Temple House (www.fb.com/templehouselamphun) is an example of why Lamphun deserves better than its reputation as Chiang Mai’s undervisited neighbor.

Downstairs, Temple House is an airy bistro of industrial extraction and lively furniture that serves coffee, cakes, sandwiches and pastas. But it’s also much more than your typical all-day-dining cafe. They’ve opened an upstairs art gallery highlighting multiple generations of artists, the rotating collection acting as a conversation between past, present and future.

When you’ve had your fill of food and art, stop by the little stand on the way out, where they sell local organic vegetables at market prices.

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