Thannatee Boutique hotel

Thannatee Boutique Hotel is charming both inside and out. The property wraps around a corner, with stone walls sporting yellow flower paintings and an array of small palm trees obscuring the wooden building that houses the actual hotel. A sliding wooden door opens to reveal the tiny lobby, which shares space with the hotel's restaurant. A comfy, leather sofa and large leather armchair provide seating for guests waiting to check-in. A colorful Impressionist painting of a Thai farm scene hangs behind the wooden front desk, which has a tufted leather facade. There are hanging traditional bamboo fishing traps next to a pair of petrified hornet hives, a symbol of good luck here, and the low ceilings are covered in paintings of lotus flowers and carp, a contrast to the stone floors dotted with yellow hearts. The atmospheric space, though small, is richly decorated and sets the tone for the rest of the property, which features lots of waterfalls, teak wood, and plenty of boutique charm. Given its boutique charm -- and its romantic vibe -- most guests here are couples. 

Thannatee Boutique Hotel is located on a quiet side street just south of the moat surrounding the historic old city of Chiang Mai. The immediate area is home to plenty of other small hotels, and there are a number of restaurants and shops just around the corner. The neighborhood makes a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown and the touristy old city. Still, most guests are here to explore the historic quarter, and the moat and closest access point is less than 10 minutes away on foot. That being said, it will take 15 to 25 minutes to reach some of the major temples in the old city; for example, Wat Chedi Luang is just over a 15-minute walk, while Wat Phra Singh is a 25-minute walk. It's also a 15-minute walk to the old city's Sunday market. Chiang Mai's main night bazaar and downtown area are a bit farther, around a 10-minute drive or 20-minute walk. The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to the night bazaar and the Tha Phae Gate, plus bikes are available for rent. The railway and bus station is about a 10- to 15-minute drive from here, while the airport can be reached in 10 minutes.

The hotel offers 22 stylish rooms, full of atmospheric Lanna northern Thai decor, antique furnishings, and modern amenities. They have a ton of character, even for a city that has a healthy cadre of boutique hotels. All rooms have cool glazed-concrete floors dotted with painted yellow flowers or tile borders plus timber ceilings and teak wood furniture. It's the details that make these rooms stand out, though, like the vintage phones that actually work to call the front desk. There are also hand-carved wooden mirror frames and headboards, lantern-style lamps, and ornate painted wooden tables. 

There are three categories of rooms: Superior, Deluxe, and Suites, and their only blemish is that they are quite small, with the Superior and Deluxe rooms having limited space (in some of the layouts, the fridge actually touches the bed and cannot completely open). Modern amenities include flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, safes, tea- and coffee-making facilities, bathrobe and slipper sets, standing fans, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi.

Bathrooms have stylish tile floors and wooden walls, as well as designer aluminum sinks, rainfall showers, and a full set of toiletries. Suites have huge whirlpool tubs instead of showers. Other than the small size, the only other complaint about the rooms would be their lack of balconies or terraces, and there really aren't any views to speak of from the small windows.

Despite its small size, there a decent number of features to make a stay here worth the slightly higher rates (when compared to other nearby boutique hotels). The hotel has a small, charming outdoor pool flanked by some palm trees and a couple of loungers. Tonkao restaurant is set just next to the lobby, with several large sliding doors that open to reveal cascading waterfalls. The concrete-floor interior and ceiling painted with lotus leaves make for an atmospheric spot. The menu features mainly northern Thai staples as well as some Western items like burgers, plus there's a selection of fusion dishes like haeng lay spaghetti. There is also a comprehensive bar here, with mojitos, Singapore Slings, and other cocktails, along with beer and soft drinks. The restaurant is at its busiest in the morning, when it serves free buffet and a la carte dishes with a range of Thai and Western options.

The small, partially open-air library has a bookshelf stocked with tomes as well as computers available for guest use. Comfy leather chairs and a sofa provide seating. Other features include a fleet of bicycles available for rent, plus the hotel runs a free hourly shuttle to the night bazaar, main entrance to the old city, and a few other tourist spots around town. Airport transfers and Wi-Fi are free as well.