Best laptop-friendly cafés in Chiang Mai
Seven cafés with fast Wi-Fi and A/C, with speeds measured by nomads, plus cheap coworking day passes.
In this article
Chiang Mai has been a nomad favorite for over a decade, and it shows: the city is full of cafés with fast Wi-Fi, air conditioning and people quietly typing. The best ones cluster around Nimman, Santitham, the university and the Old City. Wi-Fi speeds below were measured by nomads during recent visits.
The cafés
1BOB Coffee
Santitham
Some of the fastest café Wi-Fi in the city, with two larger rooms at the back where nomads, students and coffee drinkers mix. Santitham is a quieter, more local alternative to Nimman.
2Cloud Coffee
Suthep, between Chiang Mai University and Nimman
Relaxed and popular with students, with fast Wi-Fi and A/C. A good base if you live near Nimman.
3Blue Coffee at Agriculture CMU
Chiang Mai University campus
Designed for studying, with booths and tables built for laptops. It gets busy with students during term.
4The Story 106
Chang Moi, walking distance from Tha Phae Gate
Fast Wi-Fi near the Old City. The second floor is better for working.
5The Baristro Asian Style
Off Suthep Road
Garden seating plus an industrial wood interior. There's an entry fee, which goes toward your food and drinks.
6Heartwork
Near the southeast corner of the Old City
A creative space with upstairs gallery seating. Ask about workspace charges before settling in for a full session.
7CAMP at Maya Mall
Maya Mall, top floor, Nimman
A classic: a drink gets you a couple of hours of Wi-Fi, with views of Doi Suthep. The Wi-Fi isn't the fastest, so it's better for writing than uploading.
Coworking day passes
When you need calls or a full day of focus, Chiang Mai's coworking spaces are cheap: Alt_ChiangMai near the West Gate charges about 220 THB for four hours or 320 THB for a day. Yellow Coworking in Nimman (24/7 for members) and Punspace in the Old City are the other long-time favorites.
Burning season
From roughly late February to April, smoke from crop burning makes Chiang Mai's air unhealthy. Air-conditioned cafés with purifiers help, but many nomads leave for these months. November to January is the best time to be here.
Tips
- Check for entry fees and time limits. Some cafés charge entry or give Wi-Fi in two-hour blocks per drink.
- Avoid campus cafés at exam time unless you like competing for seats.
- Bring a layer. The A/C in Chiang Mai cafés can be fierce.
Frequently asked questions
Which café in Chiang Mai has the fastest Wi-Fi?
BOB Coffee in Santitham has measured around 500 Mbps, the fastest café Wi-Fi on our list. Cloud Coffee and Blue Coffee at CMU are also above 100 Mbps.
When is the best time to work remotely from Chiang Mai?
November to January has the best weather and air. Avoid late February to April if you can, when burning season smoke makes the air unhealthy.
See these spots on the map
WaypointNomad is the community map for digital nomads. Find places to stay and work with Wi-Fi, A/C, and noise levels from nomads who have been there, and add your own.
