Gay Travel guide to Chiang Mai

Anything that calls itself “straight-friendly” has won us over. Ram is the most popular bar in the main gay area of Chiang Mai, with delicious drinks, great drag shows, fun dance music, and super cute staff. The famous Cabaret Nights became so highly attended that they started putting on a show every night of the week. Yet it still manages to draw in tons of tourists and locals, both gay and straight, all vying for the prime viewing spot. Expect to see giant feathers, tons of glitter, and disco lights. We recommend getting here early as the place tends to get filled up pretty fast!

This gay bar is a blink and you’ll miss it kind of place. It’s tucked away in the far corner of the Night Bazaar area. It’s a street bar, so it’s mostly outdoor seating only. The best time to go would be if there was a particularly nice evening during your trip, as you can sit outside and take in the evening scenery. The staff are very friendly and know how to make good cocktails. We’d recommend only stopping by here as a place to warm up before moving on elsewhere though.

Named after the ‘Original Sinner' (we know that’s technically Eve but why should the girl get all the blame?), Adam’s Apple is the place to go for the ultimate lavish affair. The drinks are pricey, but the experience is unforgettable. With gorgeous boy dancers, drag queens, and cabaret performances, it is one of the hottest spots in the city for LGBTQ expression. When we went there, the boys were dancing as if their lives depended on it! Then, the drag queens took to the stage at about 10 pm (every evening!) and had the audience in stitches until after midnight.

Take one massive dance hall, a world-class DJ, and tons of free-spirited party animals, and you've got yourself a night at Sound Up! On the night that we went, the music was heavily focused on techno and EDM. The use of strobe lights and massive LED screens gave us very 90s rave vibes, so if you're a bit of a techno head, this place is perfect for you! Sound Up typically attracts a mixed group of people with a noticeable LGBTQ clientele.

While this is a straight club, it attracts a decent amount of LGBTQ crowds and is particularly popular with backpackers. Serving food, plenty of beers and some yummy cocktails (try the Lost in Chiang Mai cocktail!) this is a fun spot to come for dancing late at night. The atmosphere is usually pretty exciting so you're sure to make new friends with other travelers from around the world while dancing to the DJ beats. They also host pretty epic parties on special dates like Songkran, New Year and Halloween!

We heard from everyone that the Jacky Show restaurant was the best in all of Chiang Mai, so of course, we had to put it to the test. Inside, we found the place to be super charming and romantic. The food was delicious and so well prepared. We recommend getting the six-course surprise meal from the Chef. Our surprises included a rich flavorsome onion soup, salmon with caviar, and duck burgers.

Mix by name, mix by nature – this was easily our favorite restaurant in all of Chiang Mai. Anyone wanting to taste the best example of a Thai dish needs to hit this place up! The menu is extensive (250 items to choose from!) covering a wide base of cuisines and cultures – all delicious. There are also over 80 choices of cocktails… did we mention how much we love this place?! We also loved the decor design here, with unique eclectic furniture, a greenery wall and indoor or outdoor seating areas.

Goodsouls is a plant-based restaurant that aims to bring exquisite vegan options to the local community. These guys are passionate about all things animal welfare, environmentalism, and healthy eating. They serve huge portions, so you never feel hungry leaving, plus you feel as if all the toxins have been washed from your body! The wait staff is really lovely and really enthusiastic about explaining the health benefits of each dish.

Known for its collection of temples, the Old City is the place to go to uncover the fascinating history of Chiang Mai. There are various ancient buildings in the area, as well as meandering streets to lose yourself in. We popped into the Chiang Mai National Museum, which we recommend you check out to learn about the city’s hidden histories, as well as Lanna culture. Other places we loved in the Old City include Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Inthakhin Saduemuang.

This tour is our top pick if you'd like to be guided to the most important of Chiang Mai's temples. When visiting a temple anywhere in Thailand, don’t forget to dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees.

A little fun fact about us… we love elephants (alongside dolphins and penguins)! So, taking a trip to the Elephant Rescue Park wasn’t just a highlight of Chiang Mai, but one of our all-time favorite travel memories. The sanctuary is full of elephants that were rescued from unethical riding tourism and circuses. We got to experience the elephants up close and personal, find out about their stories and personalities, and wash/brush them! You also get the chance to sponsor an elephant to ensure their continued wellbeing.

Another highlight of our trip to Chiang Mai was going to a local cooking class. We’re pretty big foodies and love learning about the cultural cuisine of the places we visit. So, it was high on our list to enroll in a cooking class once we landed in Chiang Mai to learn about Thai food. We started our day in a local market, where we selected our ingredients with our teacher. Then at the school, we cooked all the ingredients to create some delicious authentic Thai dishes including Pad Thai, Som Tam, and spicy Red Curry.

There’s no better place in the world to do it than Chiang Mai! You might be thinking “Seby? Stef? Are you crazy? Leave those poor monks alone!” But they are seriously approachable, friendly, and genuinely interested in people – especially tourists as they get to practice English and learn about different backgrounds. Wat Chedi Luang has a table under a shady tree where monks gather to chat with members of the public from 9am to 6pm daily.

One of the busiest weekly events in Chiang Mai. Sunday Walking Street is a thriving hub of artists, dancers, musicians, and craftsmen. It takes place on a Sunday (no plot twist there), from 4pm until midnight. The market stalls stretch from ThaPae Gate all the way to Ratchadamnoen Road. There is always a hive of activity buzzing around the area. We visited as many stalls as we could to check out the handcrafted arts being sold. There are food stalls too, where you can get all sorts of delicacies and treats. We even came across a stall that provided us with a cheeky massage for just $3!

Every evening, the intersection of Tha Pae and Chang Klan Road comes alive with music, lights, and laughter. There are plenty of food stalls, so if you missed dinner and need a quick bite, it’s a handy place to visit. You can even join a special tour to help you learn the best foods to order, and how to order them in Thai! There are also tons of stalls selling handcrafted items, knick-knacks, and typical touristy items.

The Night Bazaar is right by several gay bars we mentioned on this list, which you can head into when you’ve had a good look around. Word of warning though: pickpockets are rife around here, so keep an eye on your stuff!