Located in a bright-green building just past the post office, Thu Maung is one of the best Burmese curry restaurants in this part of the country, serving up rich, meaty chicken, pork, mutton and fish curries coupled with exceptionally delicious dips, sides, salads, pickles and trimmings. The tomato salad, made from crunchy green tomatoes, is a work of art.

Very sophisticated for Kalaw, or anywhere in rural Myanmar, this new and worthwhile Italian-run restaurant offers homemade pasta, ravioli and wood-fired pizzas, as well as a smattering of local food. Set over two floors, it has a rooftop terrace to dine on, proper service and an impressive liquor selection, making for good cocktails, as well as wine.

Such a lovely little café tucked away among the hills and the fields. The food is great, the atmosphere is super relaxing and the owner and hostess is a wonderful lady, in fact all the staff was super nice and attentive.

This all-organic, appealingly rustic cafe and bakery is set in the leafy garden of the owner's home. Everything here is homemade, from the banana and chocolate cake to the ice cream and yoghurt. It also serves up salads and veggie stir-fries, as well as decent coffee and tea. It's a fine place to chill for an hour or two.

Ever-popular, long-running, convivial Nepali restaurant that serves up tasty curry spreads, complete with a good selection of side dishes, in pleasant surroundings.

Gentrified but relatively full-flavoured Burmese – as well as Chinese, Indian, Western and a smattering of Shan – dishes are served at this cute cottage restaurant that's geared towards foreigners.

This cosy, friendly shop sells delicious bowls of its namesake noodles, and has an English-language menu of other one-plate dishes.

This place is super to visit and just relax for a while. The coffees are very good and affordable (1500 kyat). The owner is a very friendly guy. You must visit this place when you are in Kalaw.

This place has very good cappuccino, latte or normal coffee. It is one of the best coffees in Myanmar. The ladies working there are very friendly and the place looked really good.

There are a few Shan-inspired dishes on the menu at this clean, two-storey place. But most of the menu features a Burmese take on classic Chinese dishes. The locals like it.