Almost everyone ends up at Riverside at some point in their Chiang Mai stay. Set in an old teak house, it feels like a countryside reimagining of a Hard Rock Cafe, and bands play nightly until late. Stake out a claim on the riverside terrace or the upstairs balcony to catch the evening breeze on Mae Ping.
The restaurant also runs a popular dinner cruise along Mae Ping that leaves the dock at 8pm each night. Over an enchanting, 75-minute ride, the boat drifts past ancient temples and centuries-old homes along the riverbank. Reserve well in advance.