3 Best Hotels in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The former grounds of the British Consulate now house this waterfront oasis whose rooms and suites have private terraces overlooking either the Mae Ping River or the verdant gardens. Just steps from the river and one of the city's busiest streets, the consulate building, gleaming again with polished teak, has been restored to its original 1920s appearance in parts, though you'll now find a smart bar and chic restaurant. The rooms' furnishings deftly meld traditional and contemporary styles. Lotus ponds border the 34-meter (112-foot) pool, giving the impression of bathing in a Thai jungle clearing.

A Thai billionaire turned 60 acres of farmland on the eastern outskirts of Chiang Mai into one of Asia's most extraordinary hotels, re-creating a walled Lanna city surrounded by a moat. Guests can sip their evening cocktails while watching farmers work the rice paddies with buffaloes. Various traditional buildings house hotel amenities—the spa, for instance, is an exact replica of the royal palace in Mandalay, Myanmar. The suites and the regal, two-story "residences," with private gardens, are the last word in luxury; the most expensive even have pianos. Even if you're not staying the night, book a table for dinner and visit the pavilionlike restaurant; it's known as the "king's room," because the king once dined here.

The magnificent Four Seasons commands 20 acres of tropical countryside above the lush Mae Rim Valley. Its terraces, pools, and 99 huge suites and villas have views of tree-studded mountains, tropical gardens, and its own manicured rice paddies. The accommodations are in clusters of Lanna-style buildings. Each suite has an outdoor sala (gazebo) ideal for breakfast or cocktails, and the villas have private pools. Rooms with polished-teak floors are furnished with richly colored fabrics and traditional art. The two restaurants, which serve beautifully presented Thai and continental dishes, overlook the valley. The spa, with an open-air massage salon surrounded by rice paddies and lotus ponds, is superb.