price of a coffee back home. Here's how the Ada House team does it, every single day.
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Where to splurge: Chiang Mai's best restaurants for a special meal
There's an anniversary, a last night, a 'we made it' moment that deserves more than a market stool. Here's where we send our guests to dine beautifully.
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