The Moat House
The Moat House is a two-level British-expat sports bar and rooftop venue along the east moat between Tha Phae and Chang Phueak gates, with the ground floor running as a TV-screens-and-pub-food sports bar and the rooftop adding cocktails and sunset views over the historic city wall. The ground floor has multiple screens showing Premier League, rugby, MotoGP, and cricket, with a long bar and pub food menu. The rooftop adds open-air cocktail seating with the moat visible below and the eastern wall stretching to the south. Drinks pricing is moderate: beer 130-180 THB, cocktails 220-280 THB, pub mains 280-420 THB. The crowd is heavy on long-stay British and Australian expats with a steady regulars-club feel.
Where to stay near The Moat House
Hotels and rentals within walking distance.
What to Expect
A two-level sports bar with a ground-floor TV-and-pub-food space and a rooftop cocktail seating area with moat views. Heavy British and Australian expat crowd, especially during football fixtures.
Friendly local-pub feel on the ground floor; relaxed cocktail rooftop above. Regulars-driven, low-pressure.
Sports commentary on the screens, low-volume classic rock between matches
Casual. Shorts, sandals, T-shirts standard.
Sports fans, British expats, sunset cocktails on the rooftop, pub-food evenings.
Cards widely accepted, cash also fine
Price Range
Beer 130-180 THB, cocktails 220-280 THB, pub food 280-420 THB
Beer ~$3.60-5/€3.30-4.50, cocktails ~$6-8/€5.50-7, food ~$8-12/€7-10.50
Hours
12:00 to midnight daily, longer for major sports fixtures
Insider Tip
Check the kickoff schedule posted at the bar for major football fixtures; arriving 30 minutes early is wise. The rooftop runs better for sunset; the ground floor for sports. The full English breakfast is decent value.
Full Review
The Moat House occupies a two-story building along the east moat road (Moonmuang) between Tha Phae and Chang Phueak gates. The ground floor opens directly onto the street with multiple TV screens visible from the entrance, a long bar along one wall, and pub-style seating across the room. The upstairs rooftop is accessed via an internal staircase and runs as a separate cocktail seating area with views over the moat and the eastern wall.
The sports programming is the ground floor's primary draw. Premier League, rugby, MotoGP, cricket, and occasional American sports fill the screens during their seasons. The regulars-club character is real; many customers have been visiting for years and know the staff and each other by name. New arrivals are welcomed but expected to integrate quietly.
The rooftop runs a different vibe entirely. Open-air seating, cocktail menu, slower service, and the sunset over the moat as the main attraction. The crowd shifts upstairs around 5 PM and drifts back down to the sports floor around 9 PM if there's a major fixture on. The two floors function almost as separate venues sharing the same management.
Compared to John's Place on Loi Kroh, The Moat House is more rooftop-oriented and pulls a slightly older crowd. Compared to THC Rooftop nearby, The Moat House is more polished and food-focused. The pub menu runs full English breakfast (180-220 THB), burgers, fish and chips, and Sunday roasts; execution is decent but not exceptional. Service is friendly and unhurried.
The Neighborhood
The Moat House sits along the east moat (Moonmuang Road) between Tha Phae Gate and Chang Phueak Gate. THC Rooftop is five minutes south at Tha Phae; North Gate Jazz is five minutes north outside Chang Phueak.
Getting There
From Tha Phae Gate, walk five minutes north along Moonmuang Road. From Chang Phueak Gate, five minutes south. From Nimman, 12 minutes by Bolt at around 100 THB.
Address
Moonmuang Road along the east moat, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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Browse Thailand eSIM plansOther Venues in Old City
Zoe in Yellow
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North Gate Jazz Co-Op
Bare-bones two-floor jazz bar just outside Chang Phueak Gate (north gate) with live jazz, reggae, soul, and blues every night. Shows start around 9 PM. Crowded standing room only on Tuesday open-mic nights, one of the city's most beloved venues.
Roots Rock Reggae
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THC Rooftop Bar
5th-floor rooftop bar on the Tha Phae Loft building near Tha Phae Gate. Reggae soundtrack, hippie-leaning expat regulars, panoramic views over the Old City moat. Open from 5:30 PM until midnight.
Thapae Grill
Multi-level restaurant and rooftop bar at Tha Phae Gate. Casual food on the lower floors, open-air rooftop with views of the gate plaza and street performers. Remodeled in 2023, friendly mid-range pricing.
Tha Phae Gate Plaza
Open square in front of the eastern Old City gate, with food vendors, buskers, street performers, fire-show dancers, and informal beer drinking on weekend evenings. Hub of the Sunday Walking Street and most Old City evening foot traffic.