HOTEL REVIEW: ANANTARA CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s most underrated destinations. Whilst majority of tourists flock to the pristine beaches in Thailand, only a few venture to the Northern Hills to be encapsulated by the allure of Chiang Mai. During our last visit, we stayed at the Anantara Chiang Mai and in this hotel review you’ll find out the reasons of why this needs to be your next hotel stay…
LOCATION
In the heart of Chiang Mai, and along the banks of the Mae Ping River, lies the serene Anantara Chiang Mai. This central location allows you to reach the main tourist attractions within a 7 minute TukTuk ride or a 20 minute walk, including the Old City and its numerous temples, and the night bazaars where you can sample the local food delights, including the BEST Pad Thai we had in Thailand. Check out my Chiang Mai Travel Guide for more information.
Despite this central location, Anantara Chiang Mai provides an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Chiang Mai. Within the hotel’s enclaves you will find yourself relaxing to a steady beat of the Taphon backed by the gentle sloshing of the river, transporting you to a tranquil state of mind.
THE CONCEPT OF ANANTARA CHIANG MAI
Life is a journey is the Anantara Group belief, where a stay at Anantara is just one more chapter in a lifetime of travel and exploration that they plan to make an extraordinary one, and oh boy do they deliver on this!
Their hotels are intended to provide a window into the character of each destination, with each specifically designed to represent the destination’s culture and materials. At Anantara Chiang Mai you’ll find the 100-year old former British Consulate to be honed with dark wooden cladding and minimalist designs, with a subtle inclusion of the natural landscape weaved throughout the resort.
For more Anantara hotel reviews check out my review on Anantara Kihavah, Maldives!
ROOMS
Open-plan rooms aren’t to everyone’s taste, but with such a beautiful backdrop from your floor to ceiling windows it would be almost a crime to block off that sight. With 52 rooms and 32 suites, each comes with a river or garden view that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the daybed on your private balcony.
Each room features a large free-standing bathtub with a separate walk-in rain shower, equipped with luxurious bathroom amenities. The plush king-size bed dominates the centre of the room, whilst a small seating area occupies one of the corners, but it still leaves plenty of space to do in-room yoga if you wish (with complimentary yoga mats provided).
Whilst usually we would opt for a better view room, we had booked the garden-view room rather than river-view as the gardens were beautiful, but also the hotel pool and bars were all river facing, so personally we didn’t feel it was worth paying more for the river view for a two-night stay.
CULINARY DELIGHTS
This was my second stay at an Anantara Resort and one detail that stuck with me from each resort was the quality of the breakfast. For me, breakfast is the most important meal of my day as it sets the tone for the rest of the day, and at Anantara Chiang Mai they executed this perfectly.
Breakfast is served at the Bodhi Terrace which is set on the river banks. You’ll find a wide selection of buffet delights and if none of these tickle your fancy you can order from the plentiful western and Asian a la carte options. There’s also a wide variety of beverage options ranging from a selection of teas and coffees, smoothies, and something a little stronger for those wanting a bubbly start to the day. If you’re not a breakfast person but don’t want to venture out into the Old City for a meal, the Bodhi Terrace serves traditional Thai cuisine or for something a little different you can indulge in a juicy steak (and other grill options) at the Service 1921 Restaurant on site.
Apart from its restaurant options, what you don’t want to miss at Anantara Chiang Mai is it’s rooftop terrace cocktail bar that overlooks the river. It also happens to be the perfect spot to watch sunset from, conveniently timed to happy hour. It’s a spectacular affair!
RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION
Anantara Chiang Mai knows that their guests will be returning from an action-packed day, glistening from the humidity of the City, so it will be of no surprise to learn that they have an award-winning spa on site.
The spa offers an array of treatments including the traditional Thai massage, but also a different type of cocktail to that found in the rooftop bar, where you can concoct your own personalised blend of vitamins for an IV drip that is delivered in the private hydration room.
However, the real highlight for me was the 34-metre-long riverside pool. It provided the perfect antidote to wash away the tell-tale signs of the adventurous but weary day.
MY TWO CENTS
Having experienced the concept of the Anantara Group before, it was a no brainer to choose Anantara Chiang Mai from the other accommodation options in the City. If you’re looking for a place to feel completely at ease and escape the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai, then this is the hotel for you!
INTEL HUB
Website: https://www.anantara.com/en/chiang-mai
Address: 123, 1 Charoen Prathet Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai 50100
Phone: +20 2 27917000
Price: Starting from GBP 200 per night in low season and GBP 280 in high season
10 responses to “Hotel Review: Anantara Chiang Mai”
Anantara Chiang Mai is far nicer than the backpacker hotel I stayed at when I was younger. I’d love to return and check out Anantara Chiang Mai.
Sadly we missed visiting Chiang Mai when we got to Thailand. The Anantara hotel looks like a lovely spot to enjoy in this underrated destination. I would certainly enjoy that bathtub after a busy day touring. Or maybe head to the spa!
That pool is amazing! And I agree that a good breakfast is super important. Looks beautiful!
Wow I LOVE the open floor plan rooms with the tub! Gorgeous 🙂 I’ll be looking for something like that on my next trip!
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[…] Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is one of the 5-star hotels in Chiang Mai. When you arrive you will immediately notice their minimalistic and clean designs. There is a spa on-site with sauna rooms, massages, yoga, Muay Thai classes, and aerobics classes as well. […]
Anantara Chiang Mai sounds delightful. If I ever make it to Thailand (hopefully soon) I would love to stay there.
Looks like an awesome hotel to stay! Thailand is a fascinating country to visit for sure.
Wow, this place is amazing. Bucket list for sure!