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Restaurants & Food
Chiang Mai

JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP

4.8(735 reviews)

Perched on the fifth floor above Chang Moi Road in central Chiang Mai, this rooftop bar and cafe draws both travellers and locals with its combination of open-air city views, relaxed atmosphere, and wallet-friendly pricing. The elevated setting provides a genuine escape from street-level noise, and the rooftop environment makes it a natural gathering point from morning coffee through to late evening drinks.

The food menu leans into Thai classics done well — visitor reviews consistently highlight the Pad Thai with shrimp and the dry Khao Soi, the latter served with crispy-skinned chicken in a thick, creamy sauce. Drinks are priced accessibly, and the staff are frequently praised for being friendly and attentive. The venue functions as a cafe during daytime hours and transitions naturally into a bar setting as evening arrives, with a mountain and city skyline combination that becomes particularly atmospheric around sunset.

Taste more of Chiang Mai

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Experience hints

Visitor favorite

Reviews from Google

At first I was thinking if the place will be noisy because there is rooftop bar on 5th floor and cafe on the 1st floor, but surprisingly the room was quiet! Room also clean and smells good. I stayed in a private room on the 2nd floor with shared bathroom, and the bathroom was clean. Location is perfect, many good places that we can reach by walking distance. Only 1 small feedback, because we have to take off our own shoes or slippers, it will be great if the accommodation can also provide slipper in the room or for us to walk around the communal area 🙏🏻

Jai Loy is our favorite hangout place in Chiang Mai. Amazing and friendly staff which makes the rooftop bar an extraordinary experience. Food and drinks are priced cheaply with high quality. We, especially, are always enjoying the sunset at around 6 to 7pm when the sun decends behind the mountain: priceless! A must go place when in Chiang Mai enjoying a relaxed and chilled atmosphere.

Poor Value Accommodation! READ the negative reviews... I don't know how this place can be rated so highly on Agoda, Booking and Google. I suspect this place has paid an internet company to boost it's ratings by giving fake high ratings. I observed 3 or 4 high ratings put in within 1 minute on google reviews most likely by the same person on the evening I stayed there. The staff are so unmotivated and take hotel guests as intruders when we want to go back to our rooms. There are so many things wrong with this place ...rooms with no windows, super hard beds, dark and dim rooms resembling a jail cell! The rooftop bar had only 1 table occupied at 8pm on the Friday/Saturday that i went up to take a look. There was a couple in the same lift as me coming down probably deciding the rooftop bar was not worth their baht... To be fair some of the staff do try to make yr stay more pleasant but the systemic issues with the place are too extreme. The owner should really take a hard look and stay in the "hotel" to understand the issues or maybe he/she doesn't care and just wants to keep the place afloat. This is the worst accommodation i have ever stayed in Thailand and I felt so deceived by the high ratings to stay here!

A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 735 reviews on Google.

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JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP: Frequently Asked Questions

Is JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP worth visiting?

JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP holds a 4.8★ rating from 735 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated restaurants & food in Chiang Mai.

What are the opening hours of JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP?

JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP is typically open 08:00-00:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.

When is the best time to visit JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP?

The best months to visit Chiang Mai are November – February, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – January & Songkran (April) — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: March – May (smoke & heat).

Where is JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP located?

JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP is at 153 Chang Moi Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand, in Chiang Mai. Getting around Chiang Mai: Red songthaews (shared pick-up trucks); Grab (available in city centre).

Location Info

153 Chang Moi Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand+66 96 542 6079www.facebook.com/jaicafechiangmai
Opening Hours
Monday08:00–00:00
Tuesday08:00–00:00
Wednesday08:00–00:00
Thursday08:00–00:00
Friday08:00–00:00
Saturday08:00–00:00
Sunday08:00–00:00

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)

Where to stay near JAI LOY CAFE & ROOFTOP

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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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