Mora Boutique Hotel

The ground floor unfolds into a series of interconnected spaces that flow seamlessly from reception to restaurant to pool. The design leans heavily into modern Lanna style – all dark wood, cream walls, and the occasional Buddha statue watching over proceedings. The saltwater pool anchors the central courtyard, flanked by the Chompor Restaurant where breakfast (included) ranges from proper Thai dishes to Western standards. Up on the rooftop, the bar offers 360-degree views of Chiang Rai's low-rise sprawl and surrounding mountains. But it's those thoughtful touches that elevate things – filtered water stations on every floor, a proper fitness centre (not just two treadmills in a cupboard), and that glorious afternoon tea service. Even the spa, tucked away on the ground floor, feels properly authentic rather than tacked on for tourists.

All 25 rooms follow the same colonial-meets-contemporary playbook – wooden floors, high ceilings, and furniture that wouldn't look out of place in a British hill station circa 1920. Entry-level Superior rooms start at a generous 35 square metres, with a seating area that actually seats people (not just a token chair). The real treats are the pool-view suites with private balconies overlooking the courtyard – perfect for morning coffee or evening Chang beers. Every room gets the full complement: proper air-con (whisper quiet), smart TVs with Netflix, free minibar (!), bathrobes, slippers, and those welcome fruit plates that appear daily. Bathrooms lean luxurious with deep soaking tubs, separate rain showers, and windows that flood the space with natural light. The soft beds might divide opinion, but the twice-daily housekeeping and those surprise bathtubs filled with rose petals certainly won't.

While the hotel arranges the usual Northern Thailand greatest hits – temple tours, Golden Triangle day trips, tea plantation visits – its city-centre location means you can easily strike out solo. The Saturday Walking Street practically starts at your doorstep, while the Night Bazaar sits seven minutes away on foot. The Hill Tribe Museum next door offers context for the region's ethnic diversity, and that golden clocktower everyone photographs performs its light show nightly at 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm. The hotel will arrange tuk-tuks for longer journeys (Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, is 20 minutes away), bicycles for pottering around town, or proper tours if you prefer someone else to handle logistics. After a day navigating Chiang Rai's gentle chaos, that rooftop bar starts looking very appealing – especially during happy hour when cocktails drop to local prices.