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[title]Scouting the ideal hotel in Chiang Mai can be problematic. Thailand’s largest city in the north boasts a great variety of accommodations, from budget-friendly homestays and hostels on busy and often-congested Nimmanhemin, to pricier, more tranquil resorts surrounded by rice fields on the edges of the city. But sometimes you don’t want to be too secluded from the bustle, but also don’t want to be excessively bothered by the noisy tourist crowd. U Chiang Mai may just be your answer.
Sereechai Puttes/Time Out Bangkok
Sereechai Puttes/Time Out Bangkok
The boutique hotel is situated on Ratchadamneon Road, one of the city’s main thoroughfares (also known as Walking Street), on the quiet and private grounds of the residence of a former Chiang Mai governor. The old wooden house now functions as U Chiang Mai’s main lobby, spa and drawing room, while new building additions around a swimming pool house the rooms. Each accommodation is stylishly furnished with traditional Lanna details, but still maintains a modern feel. Opt for one of the pool-access rooms on the first floor if you want to live it up a bit more—this option comes with a complimentary floating breakfast which you can enjoy in the pool right beside your room.
Sereechai Putter/Time Out Bangkok
Sereechai Puttes/Time Out Bangkok
You can also have breakfast at Eat, U Chiang Mai’s main restaurant. Eat offers breakfast dishes, ranging from Western to traditional Chiang Mai-style bites. The restaurant also serves breakfast whenever the guests start their day, either at the restaurant or at their own rooms, until 22:00. (All-you-can-eat snacks and starters are served from 6:30-11:00 at Eat). If you would like to try traditional Northern specialty, order the Kan Tok set to best sample the gastronomic delights the city has to offer. It includes sweet and salty pork hang lay curry, nam prik noom (green chili-based relish), nam prik ong (tomato-based relish) and sai oeur (spice-and-herb-filled sausage). Upstairs is a cocktail bar where you can sip your tipple of choice while observing the evening bustle of Ratchadamneon Road. Happy hour offers selected cocktails at half-price.
Sereechai Putter/Time Out Bangkok
Unique to U Chiang Mai, guests can benefit from “24 Hour Use of Room” policy, allowing their check-out time to be the same as the time that they check in. So, you don’t have to check out by noon, despite arriving at the hotel at 17:00.
The hotel is also within walking distance of numerous cultural sites such as Wat Phra Singh, one of Chiang Mai’s most sacred temples, and the Three Kings Monument, which consists of bronze statues of King Mengrai, King Ramkamhaeng and King Ngam Muang, the three ancient monarchs who worked together to form the city of Chiang Mai. For more information and reservation, visit www.uchiangmai.com or Facebook page U Chiang Mai.