Overview: Opened in late 2015, Akyra Manor Chiang Mai, has just 30 rooms (all suites) built courtyard style for an indoor-outdoor feel. For those who hate being isolated, this one’s right in the city center with Nimman bars, coffee shops and restaurants just steps away.
Rooms: On top of chic furniture, every room is not only spacious (60-100 sq-meters) but also has a Jacuzzi in the middle that's open to the elements. Pebble floors surrounding the tub and an open-air mountain backdrop successfully brings the outdoors in.
Facilities: LCD TVs are linked up to cable, there’s an iPod packed with a large music library and dock, espresso machine, 430-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and quality toiletries.
Rave: The smoky decor and Egyptian cotton sheets really make the place feel high-end. Every room comes with floor-to-ceiling bathroom windows (courtyard style) overlooking the neighborhood of Nimman.
Rant: The bar right across the streets starts pumping out its music around 8ish till pretty late on Friday's and Saturday's nights—but that’s the price you pay for such a central location. The open-air bathrooms are cool and all, but you have to close the blinds if you don’t want the neighbors to see you naked, which, of course, ruins the whole purpose of having them.
Neighborhood: Sitting on what locals call “Coffee Street,” there’s no shortage of hip cafes, cool bars, boutiques and galleries.
Dining: A compact rooftop bar beside an elevated glass pool is one of the hotel’s real selling points, while downstairs sits an Italian spot called Italics (already comparatively well-known among locals thanks to its exec chef: Phubase Chuprakong from Iron Chef Thailand. Don’t expect classic Italian; rather a take on traditional Thai and Italian mixed together. The pizza here’s baked hot to order in a wood-fire oven. Try the Diavola (B330), a combination of buffalo mozzarella, spicy salami and roasted bell pepper—delectable.
Price: 60-sq-meter Deluxe Suites start at B5,300/night; while the 100-sq-meter Manor is B7,300.
22/2 Nimmanhaemin Soi 9, 053-216-219. www.theakyra.com/chiang-mai
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