137 Pillars House is a unique, luxurious 5 star hotel. The suites and villas are centered around a historical, beautiful teak wood building that has been restored to reflect its 19th-century origins. The colonial design is stunning and the comfortable suites are some of the most charming in the city of Chiang Mai.

Location & Hotel

Chiang Mai is considered as one of the highlights of Northern Thailand. The charming city includes an historic old centre, an amazing food and beverage scene, and nearby natural wonders like mountains and waterfalls. One of the best ways experience this natural wonders, is with a day trip to Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand. The mountain is 2565 meters high and surrounded by a beautiful national park. You can visit waterfalls and local tribes, but also the Inthanon Royal Project Research Station. This project is part of the larger Royal Project, which was set up by the former Thai king to replace opium cultivation in the often poorer mountain villages with other activities. We visited this region with tour operator Wild Thailand, a wonderful tour company committed to sustainable tourism.

The city of Chiang Mai city is sometimes referred to as the “Rose of the North” and is famous for its rich history and culture. Highlights in the city include the many temples and the delicious street food.

137 Pillars House perfectly blends into this rich history, as the hotel is housed in the former “Borneo House”, which was built in the late 1800’s as the headquarters of the Borneo Company Limited. The name 137 Pillars House actually refers to the amount of pillars that can be found at the premises. The property is located on the east bank of the city’s famous Ping River and the Wat Gate area with its many galleries, shops, restaurants and bars is located only a short walk away. The old city centre can be reach by taxi or tuk tuk in less than 10 minutes.

The hotel grounds of the 137 Pillars House are truly beautiful. A charming mix between colonial elements, authentic Thai design, and lots of green and water elements, give the property a unique and dreamy atmosphere. Beautiful natural elements like this giant tree are contrasted by subtle, modern artworks. The P49Deesign design agency from Bangkok did a tremendous job restoring the main teak house and extending it with several accommodation wings. To make sure that the property retained its rich history, both historians and conservation specialists worked together on the design in order to mirror the original 1889 building as much as possible. Lots of natural, colonial wood was used, which contrasts lovely with the big white walls and the lush greenery that is scattered around the hotel.

Suites & Villas

137 Pillars House boasts 30 luxurious and elegant rooms, divided over several buildings which are scattered around the property. The rooms can be found over the ground and the first level. They all contain an outdoor terrace with lounge areas and the rooms on the first floor have more privacy. The design is in line with the rest of the hotel, with lots of wood, a colonial design, and white walls contrasted by red accents and pictures referring to the rich past. Bedrooms feature a four-poster bed and the spacious bathrooms have dual marble sinks, a dressing area, indoor as well as outdoor showers, and a freestanding Victorian bathtub. The rooms also feature a beautiful Art Deco minibar chariot.

The following categories are available:

• Rajah Brooke Suite: the “entry-level” category already measures 70 square meters and extends to an airy vintage tiled balcony, overlooking tropical gardens.
• East Borneo Suite: This suite is slightly bigger, measuring 75 square meters.
• F. Macfie Suite: The D.F. Macfie suites feature two bedrooms and a spacious living area and are perfect for families or couples wanting additional living space. There is an open air, tropical conservatory which be enclosed, air-conditioned and converted to a private sleeping area at night.
• William Bain Terrace Suite: This wonderful terrace suite measures a generous 100 square meters and overlooks the historical teak building.
• Louis Leonowens Pool Suite: The highest suite category includes a vintage style balcony, a generous sized living room, a super king bedroom with French doors, a large walk-in closet and expansive dressing area, and a private 5.5 × 2.5 metre swimming pool.

We stayed at one of the beautiful Rajah Brooke Suites. The warm and colonial design let us dream away to ancient, wealthy Asia. The generous amount of space and the outdoor areas add a homely feel to the suite.

Resort assets

One of the main assets of the 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai is the property’s rich history and culture, which is translated into the design and the general atmosphere. But there’s more to discover:

• The 25-metre lap pool is a unique architectural gem. The pool is flanked by a an amazing 12-metre high wall, covered in lush greenery. The three-story high structure gives the pool area a breath-taking character. Several relaxation areas with sun loungers are spread around the pool.
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  • The glass-walled gym is well equipped and features computer controlled cardio-vascular equipment.
  • The Nitra Serenity Centre is the hotel’s spa, where guests can indulge in a variety of treatments to enhance their state of wellbeing. The relaxing and uplifting massages come highly recommended. They are crafted with elements of Thailand’s rich narratives and carried out by skilful, trained therapists. Healing oils and essences are used to revitalize the senses.
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Gastronomy

At 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, 4 dining & wining options offer a variety of flavours from around the world to please gourmet lovers:

• Palette is the fine dining restaurant of the hotel. The menu is divided into a Western and a Thai-Asian section. There’s a wonderful 6 course chef’s tasting menu available, which includes dishes like blowtorched tiger prawns with salmon, heart of baby cos lettuce, semi dried tomatoes and spicy Thai chili vinaigrette; asparagus salad with feta cheese and balsamic reduction; or pan-seared seabass with cauliflower purée, herbed potatoes, and lemon cream. There’s a varied wine list as well, with references mainly coming from Europe.

• At The Dining Room, a delicious “harvest breakfast table” is served in the morning.
  Traditional Thai, Lanna and Asian cuisine can be tasted in a wonderful al Fresco or an indoor area during the day.
• Jack Bain’s Bar is the property’s beautiful, colonial inspired cocktail bar. Here, handcrafted ‘Old World’ classic cocktails as well as more contemporary creations can be combined with delicious snacks and bites.

• In a setting like this, a true Afternoon Tea cannot be missed. Guests can enjoy a house selection of signature teas with savoury and sweet delights in the old house’s parlour or in the tropical gardens. For the ultimate luxury experience, order a bottle of champagne, which can be sabered in the traditional style with a ceremonial sword.

Why Go?

137 Pillars House Chiang Mai probably is Chiang Mai’s most unique hotel. The 30 huge and luxurious suites are bursting with atmosphere and authenticity. The hotel grounds and the main teak residence combine colonial history with Thai authenticity. The grounds, from the green wall flanked pool to the wonderful gardens or the beautiful restaurants, are mesmerising. A captivating experience in the spirit of the Orient!

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