Free Bird Café

Phone Number: +66 81 028 5383 Website: https://www.facebook.com/FreeBirdCafe

Opening Hours: 09:00 AM-5:00 PM Tue, 09:00 AM-5:00 Wed – Sat, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Sun, closed Mon.

Cuisine: Western, Asian, Burmese

Free Bird was one of the first vegan restaurants to open in Chiang Mai, and it has been a favourite of ours since it did. It started out as just a small place, with a short menu and only one employee and it has grown leaps and bounds in to the wonderful place that it is today. Since moving several times in the earlier days they are now located closed to Nimman and the space seats up to around 50 people. There is both inside seating (with air-con) and several outside seating areas where dogs are also allowed. They also have a kids’ area with toys, games, crayons and books which we are particularly grateful for as there are so few vegan-friendly restaurants in the city that provide any kind of activities for little ones.

Free Bird is not just a café but a charity that supports Burmese refugees, so your profit here goes to a good cause. After you eat you can even shop in the pre-loved charity shop with all kinds of things at bargain prices including funky clothes, household items, books and lots more. They also have a small zero waste section.

So what can you find to eat here? Like the premises their menu is often being updated and improved upon. They have an extensive and varied list of dishes from breakfast, brunch, lunch and snacks through to dinner. You’ll also find crafted coffees and smoothies as well as cocktails! There are a couple of Thai dishes but the range is mostly western dishes covering everyone’s needs such as healthy smoothie bowls, breakfast hash, mac n cheese, curries and some very unique Burmese dishes of which the tea leaf salad is particularly famous. This dish originated from here and since then many other restaurants have tried to copy it. No others have managed to match the taste and flavour that you get here. The other Burmese dishes are just as good, most of which are made with the delicious Shan chickpea tofu.

One of our favourite dishes is the stuffed French toast sandwich, a perfect breakfast meal which consists of cooked bread with layers of peanut butter, banana and dates.

We should mention that the prices here are high in comparison to other vegan restaurants but your money is going to a good cause. We also appreciate their commitment to environmental issues, one that should be integral to any vegan restaurant. They provide reusable bamboo straws for drinks and they sell these to customers as well in handy, stylish, denim pouches which are handmade from old donated denim materials by their very own talented waitress, Yim. They are also the only restaurant we know of in the city who use washable napkins instead of disposable, paper serviettes.

What we love most is that Free Bird consistently has a very pleasant vibe and atmosphere that certainly leaves you smiling, as Lisa (the owner) describes herself it is ‘full of love’ and the positive energy is catching. It is a great place to socialise as they often hold events that suit all kinds of interests, or just turn up and make a new friend. Everyone always seems happy here, including the staff and the patrons, and it’s really no surprise.