NAVAN NAVAN

Verdict: Worth the Drive to Mae Rim

Getting a table at NAVAN NAVAN is easier than you might expect for a two-time Michelin Plate recipient; booking is direct, the restaurant sits at the ฿฿฿ tier, which is mid-to-upper range for Chiang Mai but far below what this quality level commands in Bangkok or internationally. If you have already eaten here once and are wondering whether to return, the answer is yes. The kitchen's approach to charcoal-grilled local ingredients rewards repeat visits, because the menu shifts with what is available rather than staying fixed. Come back with a longer appetite and more time; and arrive before sunset.

The Case for Going Back

NAVAN NAVAN operates out of a stand-alone cement building within the Amaze @ The Myth complex in Mae Rim District, roughly 20 minutes north of central Chiang Mai. The setting matters: rice fields surround the building on multiple sides, the open kitchen is fully visible from the dining room, the garden turns into something genuinely worth seeing in the hour before dark. If you visited previously and skipped an early arrival, correct that this time.

The cooking here falls under creative cuisine, but the framing that makes most sense is: a chef using a charcoal grill as the primary tool and northern Thai produce as the primary material, then applying techniques drawn from multiple culinary traditions without letting any single one dominate. The Michelin Plate recognition in both 2024 and 2025 confirms that this is not an accident or a lucky season, the kitchen delivers consistently at a level that inspires guide-level confidence. For context, Thailand's Michelin Plate designation signals cooking that inspires quality across inspectors' repeated visits, placing NAVAN NAVAN in the same conversation as recognised venues like Sorn in Bangkok, PRU in Phuket, and AKKEE in Pak Kret, though the register here is quieter and the setting is rural rather than urban.

The philosophy the kitchen operates from centres on natural flavours and healthy preparation. That is not a marketing claim, charcoal grilling is a cooking method that concentrates flavour without adding fat or masking the base ingredient. For a return visitor, this means the dishes you remember for their clean, direct taste are not a fluke of the night you attended; they are the consistent output of a deliberate method.

At ฿฿฿, expect to pay more per head than at the northern Thai specialists or street-food counters in the city centre, but the price sits well below what comparable creative cooking costs at venues like Quique Dacosta or Arpège. Within Chiang Mai, it is one of the few places where you are paying for original creative work rather than a regional format executed with varying degrees of skill. The value case is strong if creative cooking, as opposed to traditional northern Thai, is what you are looking for.

Logistics for a return visit: the address is 55 หมู่ 7, Mae Rim District. A rideshare or private car is the practical way to get there from central Chiang Mai; this is not a walkable or easily tuktuk-accessible location. Build in time for the journey and plan your arrival around sunset if the season allows. No phone number or website is listed in public records, so reservations are likely handled through the venue's platform or walk-in, confirm the current booking method before making the trip, particularly if you are travelling in a group. The seating capacity is not published, but the stand-alone building format and garden setting suggest a limited number of covers, which makes earlier arrival more reliable than later.

For those exploring Chiang Mai's broader dining scene alongside NAVAN NAVAN, the city has a range of well-regarded options worth knowing: Friend's Table, Aeeen (Vegetarian), Aquila (Italian), Aunt Aoy Kitchen, and Baan Landai each offer distinct formats across price tiers. See our full Chiang Mai restaurants guide for a complete picture, check our Chiang Mai hotels guide, bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide if you are planning a longer stay.

Ratings at a Glance

• Michelin Plate: 2024, 2025
• Price tier: ฿฿฿ (mid-to-upper for Chiang Mai)
• Booking difficulty: Easy

Booking & Practical Details

NAVAN NAVAN is located at Amaze @ The Myth, 55 หมู่ 7, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180. Plan for a 20-minute drive from the city centre. No website or phone is publicly listed; check Google Maps or the venue's social presence for current reservation options. Arrive before sunset if you want the garden view at its finest, this is one of the few practical reasons to choose your arrival time carefully, first-timers and returnees alike benefit from it. For a wider look at how this venue compares across occasions and diner types, see the FAQ section below.