🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Nan doesn't do the heavily-designed cafes you get in Chiang Mai, but it has something a lot of towns don't: small shops in old wooden houses right in the old town, where the owner roasts the beans and knows the doi they came from. Walk a few minutes out from Wat Phumin and you'll pass several of them. Early in the day, when the air's still nice, grab a cup and head out to shoot the old walls and gateway arches.
Ranking the Cafes in Nan Old Town
We've ordered these by how easy they are to walk to from the Wat Phumin area and how often people bring them up, easiest and most-talked-about first. Each one has its own character, so read through and pick the style you like.
Erabica Coffee
The cafe most Nan locals name before any other, right in the center of town. Vintage-meets-modern decor, using arabica from Nan's own doi. The drink people order most is the Chinese gooseberry (Chinese plum) coffee, an oddly good sweet-and-sour mix, alongside pour-overs and waffles. The interior shoots well too.
inlamai coffee
On Pha Kong Road in the center of town, decorated homey-minimal, airy and quiet, good for working or reading for a long stretch. There's a range of beans to pick from and colorful Italian sodas for the non-coffee crowd. Easy street parking out front.
Sober Coffee House
A cafe in an old wooden house on a street in town, with a classic, warm, quiet feel. The focus is specialty coffee, matcha and cake, ideal if you like sitting alone and sipping slowly. Parking both out front and around the back.
Local Bean x Nor.Nan
A cafe plus roastery on the ground floor of an old house in the center of town, quiet and warm. They use beans straight from farms in Nan and let you choose the roast level. Sometimes they run coffee workshops, so it's good if you actually want to understand Nan coffee, not just shoot photos.
Comla Bakery
A minimal shop in light wood tones, clean-looking. Its strength is fresh-baked croissants, scones and cakes paired with house-roasted specialty coffee. If you're into bakery and want something baked fresh in the morning, this is the one.
Workboxes Cafe
Out by Kad Nan, decorated Japanese-minimal in clean white tones. Favorites here are the strong coffee, Nan tea, rose oolong, tiramisu and cheesecake. The corners inside photograph clean and pretty.
LEROY CAFE NAN
A shop down a small lane, decorated '90s vintage with arty details all over. The vibe is easygoing, with coffee, Indonesian tea and baked goods including fresh croissants. Good for people who like a place with its own distinct character.
Hatake Cafe
A Japanese-minimal cafe over near Bo Kluea, small and in town, with some green space. Besides coffee there are savory dishes to fill you up and several kinds of cake, so it's good if you want a light meal and coffee in one place. Easy parking.
NAN HARMONY
A warm Japanese-minimal shop near Nan Hospital. Standouts are caramel butter toast, roti, matcha and coffee. Good for settling in through the afternoon, with parking at the nearby Wat Tha Chang grounds.
Luem Luen in Nan
A cafe plus restaurant in a classic European tone mixed with a garden, shady and relaxed. There's coffee, baked goods and proper food like khao soi, crispy pork noodles and homemade pizza, so it suits a group that wants a real meal then coffee in one spot.
Tips for a Cafe Walk Through the Old Town
Most shops in Nan open late-ish, around 8–9am, and close early in the evening (many shut at 5–6pm). If you want to hit several, start around the Wat Phumin area in the morning and work outward, so you get nice light and the shops aren't packed yet.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Nan 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 Cafe for You
- Want genuine doi Nan arabica — Erabica, Local Bean x Nor.Nan and shops that clearly state they use province-grown beans, with a choice of roast level.
- Working or reading for a long stretch — inlamai and Sober Coffee House are quiet and airy, good for staying a while.
- Into fresh-baked goods — Comla Bakery and LEROY focus on croissants and freshly made bakes.
- Coming as a group and want a real meal — Luem Luen in Nan and Hatake have main dishes too.
Where to Shoot Good Photos Around the Cafes
Wat Phumin
The starting point of the cafe district. The gateway arch and the famous Pu Man Ya Man mural are right here, and the coffee shops are a short walk out.
Pha Kong Road
The cafe street in the center of town, lined with wooden-house and minimal shops, with plenty to photograph as you walk.
Old City Wall & Khuang Mueang
In the morning the light is soft and you can get nice shots with the old wall and big trees. Close to several shops.
Plan a Nan trip on foot through the Old Town — food, cafes and temples all in one go.
See the Nan travel guide →