🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Kad Kong Ta, or the "Chinese Market," was once a riverside trading quarter back when Lampang grew rich from the teak trade. Chinese, Burmese, and Western merchants left behind a mix of architectural styles as their legacy. Today some of those buildings have opened as cafes that kept the original wooden floors, folding shutters, and roof frames. Sipping coffee inside a hundred-year-old building is an experience that's hard to find in other towns. We've ordered the list by how striking the building is, the atmosphere, and the menu, with every spot sitting in or near the old quarter.
9 heritage cafes worth trying
Wooden House Cafe
A teak house well over a hundred years old right on the Wang River, on the corner by Ratsadaphisek Bridge across from Kad Kong Ta. The renovation kept the entire original timber frame, and there's an open-air courtyard looking out over the river. This is the first place people think of when they hear "wooden-house cafe in Lampang." Plenty of reviews call the cappuccino here the best cup they've had in town. Standout desserts are the pandan lava cake and the mango cheesecake.
Moungngwezin
A Burmese-style teak building put up in 1908 by a Burmese timber merchant, originally the office and lodging for a logging company. It now runs as a cafe-cum-gallery, with old photographs and artwork on the walls plus an exhibition that tells the story of the building and Kad Kong Ta. Good for anyone who likes the feel of a living museum. Open weekends only.
Chaosua Tea Room & Homestay
A century-old Chinese shophouse decked out in full old-Chinese style inside — walk in and it feels like stepping onto a period-drama set. The draw here is the oolong tea and the savory-filled Chinese pastries, ideal for anyone who wants to swap coffee for tea in a setting unlike anywhere else in the quarter. There's a homestay in the same building too.
Memory Cafe & Guesthouse
A two-story vintage-style wooden house that combines a cafe and a guesthouse under one roof, with a warm feel like a friend's place. There's a good range of homemade desserts — Earl Grey cranberry scones, panna cotta, banana cake, and Basque cheesecake. Open late every day until 22:00, so it's an easy spot to settle in and work quietly.
At One Kad Kong Ta
A cafe tucked inside an old building right on the Kad Kong Ta walking street. The highlight is the second-floor balcony with a full view over the old quarter. The menu is wide, running from breakfast and coffee to pizza, snacks, and dessert, and it stays open until 21:30, so it's a good evening pick to watch the walking street come to life.
Chewin Coffee and Roaster
A coffee shop that roasts its own beans, set in Ratsada-Uthit Alley in the old town. Clean, simple, and warm, with hand-painted walls explaining how coffee is made. The selling point is the farm-to-cup beans, which the owner can talk through in detail. Standout drinks include the affogato, the piccolo latte, and the orange and honey americanos. Serious coffee people will be happy here.
Pang Suree Art Home
An old house at no. 68 painted white, with folk art worked in throughout. Lots of photo corners and a guesthouse on site. The menu leans toward one-plate dishes more than bakery — things like yum egg salad, carbonara, tom yum pasta, and a sizzling skillet of fried eggs. It opens early at 07:00, so it's a good breakfast before a walk through the old town.
Ily Kafe & Local Eatery
A small, warm spot across the river on Charoen Prathet Road, decorated with vinyl records and a well-chosen soundtrack. It works as both a cafe and a restaurant, with iced americano and dry khao soi as the standouts. The space is small but cozy, good for anyone who wants somewhere quieter than the Kad Kong Ta side.
Aroma Cafe & Eatery
A vintage-toned cafe in an old building not far from the old quarter, warmly fitted out with wood and antiques. Good for anyone who wants a retro feel but a comfier seat than a hundred-year-old building. The menu covers coffee, other drinks, and one-plate dishes — a solid backup when the cafes in Kad Kong Ta are packed.
Tip
Cafes inside the truly old buildings, like Moungngwezin, open only on weekends. If you come on a weekday, aim for Wooden House or Memory Cafe, which are open daily instead. And if you want Kad Kong Ta at its liveliest, come on a Saturday evening when the walking street is on.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Lampang food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
How to pick the right spot
- Want a river view — Wooden House Cafe is the answer; sit in the courtyard and watch the Wang River all day.
- Love building history — Moungngwezin (the 1908 Burmese building) and Chaosua (the century-old Chinese shophouse) tell the old-town story best.
- Settling in for a long work session — Memory Cafe is open until 22:00, quiet, and has outlets.
- Serious coffee fan — Chewin roasts in-house and sells beans, and the owner can walk you through where the beans come from in detail.
- Coming with a group and want food too — At One or Pang Suree have more mains to choose from than the rest.
Make the most of the old quarter
Almost all of these cafes are within walking distance around Kad Kong Ta and both sides of Ratsadaphisek Bridge. We'd suggest parking near the bridge and walking, since the streets in the old town are narrow and parking is tight. Along the way you'll pass plenty of old buildings that haven't been turned into shops yet, but the architecture is pretty enough to stop and photograph.
Ratsadaphisek Bridge
The century-old white bridge that's a symbol of Lampang, right next to Wooden House — you can walk straight over for photos.
Kad Kong Ta Walking Street
On Saturday and Sunday evenings, the street fills with food and souvenirs — the busiest, liveliest stretch of the quarter.
Plan an unhurried walk through Lampang's old town
See the old-town cafe plan →