Acorn

Yes, we love Chiang Mai!
After a couple of hot days in Bangkok the Stcokholm Squirrel got on a plane and now I have been in Chiang Mai for a while. So now  there will be even more to read about this lovely city.

If you can read Thai this book from Oom lifestyle book is a really good guide to Chiang Mai. You can find loads of good cafés and restaurants, shopping and hotels! If you can't read Thai (like me) there are some lovely photos and great book design to look at  :)

Squirreling about - far far away

Still room for more food?
An other "must visit" in Bangkok is the restaurant  Spring Summer.

Here they serve really good cross over food and for heavens sake don't miss the desserts! Unfortunately I just had to dive in to my Cup C, no time at all for a photo! So you might just have to make a visit to find out what it looks like and most important - how it tastes!   

Squirreling about - Stockholm

We visited Marabouparken in Sundbyberg the other day. Marabouparken was originally a sculpture park for the workers at Marabou chocolate factory. Now it is open for public and there also is an art centre there. As always when looking at art you get hungry and fortunately there is also a nice restaurant with absolutely adorable leopard trays (and good food too). My absolutely favourite thing though was the park and the wonderful tulips! They deserve an entire post for them selves so keep the look out!

Squirreling About - Stockholm

This weekend I went to Färgfabriken in Liljeholmen here in Stockholm. It is an art space located in an old industry building.  It also has an amazing café / restaurant. This time we were not there to see art, but to have their lovely brunch. This was the first time I tried it and all of us really enjoyed it! I had crêpes with mushroom and coffee and a raspberry cookie for desert! I usually really like their exhibitions too so next time I go there I'll combine the brunch with some art as-well!

Squirreling About - Chiang Mai

The Squirrel and I loves Morooms! 

Morooms is a quirky little Boutique hotel located in the center of Chiang Mai.  The hotel is the product of a creative collaboration between a variety of artists, designers, architects and astrologers.  It has twelve rooms which are decorated according to the signs of the Chinese Zodiac, each of them unique.  Although neither of us Squirrels have stayed at the hotel, we do love stopping by for evening drinks.  Especially after treating ourselves to a manicure! 

If you're visiting Chiang Mai and love art, do check out Morooms website as it provides plenty of information about their concept and has a photo gallery of their amazing rooms.   

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

If you've ever spent a morning exploring Warorot market or an afternoon browsing the shops on Thapae Road you will most probably have come across Raming Tea House Siam Celadon and been tempted to look inside.  The house is a wonderful two story teak building constructed in 1915.  It has since been restored; the front part of the house is a shop that sells celadon in green and blue while the back part is a cafe/restaurant.   

Raming Tea House offers a large selection of teas that are grown on the Raming Farm in the Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai.  My favourite is their cinnamon tea, although when I had lunch there the other day I treated myself to sherbert ice tea.  I just love sitting in this charming little garden!

Raming Tea House (not to be confused with Raming Lodge, which lies on Loi Khroh Road), is located on 158 Thapae Road.  It lies close to Warorot market, Nawarat Bridge and the Night Bazaar.

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

I blame plummeting blood sugar levels and feeling a little under the weather for getting lost in the old city today.  Lucky for me though, because I found Free Bird Cafe and stopped for lunch.

Free Bird Cafe is an eclectic little place with seating in a tiny but lush green garden.  There is also a shop attached which sells clothing.  All proceeds from the cafe and the shop go to support Thai Freedom House, which is a community learning center for refugees from Burma.  The menu is all vegetarian Thai, Shan and International cuisine.  There is also a large selection of fruit shakes and smoothies.  I ordered a delicious khao soi, which is a local northern Thai noodle dish, and, in a desperate attempt to stave off a cold - an Immune Booster shake made from pineapple, orange, apple and ginger.  Lets hope that does the trick!       

Of course, it turns out I wasn't lost after all, which I quickly figured out once I'd finished my lunch and nosed my bike out onto the road.  Free Bird Cafe lies on Moon Muang Road, soi 7, not far from Thapae Gate.  Simply follow Moon Muang Road which runs on the inner side of the moat and turn left into soi 7.   

Squirreling About - Stockholm

One of my favourite restaurants is located quite a bit outside of the city centre. It is called Långbro Världshus and they serve the most delicious food! They serve classic Swedish dishes with a modern twist, and I have never been disappointed. They also have a nice bar and on weekends it is possible to go there for brunch.

The restaurant is located an art nouveau villa set in a green park. The décor is very cosy and the staff is very friendly and nice. Take the red line to Fruängen and then take a short walk to Långbro park. Enjoy!

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

Went to Kanson Sushi Bar for lunch today with my sister.  The restaurant is tiny, but cute with seating both indoors and outdoors.  Today it was actually cool enough to sit outside in the shade.  The prices here are reasonable for sushi and the food always tastes fresh.  Another great thing about Kanson is that they have a selection of vegetarian sushi which is often difficult to find at other places.  The Miso soup is included and the Jasmine ice tea is delicious!

How to get there - Kanson Sushi Bar is located on Kotchasarn Road soi 1, within short walking distance of Thapae Gate.

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

This Sunday P and I spent the better part of the morning exploring the roads around Doi Suthep by motorbike.  We went up past the temple (Wat Prathat Doi Suthep), over the mountain and down the other side (you need a serious dirt-bike for this as the road turns into a rutted track).  The views were spectacular - we drove through coffe and lychee plantations and paddy fields where farmers were harvesting rice.  By the time we descended to Huay Tung Tao we were starving and stopped for lunch. 

Huay Tung Tao is a fresh water reservoir located in a park about 12 km from Chiang Mai city center.  It's the perfect place to relax by the water and enjoy a leisurely meal.  There are several floating restaurants to choose from, and also boats for hire.  In the mornings and evenings it's also nice just to take a walk along the water.  

How to get there (without crossing an entire mountain on a dirt-bike) - drive north on Canal Road towards Mae Rim, turn left after the 700 Year Stadium and follow the signs for Huay Tung Tao Lake.

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

Love at First Bite is one of those places that everyone talks about but I haven't been to - until today when I stopped by for lunch.  Had some lovely fish and chips and a fresh passion-fruit juice but unfortunately there was just not room enough for dessert.  Love at First Bite is known for its mouth-watering cheese-cakes so I can't wait to try one next time I visit!  Check back soon for more photos!

How to get there - Love at First Bite is located across the Ping River on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road, soi 1.  If you're coming across Nawarat Bridge turn right, then first left.

Squirreling about - Chiang Mai

Went to the Kaew Nawarat branch of Bake & Bite for lunch today - it is one of my favourite places to eat.  They have a large selection of sandwiches, wraps and Mexican food, also wonderful breakfasts and homebaked treats.  Favourites include their cream-cheese and salmon bagel, spinach and mushroom quiche and honey lassi.  They also happen to have the most divine carrot cake to be found in Chiang Mai!  Enjoy! 

How to get there - although B&B lies tucked away right down the end of a small street, it is well signposted.  Turn right off Charoenrajd Rd at the Isuzu dealership if you are coming from the Nawarat Bridge direction, then follow the signs.