According to which map you use this cafe may or may not be on the 106, the road I wrote about HERE. Google maps show the location correctly, a novel event for them, see below:
Tanita Cafe on the 106. Other maps have the 106 starting at the intersection with Charoen Muang Rd. Anyway you get the idea. Tha Phae or Thaphae Road in the centre left of the map leads to the Old Town of Chiang Mai.
Tanita Cafe is listed as 9 of 1,300 + restaurants in Chiang Mai and you can read the reviews HERE. I think TA reviews become self fulfilling prophecies. Once you get up in the rankings more people visit and, providing you are offering a decent service, review you positively and up you go. It isn’t to say the places with lower rankings are worse necessarily, although many will be, just less appreciated by TA contributors.
Finishing up a long day out in Lamphun, a small town to the South of Chiang Mai, the cafe was on our road home and it was 4.00 pm so the combination worked out for a visit. Rather than rely on Google maps the best way to find Tanita is once you’re in the general area to look out for the elephant:
Can’t miss this landmark.
The elephant is on the side of the road opposite to the river. The cafe is off the street thank goodness because it is an extremely busy thoroughfare and the entrance to it is just before the elephant if heading North towards the superhighway or after if heading South.
The entrance immediately behind our car. You could drive down but the carpark is very small and full when we were there even though no people were at the cafe.
The driveway. The cafe on the right and a shop selling wooden handicrafts and furniture items straight head.
I loved these. What a great set they would make for the garden. I didn’t ask price.
The real versions. You have to feed these ones. Photo taken on our last visit to Si Bun Ruang. Blog HERE.
Inside the shop. Prices geared more towards tourists but that’s to be expected given the location.
Some decent stuff here.
Walking back to the cafe from the shop.
An intimate space. A few tables only. Spotless with friendly staff. We were their only customers.
Looking from the counter into the cafe.
The other corner.
A mini San Phra Phum or Spirit House for $30.00. Blog post HERE.
An iced coconut smoothie for Gaun. Beautifully presented. It’s the little things that make the difference isn’t it.
A made-up shot as this is Gaun’s smoothie. I just wanted to remind you who is typing this post! I had a mango smoothie but it hadn’t arrived time time for the photo taking. 4.00 pm is too late for me to have coffee so I can’t report on their skills in this area.
Photo taken to show the water misting happening outside. A nice touch.
The cafe offers the usual range of drinks, both hot and cold plus a simple choice of Thai foods and cakes. TA reviewers enjoy what’s available so I have to rely on their judgement as we didn’t eat. A very pleasant place to drop into if in the area – not truly amazing but better than the average.
Thanks for reading.
Tanita looks great! Visiting Chiang Mai in 2 weeks. Would love to know if you have any other great suggestions.
Yes Tanita is a pleasant place for a stop. I am not the best person to ask about other suggestions. We were based well out of the centre, where the majority of cafes and eating paces are located, so didn’t do the city rounds as others have.
My favourite cafe was one located in the garden area behind Tesco Lotus on the super highway. I wrote about it halfway down the page here -https://tonyinthailand.com/tale-two-cafes/. It is a little way out from the centre and if you aren’t into plants and prefer a more “city” scene then it’s not for you.
Thanks for your comment and I hope you have a great time in Chiang Mai. Hard not to. We are about 600 km away these days but plan to get back from time to time to catch up on old favourites.
Tony