Restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Homemade pasta, garden views, fair prices.
Aquila holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and a 4.7 Google rating for Italian cooking made from scratch in a garden-facing setting just outside central Chiang Mai. At ฿฿, it is the most credentialled Italian option in the city. Book for a relaxed weekend brunch, a low-key date, or any occasion where you want quality beyond the Thai staples without paying fine-dining prices.
If you are deciding between a lazy weekend morning at a hotel breakfast or driving a short way out of central Chiang Mai for Italian food that is genuinely made from scratch, Aquila makes a strong case for the detour. This is not the Italian you settle for when abroad; the homemade pasta, pizza dough, and broth-based mains earn it a Michelin Plate (2025), which in a city where Italian restaurants rarely feature in any serious food conversation, carries real weight. At ฿฿ pricing, it sits in the same range as the better Thai restaurants in town, which makes the quality-to-cost ratio hard to argue with. Book here for a relaxed weekend meal, a low-key date, or any occasion where you want something different from northern Thai without sacrificing the care that defines Chiang Mai's better tables.
Most Italian restaurants in Southeast Asian cities fall into one of two traps: they charge fine-dining prices for imported mediocrity, or they undercut on price and cut corners on fundamentals. Aquila avoids both. The kitchen makes its own pizza dough, gnocchi, and fettuccine, which immediately separates it from the majority of Italian spots in this part of Thailand. Compare that to [Favola](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/favola-chiang-mai-restaurant), the other Italian reference point in the city, and Aquila's more casual, garden-facing setting gives it a distinct personality: less formal, better suited to a long weekend lunch where you are not watching the clock.
The address puts it in Tha Sala, a short drive from the old city, and the surroundings are noticeably greener than anything you get dining in the centre. The industrial design of the space sits in deliberate contrast to the garden view, giving the room a relaxed energy that works particularly well during daylight hours. If you are thinking about a weekend brunch or a mid-morning-to-afternoon stretch, the setting rewards it: natural light, open greenery, and a pace that does not feel rushed. For a special occasion that does not require ceremony, this format is more useful than a stiff tasting room.
The food on record makes two dishes worth planning around. The squid fettuccine with ponzu dressing is an unusual pairing for an Italian kitchen, and the fact that the pasta is made in-house means the texture holds up to the acidity in a way dried pasta cannot. The baked snow fish in a homemade buttery broth is the other standout: slow-cooked, with a sweetness that comes from the broth rather than any added sugar, and a texture that Michelin's own notes describe as meltingly soft. Both dishes suggest a kitchen that is confident enough to take controlled risks without abandoning technique. For a date or a celebratory lunch, either dish gives you something to talk about.
Google rating of 4.7 across 481 reviews is a useful signal here. That volume of feedback at that score, for a venue outside the city centre, points to a consistent experience rather than a lucky run. It places Aquila well above the average for Italian in Chiang Mai and close to the scores held by the city's most reliable Thai tables. For context, venues at this rating threshold in other categories, such as [Busarin Cuisine](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/busarin-cuisine) for northern Thai or [Ekachan](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/ekachan) for Thai, represent the dependable end of their respective fields. Aquila holds that same position for Italian.
Booking appears direct at this venue. There is no evidence of the multi-week lead times you encounter at tasting-menu destinations like [Sorn in Bangkok](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/sorn-bangkok-restaurant) or [PRU in Phuket](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/pru-phuket-restaurant). The casual, garden-setting format and the ฿฿ price point suggest walk-ins may work on quieter weekdays, though weekend brunch slots at well-reviewed venues at this price fill faster than the booking difficulty rating implies. If you are planning around a specific date or occasion, securing a table in advance is the safer call.
For those planning a wider trip, Pearl's [full Chiang Mai restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/chiang-mai) covers the full range of options across cuisines, and the [Chiang Mai hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/chiang-mai) is useful if you are still choosing where to base yourself. If you want to round out the trip with bars and experiences, those are covered in the [Chiang Mai bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/chiang-mai) and the [Chiang Mai experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/chiang-mai).
