137 Pillars House is the hotel to book for a special stay in Chiang Mai. It occupies a restored teak house that once served as the headquarters of the East Borneo Company, and the suites are named for figures from that colonial-era story. The setting is quiet gardens on Nawatgate Road, close to the Ping River, with a small collection of around thirty rooms and suites rather than a large resort. Michelin lists it with two Keys. The hotel has an outdoor pool, the Nitra Spa, a Dining Room, a casual show kitchen with demonstrations and cooking classes, the Library Bar and the Parlor lounge. Rooms are generous, with the larger suites offering terraces and a pool suite for those who want privacy.
Location and getting around: the hotel sits on the east side of the old city, beside the river. Expedia lists the riverside as a one-minute walk, Warorot Market as about seven minutes and the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar as about twelve, which makes it a good base for evening market strolls and for the riverside cafes. Tha Phae Gate is a longer walk of around twenty minutes. The railway station is a short drive, and the airport is roughly twenty minutes by car. Most visitors use ride-hailing cars or the hotel's own arrangements for day trips to Doi Suthep and Doi Inthanon.
The rooms and the feel: expect antique-influenced interiors, high ceilings, wood floors and garden views, with suite categories ranging from the East Borneo Suite and the Rajah Brooke Suite to the William Bain Terrace Suite and the Louis Leonowens Pool Suite. It is a place for couples and travellers who value calm and design over a lively lobby. Families can be accommodated in larger suites, but the atmosphere is adult and serene.
Good to know: breakfast is usually a buffet and may carry a surcharge on some rates, parking is free on site and Wi-Fi is free. The show kitchen offers cooking classes, which is a convenient way to learn Thai cooking without leaving the property. Rates sit at the top of the Chiang Mai range and rise in the cool season, especially around the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festival in late November, so book early. The hotel is best for honeymooners, anniversary trips and travellers who want to feel the colonial history of the north.
Why stay here
- ✓Heritage teak house with garden suites
- ✓Outdoor swimming pool
- ✓Nitra Spa
- ✓Dining Room and Library Bar
- ✓Show kitchen with cooking classes
- ✓Free on-site parking
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Walk to the river and Night Bazaar
Good questions
Where is 137 Pillars House?+
It is on Nawatgate Road on the east side of the old city, near the Ping River. The Night Bazaar is about a twelve-minute walk, and Tha Phae Gate is roughly twenty minutes on foot.
Does it have a pool and spa?+
Yes, there is an outdoor pool and the Nitra Spa. A show kitchen also runs cooking demonstrations and classes.
Is it suitable for children?+
The larger suites can sleep up to four, but the atmosphere is quiet and adult-oriented, so it suits couples best.
