Café
Ristr8to
Dark, compact Nimmanhaemin coffee bar opened in 2011 by Arnon Thitiprasert, the 2017 World Latte Art Champion, known for milk drinks and signature creations.
Graph Cafe
Small Old City coffee bar from Graph, a Chiang Mai coffee brand founded in 2009, serving single-origin filter coffee and inventive signature drinks.
At a glance
- Type
- Speciality coffee bar
- Area
- Old City, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
Why we recommend it
Graph is a Chiang Mai coffee brand that opened its first café in 2009 and has since grown to several locations around the city, including Graph Contemporary on the east bank of the Ping River and branches near Nimmanhaemin. This listing is the small Old City café on Ratchawithi Lane 1, in Si Phum, which is the easiest to fit into a day of sightseeing inside the moat.
The cafés work with GATEWAY Coffee Roasters, which supplies single-origin beans, and the focus at the Old City branch is on filter coffee made from those beans. If you like to taste different origins side by side, this is a good place to do it. Graph is also known for creative signature drinks; the Honeybee, for example, layers espresso with black coffee jelly, caramel frappé, whipped cream, coffee powder and honeycomb. It is more dessert than coffee, but it shows the playful side of the brand.
Space is limited and seating is minimal, so treat Graph as a place to stop for a good cup rather than somewhere to settle in with a laptop. The café opens daily from 09:00 to 17:00, which makes it an easy mid-morning or mid-afternoon break.
Graph suits coffee enthusiasts, particularly those who drink black coffee and enjoy talking through the beans with the person behind the bar. It also works for anyone who wants to try one of Chiang Mai's homegrown speciality brands without heading out to Nimmanhaemin. If you enjoy the visit, it is worth seeking out Graph Contemporary across the river, which sits in an older trading neighbourhood and has a different atmosphere.
Being inside the Old City, the café is within walking distance of the main temples, and it combines well with a morning at Wat Chedi Luang or Wat Phra Singh. Visit early in the day if you want the quietest time and the best choice of single origins.
If you are new to speciality coffee, ask the barista to recommend a single origin based on what you usually drink. Bring cash and card options just in case, and if the bar is busy, consider taking your coffee to go and drinking it on a temple walk.
Graph Cafe FAQs
When was Graph founded?
Graph opened its first café in 2009.
Where is this branch?
At 25/1 Ratchawithi Lane 1 in Si Phum, inside the Old City.
What should I order?
A single-origin filter coffee, or the Honeybee signature drink if you want something sweet.
Who roasts the coffee?
Single origins come from GATEWAY Coffee Roasters.
What are the hours?
Daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
Is it good for working?
It is small with limited seating, so it suits a coffee stop better than laptop work.
Are there other Graph cafés?
Yes, including Graph Contemporary on the east side of the Ping River and branches near Nimmanhaemin.
Is it near the temples?
Yes, it is inside the Old City within walking distance of the main temples.