In the broader Thai context, Aquila's Michelin Plate sits alongside a small group of recognised venues outside Bangkok. Names like [AKKEE in Pak Kret](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/akkee-nonthaburi-restaurant) and [AKKEE Thai delicacies & Tasting Counter in Nonthaburi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/akkee-thai-delicacies-tasting-counter-nonthaburi-restaurant) hold Michelin recognition in different parts of the country. For Italian specifically in Asia, if you want a point of reference for what the format looks like at a higher ceiling, [8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/8-12-otto-e-mezzo-bombana-hong-kong-restaurant) and [cenci in Kyoto](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/cenci-kyoto-restaurant) sit several tiers above on price and formality, but they clarify what Aquila is not trying to be: it is a neighbourhood-scale, produce-focused Italian that punches above its category without trying to compete at a different level.
If you are in Chiang Mai and want a meal that steps outside northern Thai for a morning or afternoon without sacrificing quality, Aquila is the most credentialled option in its category in the city. The drive is short, the price is accessible, and the kitchen has earned its recognition through technique rather than concept. For vegetarian-focused alternatives nearby, [Aeeen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/aeeen-chiang-mai-restaurant) is worth checking. For Thai options in a similar casual register, [Aunt Aoy Kitchen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/aunt-aoy-kitchen-chiang-mai-restaurant), [Baan Landai](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/baan-landai-chiang-mai-restaurant), and [Baan Landai on Phra Pok Klao Road](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/baan-landai-phra-pok-klao-road-chiang-mai-restaurant) cover that ground well.
| Detail | Aquila | Favola | Busarin Cuisine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisine | Italian | Italian | Northern Thai |
| Price range | ฿฿ | ฿฿฿ | ฿฿ |
| Michelin recognition | Plate (2025) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Google rating | 4.7 (481 reviews) | — | — |
| Setting | Garden-view, industrial interior | Indoor, hotel-adjacent | Traditional Thai dining room |
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Moderate | Easy |
| Leading for | Weekend brunch, date, casual occasion | Formal dinner | Local cuisine exploration |
There is no confirmed bar seating on record for Aquila. The venue is described as a casual setting with an open garden view, which suggests the focus is on table dining rather than counter or bar service. If bar seating matters to you, contact the venue directly before visiting.
Two dishes have direct Michelin recognition in the venue's 2025 listing: the squid fettuccine with ponzu dressing and the baked snow fish in a homemade buttery broth. Both are made with house-produced pasta and broth respectively, which is where the kitchen's skill is most visible. Start with either of those and you are ordering in line with what earned the Plate.
Yes. The casual, garden-facing setting and ฿฿ pricing make it a comfortable solo option, particularly for a weekday lunch. There is no tasting-menu format that locks you into a multi-course commitment, so you can order to your own pace. For solo diners who want to stay within Thai cuisine, [Khao Soi Mae Manee](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/khao-soi-mae-manee) or [Chai](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/chai) offer lighter, quicker alternatives at lower price points.
For Italian specifically, [Favola](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/favola-chiang-mai-restaurant) is the main comparison, though it sits at a higher price tier and a more formal register. If you are open to Thai, [Busarin Cuisine](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/busarin-cuisine) delivers northern Thai cooking at the same ฿฿ level with comparable care. [Ekachan](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/ekachan) covers Thai in a similarly casual format. For quick, low-cost eating, [Dan Chicken Rice (San Sai)](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/dan-chicken-rice-san-sai) operates at ฿ and is the right call when you want something fast rather than considered. Pearl's [full Chiang Mai restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/chiang-mai) covers additional options across all categories.
