It’s not hard to slow down in Pai. With an endless stream of restaurants, waterfalls, live music, spiritual centers and more, this northern Thailand mountain city is the perfect place to kick back and take some time to relax. Without spoiling the fun of exploration, here are just a few of my favorite hangouts so far:

Eat:

The Link

Ling is an amazing chef who puts an emphasis on natural. She’s got a huge garden out back, and it’s not uncommon to see her poking around outside after you order in pursuit of the freshest ingredients that Pai has to offer. The prices are fair (around 80 Baht for a curry) and she offers the only laundry service I’ve found that uses natural homemade detergent.

My suggestion: The Bunny Plate with a tomato and mushroom dipping sauce, where you’ll be served up a large plate of herbs and leafy greens picked fresh from the garden with a plethora of fruits and veggies on the side. Seems like the offering is always changing based on what’s ready in the garden, which is what we like to see!

Om Garden Cafe

With friendly staff, good portions, and menu options adverse to the indecisive, Om Garden takes the cake for breakfast or lunch in Pai. Get coffee, an array of fresh juices or smoothies, and choose from an expansive list of breakfast items, sandwiches and more that draw from a healthy fusion of Thai and Western cuisine. I have found this a great place to sit back, read, get some work done, or if the mood is right (and it often is) strike up a conversation with someone at the table next to you. Closes at 5.

Good Life

When it comes to healthy options, Good Life is your place. Wheatgrass, kombucha, an extensive tea list, vegetarian options…they even offer a fermentation workshop!

My Suggestion: Come for the guided meditation every M/W/F at 11am, and stay for the wide variety of nutritious brunch intems.

Chew Xin Jai

This restaurant has an amazing vegetarian lunch buffet: for 40 Baht you get a plate of rice and your selection of three dishes. And the beauty is there’s plenty of vegan choices too! Not open for dinner.

My suggestion: Ask for some mushrooms on the side (‘hed’ in Thai – they come in a bag). They’re intricately seasoned and taste almost like steak!

Walking Street

Of course, if you’re spending any time in Pai you can’t miss the market that takes over the city’s main drag each night. Choose from a variety of street vendors selling everything from local Thai cuisine to flavors of nations far and wide. Vegetarian dishes, BBQ food on sticks, grilled octopus and more, you can get as crazy as you want with the choices on display.  Market starts at 6.

If you want to make a positive local impact, I always suggest buying at markets. Pai has any number of markets that take place throughout the week, most of which are much less touristic than Walking Street. These are where the true locals are, the hard workers who hop around selling their modest offerings from pushcarts and roadside blankets draped across the ground. This is also where you will find most of the locals eating. 

Do:

Pai is known for its beautiful waterfalls, hot springs, a blossoming art scene, and colorful night life filled with even brighter characters. Check around the bars for open mic nights that tout plenty of local talent, free flowing collaboration, and the changing flavors of whoever happens to be passing through town.

Take a cooking class at Isara Garden ‘Thai & Asian Vegetarian Fusion Cooking Lab,’ where students pick ingredients fresh from their organic garden.

Or, if you feel like an elephant ride is a Thailand must, check out Thom’s Elephant Camp, which has a great reputation for the treatment of their elephants. They also offer rooms and hot spring water tubs for a bit of relaxation after your adventure!

Rent a motorbike and head south towards the beautiful Pam Bok Waterfall, nestled in among 20 meter cliffs that provide a perfect refuge for those steamy Pai days. If you want to ditch the crowds that congregate below, continue along the path and head to a secluded swimming area above the waterfall.

On your way back from Pam Bok you will pass the “Land Split,” which is a great place to stop if you’re in the mood for checking out quite the interesting natural phenomenon. The owners have an expansive garden, and offer a donation-based sit down ‘snacking meal’ that includes passion fruit, delicious homemade juice and jam made from their own roselle, and a variety of other fruits, nuts and noms.

This will also put you close to Pai Canyon, where you can catch a beautiful sunset over the valley, making for a perfect half day loop that will have you home just in time for a tasty Pai dinner.

Shop:

Earth Tone

I’ve included Earth Tone here because aside from their tasty menu options, they have an expansive selection of natural and artisanal items, including: soaps, essential oils, vinegars, organic teas, incense, noni juice, the best kombucha around, vegan desserts, and the list goes on…

Come for some health conscious treats and take a look around at Pai’s widest selection of green and organic products to energize the body, soul and mind!

Transportation:

Rent a bicycle at any number of places along Walking Street for less than 100 baht per day. Duan-Den is one larger rental company that also rents motorbikes.