Welcome to Chiang Mai, land of meetups! If you want to hang out with your fellow location-independent peoples in an environment designed for socializing and bonding over shared interests, we’ve got a list of the best meetups in Chiang Mai for connecting with digital nomads.
Everybody’s gotta have friends, and few things are more painful and awkward than making friends as an adult. When you’re living a lifestyle that has you constantly on the go and you don’t settle in to any one social circle, boy oh boy does this get even harder.
Most adult friend groups are formed at work and in the absence of an office, coworking spaces can be the next best thing. People go to coworking spaces to, well, work though, so it’s not always the most conducive to having the conversations that lay the groundwork for becoming best pals. Sooooo what’s a lonely nomad starved for social interaction to do?
Hit up one of these Chiang Mai digital nomad meetups to network and make friends:
Free Friday Coworking & Happy Hour at Colab
Another regular free coworking day, Fridays at Colab are open for anyone to join. The agenda is open-ended and cafe items are half-price. Access starts at 9am and you can stay through Happy Hour from 6pm to 8pm with deals on beer and wine.
Colab offers four floors of stylish, modern coworking facilities with lots of natural light and super-fast internet. They boast 70 individual workspaces and bookable meeting rooms besides, so there’s no worries about needing to get there early to snag a seat.
Check out their Facebook Page for more digital nomad friendly meetups and events.
- Every Friday
- 9am
- 9 hours
Yoga, Breathwork & Icebaths at Alt_Chiang Mai
If you prefer to bonding over wellness activities over networking chit-chat, then head to Alt_Chiang Mai. This coliving and coworking space in the Old City hosts several regular weekly events where you can drop in and make friends.
On Tuesdays, enjoy yoga on the rooftop at 9:30am. The 250baht class fee also covers a half-day coworking pass.
Biohacking enthusiasts and those who enjoy a physical challenge can drop in for icebaths on Wednesdays and Fridays at 10am. Bring your swimmers and 200baht to join. The session starts with guided breathwork to get your day started with a natural high.
We’re not saying that being a digital nomad means you have to be into these kinds of holistic wellness practices, but the venn diagram of humans who lifehack through nomadism and biohack does seem to have a strong overlap, so this is a good place to meet like-minded folks.
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays
- Check above
- Check above
Chiang Mai SEO Community
Chiang Mai is home to some of the best affiliates in the game, and outside of the annual Chiang Mai SEO Conference, you can get year-round support from the pros at weekly meetups and socials.
The group typically meets up on Thursdays for coworking. The venue changes frequently, but Life Space Coworking in Nimmanhaemin is a perpetual favorite. The crew also often meets up for drinks at Yawk Bar in Santitham and steam and ice bathing at the Cocoon out in Hang Dong.
While this is a chance to rub elbows with some of the world’s top SEO experts, but it’s not all shop talk and work. Any digital nomad is welcome to drop-in, this group is very welcoming and social.
- (Typically) Thursdays
- Check Facebook Group and RSVP
Weekly Bitcoin Mixer
Founded by crypto enthusiasts Boban Milošević and Stefan King, these meetups have become a staple of the digital nomad social scene in Chiang Mai.
Whether you’re deep into investing or a total newbie to cryptocurrency and the wonders of blockchain, this is a great place to learn and make friends. All that’s required is curiosity and a willingness to learn, but deep wells of nerdiness will get you far with this crowd.
RSVP to the event on Meetup.com or on Facebook just show up every Thursday. Stefan typically runs a “crypto and blockchain for dummies” session prior to the mixer so anyone who’d like to be better informed before the jump into the fray can get some solid background.
- Every Thursday
- 7pm
- 3 hours
FreeBird Cafe – Many Events
Free Bird is a social enterprise cafe supporting education for Burmese migrants and refugees, so in addition to eating food that’s good for you, you know your money is going to people who will do good with it. Onsite they also have a donation center, second-hand shop, and zero-waste refill shop. It’s all the good things you can do for your body, soul and planet all in the same space!
Owner Lisa Byrd and her team are super collaborative about hosting the community, so be sure to follow the Free Bird Cafe Facebook page to find out about movie nights, fundraisers, open mics, and more.
Weekly CNX Women’s Lunch | Noon | 2 hours | Every Wednesday
SWAPAHOLIC Clothing Swap | 1pm | 2 hours | Last Sunday of the month
Open Mic at Free Bird Cafe | 7pm | 2.5 hours | Last Sunday of the month
- Wednesdays and Sundays
- See above
- See above
Chiang Mai Web3 Blockchain Meetup
For Web3 developers, designers or enthusiasts, join a blockchain meetup hosted at Yellow Coworking space in Nimmanhaemin. Meeting since 2019, the group hosts weekly discussions on the latest in Web3, with a particular interest in the Ethereum blockchain.
“On a higher level, this meetup is all about learning, creating, and providing value to others. Unlocking new economies. Empowering individuals.”
Chiang Mai has a vibrant developer and Web3 community and this group leans more towards tech and impact, far from what you might expect from an average gathering of blockchain bros.
Join this Facebook Group to hear about upcoming meetup dates.
- Every Thursday
- 7pm
- 2 hours
Cultural Events and Activities
Looking for more cultural and local events? Check out Citylife’s calendar of things to do in Chiang Mai:
Follow CNXLocal for More Events and Meetups
Chiang Mai is a great place to meet people whether you prefer to do so in a structured environment that helps you get over those awkward hellos or you’re a social butterfly seeking a new circle or admirers. So put down that phone, fix your hair, and get out to say hello to a new friend today.
We’re here to help you connect with the best Chiang Mai has to offer to digital nomads, and that includes the incredible community. Follow us on Facebook for the latest events and meetups for digital nomads in Chiang Mai.
