Hidden away in a discrete corner of Mae Rim just north of the city you’ll find Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, one of the resort brand’s most understated destinations where the art of slow living has never felt so luxurious. Whether you're a holidaymaker in the north craving that Four Seasons polish, a local seeking an opulent staycation or simply a couple looking for a romantic dinner against a postcard-perfect backdrop of rice paddies and mountains – this exceptional hotel is a love letter to Lanna at every turn.
Why stay at Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Because tropical serenity has never been this good. Whether it’s sundowners as farmers parade through the rice paddies at golden hour or soaking in nature from your private pavilion, there’s a sense of cultured calm that exudes every corner of the hotel. And would you expect anything less? It is Four Seasons after all, but this one does things a little differently. Sure, you’ll come for the scenery and picture-perfect architecture (seriously, Bill Bensley, take a bow), but the local artisans, on-site farm and deeply set sense of craft gives the place real soul. Follow that thread, and you’ll find yourself somewhere far more meaningful than just a beautiful resort – you’ll find yourself somewhere that feels genuinely connected to the land, animals and people who shape it.
What are the rooms like at Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Following the Four Seasons script, each room, pavilion and private pool villa feels like a self-contained retreat. Polished teak flooring keeps you grounded to nature, while deep-soak tubs and terraces opening out to the whisper of rice in the wind add to the allure.
Established but not dated, rooms and the walkways between them carefully balance contemporary elegance with northern jungle accents – from handcarved statues that gracefully hold your jasmine wreath to silkwoven artwork and furnishings that do more than set a scene.
Rice terrace and garden pavilion rooms make up the majority of guestrooms, embracing the resort’s demesne, land that’s mist-covered and refreshingly cool most mornings year-round. For those who want to dial up the decadence, pool villas offer absolute privacy with a private pool, traditional outdoor Thai sala, sundeck and endless opportunities for relaxation including in-room spa, dining and activities at your behest.
And, carefully hidden out of site by towering rubber trees there’s a village of private residences – some three stories high – that merge modern comforts with historical grandeur, featuring curved ceilings, arched windows and gold leaf ornamentation, each one available to rent as long as the owners are not in town.
What are the best restaurants and bars at Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
While Four Seasons is generally regarded as a private resort for guests only, Four Seasons Chiang Mai opens the doors to its restaurants and bars to non-guests too – meaning you can indulge in their Michelin-recognised food without having to fork out the cost of a room for the privilege.
KHAO by Four Seasons is one of two main restaurants at the resort – a countryside-inspired dining room that channels the bounty of the region into beautifully plated comfort. While open for both lunch and dinner service, it suits daytime better with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that overlook the property. On the menu is a reimagined collection of classics that highlight local ingredients and property-grown produce. Signature khao soi is a genuine standout, however you’d be hard-pressed to find anything less than exceptional on the menu. Portions are large, so come hungry.
For guests, KHAO’s outdoor seating also doubles up as the morning breakfast station – with swathes upon swathes of fresh and heartwarming food that spans a deliciously global array of choices. The KHAO Bar is also one of two sundowner spots at the property. As the mountains fade into dusk, here’s where you go for the more creative cocktails, crafted by beverage ambassador Phillip Bischoff and paired with Thai-inspired canapés.
For the evening meal, NORTH by Four Seasons leans into primal fire, showcasing a charred spread of flame-grilled meats, seafood and rustic marinades, served open-air and overlooking pools and rice paddies. While this spot does a great job of balancing accessible flavours for guests with the more multi-dimensional tastes found elsewhere on the property, it can occasionally play things a little safe – leaning toward subtlety where a touch more punch might have elevated the experience. That said, the clear effort to source ingredients from local farms grounds the menu firmly in Thailand’s terroir, a connection expertly countered with smokey cocktails and flambeed desserts that bring just the right touch of drama to the table.
Ratree Bar and Lounge serves all-day, poolside cabana luxury. Think fine wines, crafted cocktails and light bites enjoyed from sprawling daybeds with a front-row view of the pools and rice fields beyond. All that’s missing is a palm-frond fan and someone feeding you grapes by hand. Come sunset, the scene shifts effortlessly into one of the most romantic spots of the resort’s valley until 10pm.
If you fancy something interactive, Rim Tai Kitchen is where restaurant vibes and cooking studios combine. Not only home to one of Chiang Mai’s best cooking classes (more about this below), it also opens for intimate Chef’s Table dinners where guests can see local food being prepared right before their eyes – advanced reservation required.
