137 Pillars House

What it is

137 Pillars House stands on Nawatgate Road in Chiang Mai, east of the old city. The hotel's page describes a storied residence through which teak wallahs once passed. It does not say when the house was built or who first owned it, so we do not either. Our itinerary describes it as a nineteenth-century teak house of the Borneo Company; we have not been able to confirm that from the hotel's page.

A press release listed on Journal des Palaces announces the opening as a hotel for 1 January 2012 and describes it as a 30-suite hotel.

Suites and dining

The hotel's page lists five suites by name,: Rajah Brooke, East Borneo, D.F. MacFie, William Bain and Louis Leonowens. The press release says 30 suites. The two may describe different parts of the property, and we cannot tell, so ask the hotel for the current count and which are in the original house.

It lists five dining outlets, with Western and Asian cuisine and hand-crafted drinks: Palette, The Dining Room, Jack Bain's Bar, Afternoon Tea and Private Dining.

Rooms and the rate

The rate in our family itinerary is US$427 a night, which is the starting rate on a Trip.com listing. It is a listing figure for no stated date, so check what the final quote includes.

Who it suits

It suits travellers who prefer a house with a past to a resort, for a few days in Chiang Mai within reach of the old city.

Families should ask about connecting rooms or suites for several guests before booking: the hotel's page does not say how many a suite sleeps.