Om Garden Cafe

So what does the adventurous traveler do in the area around Pai? I have absolutely no idea. I’m proud to say that we spent virtually our entire 4-day Pai experience within the relaxing thatched walls of Om Garden Cafe, run by our friends Mark and Anon. (Mark and I go back over two decades – geez, I’m getting old.)

Mark and Anon have spent the last few years in Pai. Anon, chef extraordinaire, runs the Om Garden Cafe kitchen dazzling Pai’s smartest visitors with scrumptious treats ranging from a fabulous Mediterranean plate of hummus and baba ganoush to a knock-your-socks-off pavlova. You never know what creation Anon will surprise guests with next, but you know it’s going to be good.

While Anon takes care of guests stomachs, Mark has another purpose. He offers reiki and craniosacral treatments and courses, which adds a whole new dimension to the relaxing atmosphere of the cafe.

The hidden backstreet entrance does not make Om Garden Cafe the most obvious place to hang out, but while we were visiting, the super relaxing retreat seemed to have a high concentration of local Thai friends and expats. Shhh, don’t tell anyone!

We did on a couple of occasions venture out to sample other restaurants and make a quick trip to the hot springs. But in the end, we realized Anon’s and Mark’s cafe was what we really wanted to do most. What’s better than great food, a quiet atmosphere, and unlimited conversation with a collection of colorful characters that call Pai home? Nothing.

Om Garden Cafe is located at 60/1 Wiang Tai, Amphoe Pai. If you can’t find it, just ask around the street for Anon’s cafe. Here they are on Google Maps and Bing Maps.