Pre-review disclosure: we knew of the owners of this delightful hotel, via some official, work stuff in Bangkok.
Knew of them, as opposed to know them.
We’d never met, never even spoken on the phone.
All we knew is that they ran a hotel in Chiang Mai.
So when we decided to visit the city (after a gap of 35 years, but that’s another story altogether) we chose the River Art Hotel simply because of this tenuous connection.
And also because it looked so quirky from the photos online.
What a fun hotel it is.
We stayed 3 nights in the River Art Hotel & had an absolutely wonderful time.
The hotel is located a short distance outside town, an easy rickshaw ride, and has an unbeatable location, with a garden going down to the Ping river.
It is peaceful, quiet, there are birds everywhere, meaning breakfast in the garden is a delight.
The hotel is beyond stylish.
It is fun, it is colourful, and every corner has a different piece of modern, pop art.
There is quirky pop art at every turn, much of it making you laugh out loud – like the crocs peeping out from plants in the garden, and one placed cheekily by the pool.
The pool is small but just what you need after a day’s sightseeing.
We stayed in a garden room, with a fab view, a balcony, rocking chairs…what more can you ask?
The hotel only serves breakfast, so we explored the local restaurants down the road, walking to dinner every night.
The staff of the River Art Hotel could not have been nicer, advising, explaining, and were super helpful.
The hotel is non-smoking, other than in the garden.
It is also dog-friendly, and the owners’ dog exemplifies this attitude, happily following us back to our room for a quick cuddle.
Would we stay here again, on a subsequent visit to Chiang Mai?
100% yes.
We paid our own way, and no-one at the hotel knew that I blogged and write reviews.
Address: 96 Wang Sing Kam Rd, Patan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Phone: +66 80 071 2946
For a quick reply about a booking, you can contact them via their Facebook page.