Where to Take Kids During Chiang Mai’s Burning Season: Air-Purified Playgrounds & Cafes

New indoor playground with air purifiers in Tha Sala

This new spot opened just a few weeks ago with perfect timing. The air-conditioned space stays consistently cool with good purifiers, and they’ve thoughtfully set up different zones for various ages. My toddler loves the smaller kids’ area, while my friend’s older ones go wild in the bigger play structures, slides, and ball pit.

Entry is super reasonable at ฿100/child for 2 hours or ฿150/child all day, plus ฿50/adult. They offer a basic Thai menu if you get hungry. We usually end up staying for 2-3 hours, making the all-day pass great value for kids with extra energy. It’s definitely a winner for the kids rather than a place parents will enjoy being in all day, but it works well for both little toddlers and older children who need lots of space to run around and burn energy. Not really a spot for getting work done – this is pure play focus!

• Open daily, 11:00-21:00 (10:00 on weekends)
• 224 Tambon Tha Sala, Mueang Chiang Mai 50000
• Facebook: Kid’s Kingdom

Cozy haven perfect for little ones in Hang Dong

Still one of our favorites to go with our three-year-old and now one-year-old. It’s on the cozier side, which means the air purifiers are actually effective. The smaller space also makes it easier to mind both kids at once. When I go with our nanny or when I go with my husband, it works out for one of us to be able to get some work done while the other supervises the kids.

Entry is ฿150/child and ฿50/adult with no time restrictions. The food here is not bad for staying all day. Best for ages 0-5, with plenty of toys and soft play equipment perfect for wobbly walkers. Bonus points for having proper kid-sized toilets!

• Open Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00
• San Phak Wan, Hang Dong 50230
• Facebook: Reyn.ne’ Playhouse

Expansive play center with multiple zones in Hang Dong

The outdoor play area here is usually a letdown anyway because it’s too hot to hang out in, so the large indoor play space is really the draw. Our friends with kids ages three or four and up rate this as a good spot for parents to come co-work. You can definitely spend all day here and be comfortable – the kids will be thoroughly entertained.

Entry is ฿299/child and ฿50/adult for unlimited play. They’ve got lots of toys to play with, puzzles, a kinetic sand station, slides, indoor climbing spaces – the works! It’s not the cheapest, but they do offer packages. I think we’ll be topping up to come back and visit a little bit more while the air quality is bad.

• Open daily, 10:00-19:00
• 209T Nong Kwai, Hang Dong 50230
• Facebook: Little Soul Kids Planet

Premium play cafe with pristine facilities in Nonghoi

Oh my God, this place is so nice, but oh my God, it is so expensive. Now that we have to pay for two kids, getting all-day passes for both of them, paying for the adults, buying socks we forgot to pack, plus getting drinks and lunches – we literally spent over 2,000 baht on our last visit.

Regular entry is ฿300/child and ฿50/adult for a 2-hour session. We usually go early and get the more expensive full-day pass. It is such a nice space and it’s all indoors. There are tons of toys, puzzles, a ball pit, a dress-up station, books – it’s got a lot to offer and it’s great for tiny toddlers as well as kids as old as 12 would still have fun here. The food is actually pretty good, and I and friends have definitely gotten work done on our visits. It’s not uncommon to see a parent or two posted up with a laptop here.

• Open Tue-Sun, 10:00-19:00
• 549 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Rd, Nonghoi 50000
• Facebook: Wooden Ville Kids Café

LEGO-focused creative play with air purifiers

Note there are two locations – one in Chang Phueak and the other by Kad Farang. We still haven’t visited with our teeny tinies, but friends with kids four and up say that their kids really love these spaces. Not much room to run around – it’s more about mental stimulation. But they have tons of blocks, construction, building sets, magnet tiles, all that fun stuff. Not a bunch of room for the parents to hang out, alas.

Entry is charged hourly (around ฿100-150) with simple cafe items available. Best for ages 4+ who can focus on building, though the DUPLO options work for younger builders too.

• Open daily 09:30-19:30
• 183 Changhuak Rd, Chang Phueak 50200 (Tha Sala)
• Facebook: Block & Play

LEGO-focused creative play with air purifiers

And the other location in Hang Dong.

• Open daily 11:00-19:00
• Kad Farang, Hang Dong (Blockland Kids Club)
• Facebook: Block & Play

Family restaurant with clean-air play space in Pa Daet

This is definitely the best restaurant for lunch or dinner included on this list, and the inside space is air purified. They upgraded their outdoor playground, which has been a real plus for us, but alas, it’s less of a perk during the smoky season in Chiang Mai.

There is a little indoor play space, which even our three-year-old still enjoys, but I think it depends on how busy it is, because too many kiddos and the whole place feels crowded quickly. Because we tend to visit earlier in the day, midweek, this is a nice option for us, especially if we can get a table right outside the play area. This is a nice option for parents to still be able to hang out with their kids or get some work done.

• Open daily 08:30-21:00
• 289/2 Mae Hia 50100
• Facebook: Hannah • Hahn

Relaxed brunch spot with dedicated kids’ area in Hang Dong

Last but certainly not least, this one is a good combo family visit for us – dad hangs out in the main cafe and get some work done, and mom can be with the kids in the play area if you’ve got to head somewhere with the whole family and still squeeze in some work. One of Chiang Mai’s best brunch spots, this menu just makes this southern girl real happy.

It’s great that it’s air purified, but the indoor play space is fairly small, so this is going to be a better option just for families of young kids.

• Open daily 07:00-16:00
• 157/4 Yothathikan Rd, Pa Daet 50100
• Facebook: Bella Goose Cafe

Nature-inspired indoor/outdoor play space in Hang Dong

A favorite of ours since it’s less out of the way given we live on the road out towards Samoeng. The real draw of this place is its beautifully landscaped, expansive outdoor play area, but they do have an indoor play space with plenty of room for parents to sit around and an expansive menu.

If you’re nearby, I think this is a nice option, but it’s probably not worth the trek for most if you’re just limited to the indoor space during burning season. It is air purified, though!

• Open daily 8:30-17:00 (closed Wednesdays)
• 234 Ban Pong, Hang Dong 50230
• Facebook: YuuBaan Studio

Expansive playground with air purified play area in San Sai

Again, this is a huge, awesome playground for kids, but with the air as poor as it is, the outdoor amenities are less of a draw. The indoor play area is a spacious enough offering, though. If we lived closer, we’d probably visit more, but this is a solid choice for many families to keep in mind.

Entry is ฿250 for kids and ฿50 for adults, exchangeable for food and drinks. Remember to bring socks for everyone or budget for buying them there.

• Open daily 9:00-19:00 (closed Wednesdays)
• 334 Tambon Nong Chom, San Sai 50210
• Facebook: LOL Kids Castle

New kids’s cafe with indoor play space in Wat Ket

This is a new one we haven’t visited yet, but one of my best friends, whose son is a little younger than Fiona, said he enjoyed his time there. Sshe had great things to say about the quality of the toys and the facilities overall. A good option for hanging out all day. I think parents can be comfortable here, but we have yet to visit ourselves, so we’d love to hear from more folks.

Apparently, it gets busy enough that you sometimes need to make an appointment in advance or just call ahead.

• Open daily 9:00-17:30 (closed Wednesdays)
• 90/6 Soi Thung Hotel 5, Wat Ket, Mueang Chiang Mai 50000
• Facebook: Yardoo Kids Cafe