Faces Restaurant Chiang Mai
The elephant greets you first — a majestic sculpture at the entrance that signals you've left Prapokklao Road behind. Inside, a dark wooden orangery rises around a cast-iron spiral staircase, its mezzanine draped in hanging plants, the whole room hovering somewhere between a Thai jungle and a Victorian jewelry box. Antiques and ancient sculptures crowd the shelves; small ceramic heads appear on surfaces you haven't noticed yet.
The kitchen runs an unusual double track: proper Thai dishes alongside pizza, a pairing that sounds unlikely and works in practice. By evening, smooth jazz gives way to live music, and the garden outside fills with twinkling lights.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time it for after dark, when the terracotta garden — leafy vines, sculptures, a waterfall — earns its atmosphere. Book ahead via LINE if you're coming on a weekend; the place fills without much warning. Bring mosquito repellent if you plan to sit outside.
The story behind Faces Restaurant Chiang Mai
The restaurant was built on the grounds of a very old garden that previously housed an art gallery, and that origin still shapes what the place is: less a restaurant that hung some art on the walls, and more a deliberate attempt to keep art and food in the same room on equal terms. The family owners conceived it as a space where those two things would genuinely intersect, not merely coexist.
A Thai-language source references 2017 as a significant date in the restaurant's timeline, though the precise founding year remains unconfirmed. What is clear is that the aesthetic — the heads, the antiques, the Victorian-meets-jungle layering — was intentional from the beginning, not accumulated over time.
Good to know
Faces sits near the south gate of the Old City, a short walk from Wat Phra Singh. Hours run roughly noon to 10 PM daily, though opening times vary by source — call ahead if you're planning lunch. Reservations via LINE are strongly recommended, especially evenings.
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What travellers say about Faces Restaurant Chiang Mai
This has got to be one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever been to. The decoration so authentically Thai, with so much attention to detail. It's worth coming for this alone. We really enjoyed our meal here, everything was very tasty and they were very accomodating of my picky child's requests! Excellent service as well, a wonderful experience!!
This was a truly wonderful experience, the venue and setting are one of the most beautiful places we had seen in Thailand. It felt like a true oasis in the city. Food and drinks were impeccable, service was quick without being rushed and staff all very attentive. We had a main each plus spring rolls to share which we struggled to finish because portions are generous, plus five drinks each including cocktails which were delicious. Really great value for money overall!
Such a lovely place. From the service to the food …to the atmosphere it feels magical. Grateful to have visited this location. Only downside is I wish they had more options to vegetarian meals but otherwise they are a great spot.
The atmosphere was nice and the staff were very friendly and attentive. Not the restaurants faults but obviously there are a lot of bugs so we spent the evening with hands over our drinks to stop them getting in. They did provide big spray though! Maybe keep your table ligjt off to stop attracting them. We felt the food was a little overrated, the flavour didn't match up with the price. Toilet was very small, so had a queue, didn't manage to use it.
What a lovely and thoughtfully designed place! We love such vibe. It reminded us a bit the La Brisa in Bali. So much green and rustic steel that you don't know where to look at. On top of that all the water and mist. Wow! We visited before noon when it was virtually empty and we could use the plant canopy to shelter from the scorching heat. We'd love to return in the evening to check the vibe at night time. Good espresso, not Italian quality, but I'd happily get one more! We all need more places like this, very well designed 👏👏
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