Need to know
Rooms
Thirty suites.
Check–Out
Noon; check-in, 3pm, both flexible subject to availability. Late check-outs cost from THB500.
More details
Rates include à la carte breakfast and welcome basket of Thai fruits and local gourmet delicacies.
Also
Stay in the William Bain or Louis Leonowens suite before 31 October and you’ll be treated to a massage on arrival, a bottle of prosecco (or carafes of freshly squeezed juice), a fruit basket, Thai tapas, buffet or a la carte breakfast, priority spa booking and late check-out until 6pm, subject to availability.
At the hotel
Spa, gym, cooking school, library with CDs, DVDs and books, concierge, free WiFi throughout, gardens. In rooms: flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, iPod dock, minibar, Nespresso coffee machine, pillow menu, Puripunn toiletries, personal butlers.
Our favourite rooms
All rooms are spacious, with private balconies, four-poster or super-king beds, indoor and outdoor showers, his and hers basins and fab freestanding, roll-top baths. Upstairs rooms have more privacy; downstairs ones sport their own back yard. We love the seductive entry-level Rajah Brooke Suites, but for a sumptuous veranda bag an upper-floor William Bain Terrace Suite, or for your own plunge pool, splurge on one of the two ground-floor Louis Leonowens Pool Suites.
Poolside
In a quiet corner, the slimline 25-metre lap pool is dominated by a jaw-dropping vertical plant wall, with tempting sun-beds dotting the decking. Secluded relaxation salas shrouded with elegant silk curtains will lure lounge lovers, and free homemade sorbet, mineral water and cold towels are available poolside.
Spa
The hotel’s sophisticated spa has a modern treatment menu that’s rooted in traditional Thai wellness techniques. Drop in for a limbering massage or cutting-edge skincare treatment, or have the therapists draw up a comprehensive treatment plan that’s tailored entirely to you. There's also an air-conditioned gym that's open round the clock, and a studio for yoga and Thai Chi classes, which can be arranged on request.
Packing tips
Bring shopping bags for loading up at the nearby Night Bazaar or local market. Active types should pack kit for yoga, Pilates, the gym or elephant rides.
Also
Smoking and non-smoking rooms are available; pets are not permitted. Older guests may prefer ground-floor suites, as the hotel has lots of stairs.
Pet‐friendly
Pets are not permitted. See more pet-friendly hotels in Chiang Mai.
Children
Welcome, although there's a fairly adult, romantic vibe. Free baby cots are supplied and extra beds for over-12s cost THB2,968 a night; they cost THB1,483 for ages 6–11 (free for under-5s). Babysitting costs THB300 an hour, with a day's notice.
Overview
137 Pillars House welcomes children, but is more of a sophisticated adult retreat.
Best for
Older kids who can cope with the genteel vibe, antique-dotted interiors and many staircases and water features.
Recommended rooms
The William Bain Terrace Suite and Louis Leonowens Pool Suite can accommodate two extra people.
Activities
Although there aren't any specific activities geared towards children at the hotel, older kids will enjoy visits to local temples, markets and the Night Bazaar nearby. An elephant safari is also a must, and can be arranged through the concierge.
Swimming pool
The 25-metre, streamlined pool is more suitable for exercise laps than aqua play.
Meals
Kids are welcome in the restaurant, dining spaces and bar at any time. Although there isn't a children's menu, staff are happy to adapt dishes to suit young palates or heat up baby food and milk, and can tempt infants with babyccinos, mini ice-cream sundaes and special Sunday lunches for families. High chairs, booster seats and bibs are up for grabs, and you can distract the smalls with colouring books.
Babysitting
Babysitting is available for THB300 an hour, but you'll need to book it a day in advance.
No need to pack
High chairs, booster seats, baby cots and bibs.
Also
Children can sleep on an extra bed in any of the four bedroom categories, for free up to and including age five; or for THB1,483 a child a night for kids aged four up to and including age 12. Baby cots are supplied for gratis, but they are limited so need to be requested in advance.
Sustainability efforts
Eco touches at 137 Pillars House include live plant walls by the pool to cool the area down. Food is locally sourced and seasonal, with some produce grown in the hotel's gardens, and eco-friendly lightbulbs are used.