Chiang Mai has long been a beacon on the traveller’s path. Here’s where you need to eat, stay and play in the Kingdom’s vibrant northern capital.
Nestled in the mountainous region of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is a city that seamlessly blends rich cultural heritage with modern attractions, making it a must-visit destination for travellers of all types. Known as the “Rose of the North,” Chiang Mai offers a unique charm with its ancient temples – there’s more than 300 of them – vibrant markets, lush landscapes, and a burgeoning arts and culinary scene. In addition, the old city, surrounded by remnants of ancient walls and a moat, is a treasure trove of history.
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7 AM
Wake up and enjoy the breakfast buffet at Meliá Chiang Mai’s Laan Na Kitchen, which specialises in international cuisine with choices from southern Europe. Its buffet stations are filled with the staple breakfast fares of bacon, eggs, cheeses, baked goods, and noodles, plus Spanish selections of churros, omelettes and more.
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8:30 AM
Tap into the city’s spiritual side with a visit the historic and serene Wat Phantao, a beautiful wooden teak temple from the 14th century with detailed carvings and famed for its exquisite Lanna-style ordination hall (Wihan). This temple was once the throne hall for King Maotara Prateth and visit between May and June during the Visakha Bucha celebrations and you’ll find butter lamps lighting the ponds surrounding the shrine.
10 AM
Stroll inside the walls of Chiang Mai’s moated old city and check out the many historical temples dotting this historic enclave. These include the Wat Chedi Luang (above), built in 1441 and possibly the largest building in ancient Chiang Mai. The temple sustained damage from earthquakes and cannon fires before undergoing restoration by UNESCO and the Japanese government in the 1990s.
If you still have time, visit the Lanna Architecture Centre on Rachadamnoen Road. Its office building is 120 years old and today houses the part of the Faculty of Architecture of Chiang Mai University, which researches and educated the public on Lanna architecture.
12 NOON
Experience a cosy and quirky Thai lunch at The House by Ginger (above), where the interior design’s nostalgic theme is an experience in itself. The restaurant is nestled within a Thai national heritage-listed home that is now a glamorous space popular for its cuisine and crafted cocktails. For starters, try the deep fried prawn cakes wrapped with pounded unripe rice. For mains, choose between beef red curry, white curry with smoked pork neck, or Tom Yum with river prawns.
For something different, check out Hor Mok Talay, seafood steamed in a young coconut curry and refresh with a selection of organic teas, cold-pressed juices and shakes. Alternatively, the restaurant’s signature The House Cocktail, made with white rum, Blue Curacao, lychee, lime and pineapple, also helps beat the northern Thailand heat.
1:30 PM
Visit the Baan Tawai Village for local arts and crafts, and watch artisans at work, before explore the many studios in search of unique souvenirs. Alternatively, check out some of Chiang Mai’s popular art galleries, also located within the old city walls. On Samlarn Road, The Meeting Room Art Gallery (above) is one of the best-known art spaces in the city and the longest-running platform for the local artist community in Chiang Mai. It also has a cafe built into the gallery so you can take your time appreciating (or considering buying) the art.
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For a different form of art, visit the nearby C.A.P Studio, a fine art printmaking studio for hand-made, limited edition prints. Apart from buying and appreciating art, the studio lets visitors to witness the printmaking process, specialised in etching and oil-based relief printing techniques.
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3:30 PM
You also haven’t been to Chiang Mai unless you’ve been to the mountain temple Doi Suthep (above), one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples and probably its most important one. Established in 1383, it is believed that a shoulder bone from the Buddha is enshrined here. Seven-headed serpent statues decorate the stairs leading to a golden pagoda in Lanna-style architecture.
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If you aren’t keen on climbing to the temple, take the electric tram up the mountain and be rewarded with stunning city views.
6 PM
Head back to the city for an early dinner at the elegant steakhouse 1921 House (above), a restaurant located in a hundred-year-old teak mansion that used to be the British consulate’s home. Enjoy a selection of bone marrow, oysters, and the finest steaks from Australia, USA, and Japan, all aged on-site. Be sure to try the 1921 Prawn Cocktail with avocado, caviar, and baby gem lettuce as well as the Miyazai Wagyu A4, grain-fed for 600 days or the signature beef burger, which is air dried for 35 days.
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9 PM
Check out Chiang Mai’s night markets on Changklan Road for street food and people-watching. Do a Thai food tasting marathon with dishes freshly made-to-order such as pad Thai, papaya salad, grilled oysters, fresh spring rolls, and indulgent sticky mango rice. If you’re feeling adventurous, challenge yourself with fried worms, grasshoppers, and scorpions! For Thai souvenirs, treat yourself with some of the locally-made spa essential oils.
11 PM
Head back to Meliá Chiang Mai for a soothing cocktail at the Mai the Sky Bar (above), which has beautiful city views overlooking the Doi Suthep and the Ping River. Wind down and enjoy delicious drinks at the tallest bar in the city. Try the signature Mai The Sky, a vodka cocktail with lychee and lemon juices, Galliano and air foam. For a classic Spanish libation, go for the Agua De Valencia, made of cava, triple sec, orange juice, and syrup, best paired with grilled chicken satay with sauce choices ranging from romesco and chimichurri to aioli and chili powder. If you love cheese with a view, go for the Artisan Cheese Board with Forest Tail, Palazzo di Palma, Ricotta Affumicata, Saltara Machima, and San Paquanburie.
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