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Central Chiangmai
Restaurants & Food
Chiang Mai

Central Chiangmai

4.5(19,481 reviews)

Central Chiangmai is one of the city's largest and most comprehensive shopping malls, situated along the Lampang-Chiang Mai Superhighway in the Fa Ham area. While listed under restaurants and food, it functions as a full-scale retail and dining destination, drawing both locals and visitors with its modern, air-conditioned interior, wide selection of shops, designer boutiques, and multiple dedicated food areas across several floors. Dining is a genuine highlight here. The fourth-floor food hall is frequently singled out by visitors as a standout experience in its own right, offering a broad range of options in a spacious, well-organised setting. A second food area in the basement adds further choice, alongside a grocery store for those self-catering or stocking up on supplies. The mall also hosts live music in communal areas and puts on seasonal decorations that draw considerable local attention, particularly during the Christmas period when themed installations have featured prominently. Practically speaking, the superhighway location makes Central Chiangmai most convenient for visitors with their own transport, as public connections to this part of the city are limited compared to the Old City or Nimman areas. It works well as a planned stop rather than a casual walk-in, particularly for travellers passing between Chiang Mai and Lampang. Since opening hours are not confirmed in available information, checking current times before making a dedicated trip is advisable.

Experience hints

Visitor favorite

Pair your visit. After Central Chiangmai, round out your day in Chiang Mai with contrasting stops nearby.

Visitor Reviews

Christmas time is my favorite time of the year and this mall has the best decorations in Chiang Mai 🥰 each year has different themes, my first year was Pikachu, this year is Disney!!! There are great restaurant options like haidilao, bonchon, and coco ichibana 🤤I thought it was interesting haidilao was using Korean hanbok style creative… check out the photo). You will also find a Daiso and Moshi Moshi for cute trinkets. You can also find classic snacks like Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and cheese… pro tip, ask for “warmup” on the cheese. Otherwise it’s will be cold and the texture of Nabisco spreadables. You can also find a quality spit to get your shoes cared for. I wanted to get golf shoes super clean before packing them into my golf bag and the did a great job!👏🏻 Quick update to add more ADIDAS photos, their storefront and mannequins are so stylish! I didn’t find the China exclusive jackets but find the looks at this store to be far more creative, excited to see what they do next!!! 🙌🏻 Also, a special shoutout mention of a yummy milky mochi dessert discovery. Food stand name was guichaiaumpan. Another interesting thing to note with new photos added, high-end automobiles get premium parking :) For travelers that are looking to extend your stay, you will also find a convenient immigration office on the second floor. You can also wait out the line at Starbucks on 1st floor since mall shop do opening til after 11am. An alternative to Starbucks is the ground floor shops including grocery. Check photos for more…

Central Chiang Mai is hands down the best all-in-one shopping mall in the city. Huge, modern, air-conditioned, and extremely well organized, it has everything you could need under one roof—shopping, food, entertainment, and daily essentials. The variety of stores is excellent, from international brands to local shops, plus a massive supermarket that’s perfect for weekly groceries. The food options are a big highlight: Thai food courts, international restaurants, cafés, dessert spots—you can eat well here at any budget. The cinema and fitness options make it easy to spend half a day without getting bored. It’s clean, spacious, easy to navigate, and parking is plentiful. Whether you’re a local, expat, or visitor escaping the heat or running errands, Central Chiang Mai is incredibly convenient and consistently reliable. Easy 5 stars.

This is the coolest mall I’ve ever been to - It’s worth it for the food court/hall on the 4th Floor alone, but this mall is pretty epic - There is another food hall in the basement and a grocery store too. We visited on accident because we under-packed and needed to go to Uniqlo - Ended up spending half the day and ate at five Michelin Bib Gourmand spots!

Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food

Learn the Spice Scale

Say 'mai pet' for no spice, 'pet nit noi' for a little spice, or 'pet mak' if you want it Thai-hot. Most cooks will default to a toned-down version for foreigners unless you specify otherwise.

Follow the Crowds

The busiest street stalls are almost always the best — high turnover means fresh ingredients and a recipe that locals vouch for. An empty restaurant at dinner time is a red flag.

Ice Is Safe

Factory-made tube or cylinder ice (used in virtually all restaurants and stalls) is made from purified water and is safe to consume. You don't need to skip the iced Thai tea.

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Visitor Information

Best time to visit

November – February

Avoid: March – May (smoke & heat)

Rainy season

June – October

Avg. temperature

15°C – 36°C(59°F – 97°F)

Crowds

High

Peak: December – January & Songkran (April)

Getting there

Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) has direct flights from Bangkok (1 hr), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Overnight sleeper trains from Bangkok take ~12 hrs.

Getting around

  • Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks)
  • Grab (available in city centre)
  • Motorbike rental (฿150–250/day)
  • Tuk-tuks (negotiate price first)