Tengoku + Yaki It ain’t the most sophisticated of joints, but should you find yourself totally Thai’d out, T+Y is a suitable go-to for sublime Japanese bites. The main diner is for a la carte, with great grill-at-your-table yakitori room to the side; if the vast menu seems a tad overwhelming, opt for the buffet – just be sure to insist on the succulent seared Wagyu beef sushi. Nimmanhaemin Rd / Soi 5 / +66 87 725 9888 / facebook.com/tengokunimman / 11am-10pm daily

Steak of the Day With Rewat Srilachai (the former exec chef at Four Seasons Chiang Mai) manning the stoves, SOTD has single-handedly transformed dusty Mae Rim Plaza into a gourmet mecca with a superb French-inflected menu. Beautifully presented, ultra-decadent plates like Australian tenderloin with truffles and cream cheese wonton, or duck breast and foie gras, are served with panache. If, somehow, the entrees fail to spark an appetite, no fear: the chef is happy for you to order drinks, sides and desserts from surrounding eateries that have sprouted in his footsteps. Mae Rim Plaza / +66 81 256 7292/ facebook.com/steak.steakoftheday / 11am-8pm Tue-Sat

Entrees at Steak of the Day.

Rustic & Blue Chiang Mai’s finest farm-to-table caff comes complete with a pretty garden, highlighting natural produce and house-cured organic meats. Expect a fresh, seasonal lineup of local veggie bounty, with inventive East-meets-West combos such as duck confit and pomelo, and pumpkin gnocchi with northern Thai spiced sausage. Plus, there’s all-day brekky, colourful artisan tea blends, and chai-infused cocktails for later. Nimmanhaemin Rd / Soi 7 / + 66 53 216 420 / facebook.com/rusticandbluechiangmai / 8:30am-5pm Tues-Fri, 8:30am-10pm Sat-Sun

Sweets at Rustic & Blue.

Ristr8to Lab The third outpost of international barista champ Arnon “Tong” Tithiprasert’s coffee kingdom, Ristr8to is truly a Joe-lover’s haven. Industrial-chic white and teak decor plays backdrop to ace drip coffees, house-roasted blends, custom latte art and a slew of creative coffee cocktails. Sip on the signature shaken Thai iced coffee, a punchy espresso blended with condensed milk to frothy perfection, dash of whisky optional. 14 Nimmanhaemin Rd / Soi 3 / +66 53 215 278 / ristr8to-coffee-chiangmai.com / 8:30am-7pm Wed-Mon

Rachamankha Like its hotel mama, Rachamankha exudes Sino-Thai charm in spades and is quite possibly the only restaurant in the world where you’ll find Shan Hill tribe, Burmese and Thai food all on the very same menu. Dine alfresco in the serene tropical courtyard, or opt for a table inside, amid the atmospheric mix of old and new furniture and collectibles. The spicy cilantro salad tossed with crispy pork rinds is an absolute must. 6 Rachamankha / 9 Phra Singh / +66 53 904 111 / rachamankha.com / 6:30am-10pm daily

The interior of Rachmankha – a must-see in Chiang Mai.

Pinn Food Society An exclusive supper club co-owned by Thailand’s original celebrity chef Ian Kittichai, Pinn plays host to a series of elaborate gastro tasting dinners paired with top tipples. Time your visit right and you might even bag a cooking class with the Iron Chef himself. Adjoining Magnolia Café offers a decent menu of Thai favourites and cooking supplies. 131/70 Rattanakosin Rd / +66 53 872 395 / www.facebook.com/PinnFood Note: Ian Kittichai dinners are held three times a year, call for information

Inventive dishes abound at Pinn.

Ong Thong Noodles Lovely, rustic family-run stalwart repping a bevy of noodle dishes with top attention to detail. The creamy, curry goodness that is the city’s famed khao soy is of course on the menu, as are a decidedly untraditional but equally tasty stir-fried version, yumsome kwuay tiew rua (boatnoodles),and stellarcrispy fried wonton salad. Sirimungkhalajarn Rd / Soi 11 / + 66 53 216 696 / facebook.com/OngtongNoodle / 11am-8pm daily

Huen Phen This no-frills canteen, adorned with local crafts a nd sitting smack in the centre of old-town Chiang Mai, dishes a terrific selection of northern Thai fare. Among a tantalising array of delicacies, try young jackfruit salad pounded with garlic, lemongrass and fried shallots, and smoky eggplant salad brightened by a refreshing hint of mint. Plus there’s a customised som tam bar – phet mai? 112 Rachamankha Road / +66 53 814 548 / 9am-4pm, 5pm-10pm daily

Huen Phen – no frills, but beyond delicious.

Chang Puak Night Market Don your best stretchy pants because you’re here to eat – this bustling night market outside the city’s north gate sure is one delicious one-stop street food destination. Feast a la Bourdain on treats from khao kha moo (stewed pork leg) served by a jaunty cowboy, to signature pad Thai lovingly enveloped in a paper-thin omelette. But whatever you do, ensure you save room for bua loi, or floating lotus, a warm, fresh coconut milk broth with teeny pandan-laced glutinous rice flour balls. Aroy mak! Manee Nopparat Rd / Chang Puak Gate / 5pm-2am daily

Tuck in at the Chang Puak Night Market. Stretchy pants essential.