Chivit Thamma Da is a riverside cafe set in a well-preserved Colonial-era wooden building on the banks of the Kok River. The garden runs down to the water and is shaded by mature trees; tables are scattered across the lawns and on the building's wooden verandah. It is one of the most pleasant places in Chiang Rai to sit for an hour or two, and the setting alone would justify the visit.
The coffee is good — single-origin Thai beans, several brewing methods available. The menu extends to cakes, Thai snacks, and light meals. It is more cafe than bar, though they do serve alcohol in the evenings. Come in the morning for the light and the relative quiet, or in the late afternoon when the heat drops and the garden fills slowly with people who have worked out the same thing.