There is no confirmed tasting menu at Aquila in the available data. The venue operates in a casual format at ฿฿ pricing, which is more consistent with an à la carte or set-lunch structure than a progressive tasting format. If a tasting-menu experience in Thailand is the priority, [Sorn in Bangkok](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/sorn-bangkok-restaurant) and [PRU in Phuket](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/pru-phuket-restaurant) are the benchmarks, though both are in different cities and at significantly higher price points.
No specific dietary accommodation policy is on record. The menu includes homemade pasta and fish-based dishes as key items, so those with gluten restrictions or seafood allergies should confirm directly with the venue before booking. Phone and website details are not available in Pearl's current data; checking via the venue's social channels or Google listing is the most practical route. For a confirmed vegetarian-friendly option in Chiang Mai, [Aeeen](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/aeeen-chiang-mai-restaurant) is a stronger starting point.
No specific group capacity or private dining information is confirmed in the available data. The venue's casual garden setting and 4.7 rating across a high review volume suggest it handles varied party sizes comfortably in general dining, but for groups of six or more, confirming space and table configuration directly with the venue is advisable. Booking in advance rather than walking in is the safer approach for groups regardless of day or time.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquila | A 10-minute drive is all it takes to escape the city for heartening Italian food, surrounded by plenty of greenery. Despite its industrial design, it’s a casual setting with an expansive view of the garden. The pizza dough, gnocchi and fettucine are all homemade. The squid fettuccine has an enlivening ponzu dressing; and the baked snow fish in a buttery fish broth beats all expectations with large, slow-cooked pieces that are meltingly soft in a sweet, homemade broth.; Michelin Plate (2025) | ฿฿ | — |
| Busarin Cuisine | ฿฿ | — | |
| Chai | ฿฿ | — | |
| Dan Chicken Rice (San Sai) | ฿ | — | |
| Ekachan | ฿฿ | — | |
| Khao Soi Mae Manee | — |
A quick look at how Aquila measures up.
The venue database does not confirm a dedicated bar counter, and the setting is described as a casual, garden-facing space with an industrial design aesthetic. Your best move is to contact Aquila directly before assuming bar seating is available. The relaxed format suggests counter-style solo dining may not be the primary setup here.
The squid fettuccine with ponzu dressing and the baked snow fish in buttery homemade broth are the standout dishes based on available sourcing — both are house-made and earned specific mention in Aquila's Michelin Plate recognition. The gnocchi and pizza dough are also made in-house, which puts them ahead of most Italian options at this price range in Chiang Mai. Start with the pasta, end with the fish.
Yes, and it works better for solo diners than many comparable spots in Chiang Mai. The casual setting, garden views, and mid-range pricing (฿฿) mean there is no social pressure to order broadly or fill a table. A solo visit is a low-stakes way to work through the homemade pasta section without overspending.
For Thai food at a comparable price point, Khao Soi Mae Manee is the obvious counter-option if you want something rooted in northern Thai cooking rather than Italian. Chai and Busarin Cuisine are worth considering if you want a more formal Thai dining experience. None of them replicate what Aquila does with homemade Italian pasta, so the comparison really comes down to cuisine preference rather than quality gap.
No tasting menu is confirmed in the venue data for Aquila. Given the ฿฿ pricing and casual format, this appears to be an à la carte operation rather than a set-menu experience. If you are looking for a structured multi-course Italian format, Aquila may not be the right fit — but for ordering freely across homemade pasta and fish dishes, the à la carte approach suits the setting.
No specific dietary accommodation policy is documented for Aquila. With homemade pasta as a core offering, strict gluten-free diners will want to call ahead. The presence of a ponzu-dressed squid dish suggests some cross-cuisine flexibility in the kitchen, but pescatarian and vegetarian options are not confirmed beyond what is in the venue record.
The expansive garden-view setting and casual format suggest Aquila can handle groups more comfortably than a compact city-centre Italian spot. At ฿฿ pricing, it is a reasonable group option without the bill anxiety of a fine-dining venue. Larger groups should still contact the restaurant in advance given the 10-minute drive from central Chiang Mai and the likelihood that the space fills on weekends.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
