Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) Tourist Guide


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LIVING IT UP:
The Chedi Hotel
A Class Apart

Text: Finley B. Luge
Photos: Karin

Just sit back

In the heart of Chiang Mai city stands one of the finest deluxe resorts in the world; you may have noticed its unreservedly discreet yet distinctive facade, but perhaps not realized what architectural wonders lies behind it. Sited on the compound of the former British Consulate and set on the banks of the Mae Ping River, The Chedi Chiang Mai consists of a stunning 84 room hotel, state-of-the-art spa and a detached colonial style wooden building that houses the impressive restaurant.

The dense vertical timber screen that runs down the Charoen Prathet Road is as functional as it is beautiful, acting as a shield for the hotel rooms at the front of the building. Passing through it brings you to the main lobby, an enchanting area where guests can relax on day beds and couches whilst listening to the delicate soothing melodies of the Chinese cimbalom, or khim.

Adjacent to the lobby is a large landscaped courtyard with a striking lawn and an impressive reflection pool; from here, a panoramic view of the compound has been made possible, where you can take in the hotel, Spa and restaurant quarter. Dissecting the courtyard is a covered walkway that extends from the lobby to the river side, overlooking which can be found the elegant-looking swimming pool.

On each of the four floors that make up the hotel are shaded external corridors that run around the L-shaped building, and the guest rooms can be reached via an external private courtyard that allows for natural light to filter inside. A contemporary interpretation of traditional Thai materials has been used throughout, including dark timber floors, teak furniture and hand-made red wall tiles; plus paper and metal light fittings reflect the traditional umbrellas and lanterns found in Chiang Mai.

Lounge

All rooms come with spacious bathrooms, freestanding bath tubs, flat screen TV's, WiFi access and large balconies. The Club Suites are very spacious and come equipped with complimentary mini bars, espresso machines, sound systems, a butler service and laundry. Guests here are given access to the Club Lounge offering complimentary evening cocktails and canapes. The Health Club is open to all guests and is located on the second floor, offering a selection of equipment as well as a separate aerobic room.

The state of the art Spa is made up of ten private, contemporary Asian style suites each with its own steam shower and terrazzo bathtub. The treatments include organic facials, traditional massage, warm stone massage, body wraps, facials and herbal steam baths. A wide selection of specially-created spa and beauty products are also available.

Last month, guests and patrons of the hotel were treated to a wonderful night's entertainment to celebrate and introduce the restaurant's newly appointed executive chef. Blair Mathieson began his cooking apprenticeship in New Zealand but has spent the main part of his working life in Australia, Europe and the Caribbean. Before the evening got underway I spoke with Blair about what attracted him to The Chedi.

"Having spent the past two years in Singapore I am now familiar with and accustomed to the Asian lifestyle. The Chedi is a beautiful hotel in which to work and I look forward to cooking a new world style of cuisine that will incorporate the many different flavours and techniques I have gleaned from cooking around the world. My focus here will be on using local and seasonal top quality produce to create simple dishes ensuring their natural flavours are not overshadowed; I also hope to learn more about the Thai cooking style."

The colonial building

Showcased at the party was New World Tapas, which has been integrated into the lunch and dinner menus. My personal favourites are the Angus beef carpaccio with white truffle cream, wok seared ahi tuna, lamb kofta and noodle wrapped prawns. Other popular culinary delights were naturally the French oysters, and the rosewater meringue.

The new Chef has also added some contemporary global dishes to the existing menu of Thai and Indian cuisine, which we were happy to oblige him in sampling. The John Dory, Trout and Duck were all tempting, but after pondering for just too long, it was recommended that I try the kangaroo. This energetic bouncing beast makes for tasty eating as there is not an ounce of fat on it and is perfectly tender to the taste. Having finished our delicious dinner, we made our down from the upstairs private dining rooms to the party down on the terrace by the river.

To accompany the extensive buffet were free-flowing Belvedere vodka cocktails including wu wu and sangria and the unique sounds of DJ Christof who had been specially flown in from Hong Kong for the night.

For guests who wanted a more relaxed evening, The Terrace Bar & Cigar Lounge with its breathtaking views of the river offered the perfect atmosphere for achieving one. A variety of champagne, wines and cocktails are available here, in addition to the extensive cigar collection.

For tourists this is a fantastic hotel to stay at and for local residents, or anyone wanting a sumptuous feast or first-class spa, then make a booking and look forward to something truly special.