Cafeography
Chiang Mai · Santitham

Cafés in Santitham

Just north-west of the Old City: residential, local and cheaper than Nimman.

Photo: Maksim Shiriagin, Pexels License

Santitham (สันติธรรม) lies outside the Old City's north moat, spreading from Chang Phueak Gate toward Nimman. Ban Santitham is counted among the villages of Chang Phueak subdistrict, a flat stretch at about 320 m at the foot of Doi Suthep, with part of it inside the Chiang Mai city municipality.1

Its cafés are neighborhood places rather than destinations. They run from a bakery that opens at 06:00 to dessert and drink bars that serve until midnight. Specialty cafés are few and scattered here; Omnia, off Phothararam Road, is one of them, and it is not on a main tourist route.

Local tip: For Akha Ama's coffee, head to its branch on Moon Muang Soi 9 in the Old City, where the original Santitham café moved, and check before walking to the old address.

At a glance

140Cafés listed
30With opening hours
06:00Earliest opening
00:00Latest closing
  • Opens earliest: Nana Bakery, from 06:00 (Daily 06:00–17:00).
  • Closes latest: Bannom, until 00:00 (Daily 11:00–00:00).
  • Most listed streets: ถนน หมื่นด้ามพร้าคต (5), ถนน ช้างเผือก (3), ถนน หัสดิเสวี (3).
  • Most common features: wi-fi (18%), bakery café (6%), open late (6%).

Chim noi home made

  • สถานีขนส่งผู้โดยสารจังหวัดเชียงใหม่แห่งที่ 1 (สถานีขนส่งช้างเผือก
  • +66646922468
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Coffee chains in Santitham

Chang Phueak Gate and the road north

Santitham starts just beyond Chang Phueak Gate, in the middle of the north moat. The gate dates from about 1296 and was first called Hua Wiang, "head of the city", because it was considered the most important; it took its present name, "white elephant", from a monument King Saen Muang Ma built outside it in the late 14th century.2 Future kings entered the city through it on the way to their coronations.2

The road north from the gate leads to the Chang Phueak bus station, which serves towns within the province, and on toward Mae Rim, Pai and Chiang Rai.2

Wat Chet Yot and the National Museum

At the north-west edge of the area, Wat Chet Yot was established in 1455 to host the eighth World Buddhist Council. Its name refers to the seven spires on the vihara roof, a building modeled on the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India.2

The Chiang Mai National Museum stands nearby. Run by the Fine Arts Department, it covers the history of the Lanna kingdom, with labels in Thai and English, and opens Wednesday to Sunday, 09:00–16:00.23 Both lie inside Chang Phueak subdistrict.1

Santitham's cafés, street by street

Sot Suksa Road starts earlier than most of the city: Nana Bakery at number 3 bakes from 06:00 to 17:00, and Cafe de Sot at number 6 opens 07:00–17:00. Book Thief, at 3 Morakot Road, serves breakfast from 07:30 and closes at 16:30 and on Wednesdays.

Further in, TORA BAKE is at 29 Hatsadisewi Soi 4 (09:00–17:00), By'N at 1 Ling Kok Road, and Omnia, a specialty café, at 181/272 Phothararam Soi 3 (08:00–17:00). About six in ten Santitham cafés have Wi-Fi.

Wikivoyage reports that Akha Ama's original Santitham café has moved to Moon Muang Soi 9, inside the moat.2

Evenings in Santitham

Santitham keeps more evening hours than its quiet streets suggest. Bannom (11:00–00:00), Ice Manias (12:00–00:00) and WEDRINK (10:00–00:00) serve until midnight. Uncle Home runs 07:00–23:00, and Aom Coffe House 09:00–22:00.

Fewer than half of Santitham's cafés are shut by 18:00, a lower share than in the Old City. Tops supermarket, behind the Mercure hotel on Chang Phueak Road, stays open until 21:00 if you need beans or milk after the cafés close.2

Sources

  1. ตำบลช้างเผือก (อำเภอเมืองเชียงใหม่) (Chang Phueak subdistrict), Wikipedia (Thai), accessed October 2026
  2. Chiang Mai travel guide, Wikivoyage, accessed October 2026
  3. Chiang Mai National Museum, Wikipedia, accessed October 2026
Keep exploring

More of Chiang Mai

Old City

241 cafés

Nimman

223 cafés

Tha Phae & Night Bazaar

141 cafés

Riverside & Wat Ket

341 cafés

Suthep & CMU

147 cafés

Chang Phueak & north

47 cafés

South Chiang Mai

128 cafés

In Santitham, also browse: Specialty coffee Open by 6am Wi-Fi Outdoor seating Open late Brunch Bakery cafés

FAQ

Santitham cafés: questions

Where is Santitham in Chiang Mai?

Santitham is the neighborhood north-west of Chiang Mai's Old City, between Chang Phueak Gate on the north moat and Nimman. Ban Santitham is one of the villages of Chang Phueak subdistrict, which lies on flat ground at about 320 m at the foot of Doi Suthep. The road north from the gate leads to the Chang Phueak bus station.

Which cafés in Santitham, Chiang Mai, open earliest?

Nana Bakery at 3 Sot Suksa Road opens earliest, at 06:00, and closes at 17:00. Cafe de Sot, at 6 Sot Suksa Road, opens at 07:00, and Book Thief on Morakot Road opens at 07:30 for breakfast, closing at 16:30 and all day Wednesday. Uncle Home opens at 07:00 and stays open until 23:00.

What is there to see near Santitham in Chiang Mai?

Wat Chet Yot, at the north-west edge of the area, was founded in 1455 to host the eighth World Buddhist Council and is named for its seven spires. The Chiang Mai National Museum nearby covers the history of the Lanna kingdom and opens Wednesday to Sunday, 09:00–16:00. Chang Phueak Gate dates from about 1296.

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