What are the facilities like at Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Everyone knows that a Four Seasons stay is an experience from start to finish, which makes it tricky to draw the line between where the facilities begin and the magic simply happens. Thankfully, Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai also boasts a handful of standout spaces and signature experiences that guests – and even non-guests – can enjoy in equal measure.
The resort’s Wara Cheewa Spa is a destination in itself; said to be designed purely for guests’ pleasure and wellbeing, and frankly, it’s hard to argue otherwise. Every corner whispers calm, every treatment feels intentional and every detail – from private herbal steam rooms in treatment rooms to tropical rain shower massage tables makes a convincing case for staying just a little longer.
Outside and a little closer to the action, the hotel’s wellness sala kisses the pond at the foot of the property, where sound healing and yoga sessions come with pure white outfits that stand out against the natural wood-greens of its surroundings. And tucked discretely under the pool pavilion lies the resort’s health club – an exclusive sanctuary reserved for in-house guests complete with a fully equipped gym, salon, guided classes, Pilates and a circuit of steam, sauna and cold plunge pools to reset body and mind.
However, the most unique aspect of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai must be the Chaan Baan – an immersive cultural experience space that lets you step back in time and experience northern Thailand as it was a century past. Plant rice shoots first-hand with experienced farmers, spin pottery, make natural-dye fabrics or – our favourite – bathe the resort’s resident water buffalos. Part mindful retreat, part rural daydream, Chaan Baan also offers private dining experiences among their teakwood structures, promising immersion in a truly Thai milieu.
Compelling as the village is, the resort’s very own Thai cooking school – housed in Rim Tai Kitchen – is where pretension is replaced with passion and perfection is optional. Under the guidance of Chef Tor, guests are invited to dive into the heart of local cuisine, learning to build flavour from the ground up through easy-to-follow lessons that reveal the spice, balance and soul of Thai cooking. From pounding curry pastes to balancing the sweet-sour-spicy harmony of Lanna flavours, Chef’s local heritage and understanding is revealed, wrapping up with a family-style meal – a communal experience that’s as authentic as it is unforgettable.
What’s the area like around Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Set about 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai city, the Mae Rim valley is the north at its most cinematic – a patchwork of villages, studios, galleries and organic farms framed by dramatic mountains and refreshing waterfalls. Those who love a Four Seasons stay can rightly be excused from wanting to wander given so much is on offer within the resort itself, but if you get the urge, the resort's concierge can arrange almost any trip you have your mind set on. Think temple monk chats, multi-tiered waterfalls you can climb, world-class cocktail bars downtown and unforgettable elephant experiences in the hills.
Families should make the most of the area with excursions to spots like the Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park and Siam Insect Zoo – each offering fun and hands-on, nature-forward experiences that are as educational as they are entertaining. Foodies, meanwhile, can tempt themselves away from the resort’s indulgent dining (if only briefly) with a leisurely lunch at The Ironwood, a garden hideaway serving refined local fare, or opt for a romantic dinner at Steak of the Day (now also known as Rimm Phi Romm), a fine-dining adjacent restaurant that celebrates farm-fresh ingredients and inventive plating. And for those chasing waterfalls, Mae Sa Waterfall is the closest and most easy-to-reach option – the hour’s drive to the famed Sticky Waterfall is rewarded with a climbable cascade that’s become legend among tourists and locals alike.
Other hotel-recommended spots they’ll happily take you to include Fleur Cafe, a picturesque garden caf known for floral-inspired desserts and stunning mountain views; and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Thailand’s largest flora sanctuary with tropical glasshouses, scenic walking trails and a towering canopy walkway that overlooks Mae Rim valley.
Why should you book a stay at Four Seasons Chiang Mai?
Because it’s the perfect balance of culture, comfort and calm – an escape that feels both grounding and indulgent.
Pricey, yes, but that’s what you’d expect with Four Seasons. Whether you’re a guest or day visitor, learning to cook like a Lanna chef, treating yourself at the spa or washing a buffalo in the golden light of the ricefields, Four Seasons Chiang Mai delivers something rarely found in luxury travel destinations: a genuine sense of place.
And for those based in Chiang Mai or visiting from nearby, a full resort stay might not always be on the cards – but the Michelin-recognised dining most definitely is. The resort makes a real effort to engage the local community, hosting regular kitchen and bar takeovers that keep things fresh and exciting. The most recent ‘Supper Society’ brings an intimate, progressive dining experience to the table, blurring the line between fine dining and rural social gatherings.
Address: 502 Moo 1, Mae Rim-Sameng old road, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand.
Price per night: From approx B30,000 per night
Book now: (https://www.booking.com/hotel/th/four-seasons-resort-chiang-mai.en-gb.html?aid=2427673)
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