Cha Guu

Matcha whisked to order by the river

Matcha is the whole centre of gravity here. Cha Guu is a tea-led café in the Pa Tan area of Chiang Mai, sitting beside The Baristro on the Ping River, and the link to that better-known coffee name does not make this a coffee bar. The matcha is made by trained baristas and arrives airy and fluffy in texture while staying deep and rich in flavour, and the range covers several strengths, including Usucha and latte formats, hot or cold, with or without ice. Matcha powder is sold for brewing at home as well, which says something about where the shop's confidence sits. Cha Guu was named in Time Out's matcha guide for 2026.

A compact Japanese-style tea room

The room is small and deliberately composed: Japanese-style decoration, limited seats, and light that flatters the drinks as much as the river outside. That riverside setting does as much work as the interior, tying a visit to the Ping as much as to the tea itself. The Japanese-Thai line runs through the food too, with plates such as hamburg donburi and grilled pork with a creamy omelette and rice, which is what turns this into somewhere to sit down for a meal rather than a matcha stop between errands. Seating is limited enough that the room fills quickly on a good afternoon, so the calmer visits are the earlier ones. Take a seat facing the water if one is free.

Start with the Soft Matcha Latte

Order the Soft Matcha Latte first. It is the clearest of the named drinks and the one that shows the soft, airy house style best. For a brighter version, the Matcha Yuzu puts citrus over the same base. The Blue Matcha Latte is the more visual choice, and the Hojicha Latte is the roasted-tea order when a deeper, toastier profile suits the hour better than green tea. On the Thai side, the soft Thai tea is worth trying, and the Blue Thai Tea combines Thai tea, cocoa and milk for the most openly fusion drink on the list. Pair a matcha or hojicha with the hamburg donburi, or with the grilled pork and creamy omelette over rice, and the idea behind the place comes together: Baristro-linked tea craft, a Japanese-style room, and Japanese-Thai cooking in Chiang Mai.