Towering at 22 storeys with 360-degree views of Chiang Mai and the mountains beyond, Meliá Chiang Mai isn’t just the city’s tallest hotel – it’s one of the few with a pulse. Where other properties feel indistinct, Meliá delivers a potent mix of Spanish vitality and continental elegance to Chiang Mai's hotel scene, setting a new benchmark for an exciting city escape.
Why stay at Meliá Chiang Mai?
It’s fun. That’s the word that sticks with us after a stay at Meliá Chiang Mai – a hotel that quite literally raises the bar on sun-kissed sophistication in the northern capital. Not polished to the point of stiffness, not so boutique it forgets to breathe. Meliá brings a welcome buzz that’s more reminiscent of Bangkok than the sleepy streets of Chiang Mai. But dig a little deeper still and you’ll find a global brand that is genuinely committed to balancing its Spanish flair with local traditions, flavours and cultures.
Sitting comfortably in the mid-range price point, it may set you back a few thousand baht per night but for what you get; it’s excellent value. Upgrade to include The Level Lounge, and things only get better: panoramic views from the 21st floor private lounge, complimentary afternoon cocktails and canapes, personalised concierge services and a number of other thoughtful additions that enable you to experience Chiang Mai without breaking a sweat.
What are the rooms like at Meliá Chiang Mai?
A full-throttle reboot of the 1970s-era Porn Ping Hotel, Meliá’s 250-something rooms are a pleasant surprise – thoughtfully reimagined, smartly laid out and far more modern than the building’s history might suggest. While floor space is at a premium, the design is anything but cramped. Clean lines, soft lighting and clever storage give each room a sense of calm, while higher-floor Meliá Rooms offer panoramic views of the old city and Doi Suthep – best enjoyed from a daybed, book in one hand, complimentary grapes in the other.
For those who love to upgrade, The Level Room, Level Premium Room, Level Suite and Level Presidential Suite all come with optional access to The Level Lounge, Meliá’s executive club on the 21st floor. This isn’t just a nice view – it’s a full suite of elevated, top-floor perks: all-day snacks, made to order à la carte breakfasts, complimentary afternoon cocktails and canapés, late checkout, spa discounts and even a dedicated concierge team that makes everything feel a little more effortless. Hands down, it’s one of the best-value upgrades in town.
What are the best restaurants and bars at Meliá Chiang Mai?
No stay at Meliá Chiang Mai – or the city itself, frankly – is complete without visiting MAI The Sky Bar. Spanning two levels and claiming the title of Chiang Mai’s highest rooftop bar, it offers uninterrupted 360-degree views across the city, and out towards Doi Suthep. The bar itself gets a full refresh each year, keeping the vibe fresh for a rotating menu of cocktails, Spanish tapas and pinchos. Sunset here is an event in itself, as the sky melts into soft pastels and the mountain is haloed in gold while mixologists serve an imaginative cocktail menu that really pushes the boat out in both taste, strength and creative presentation. As one of the best rooftop bars in Chiang Mai, the energy ebbs and flows as the week turns into the weekend, with live bands, DJs and monthly parties guaranteed to be a blast.
Located one floor below, adjacent to the Lounge Club, sits the Mai Restaurant & Bar – Meliá Chiang Mai’s flagship farm-to-table restaurant that fuses local, low-carbon ingredients with a Mediterranean twist. Open to guests and walk-in guests alike, Executive Chef Suksant (Billy) Chutinthratip works hard to craft dishes that lean heavily into northern Thai cuisine while taking advantage of more European techniques and tastes that elevate and refine the menu. Pioneering a ‘360° Cuisine Program’, Chef Billy sources an array of fresh, chemical-free ingredients from the network of organic farms and suppliers, uses every part of each ingredient, and sends any leftovers back to his close network for composting. Don’t skip the gaeng phak whan baan – a delicate consomme-style soup made from smoked dried fish, poured piping hot over seasonal greens plucked fresh from the hotel’s organic garden. It’s earthy, comforting and a rare take on a northern Thai specialty you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Downstairs at the lobby-adjacent Laan Na Kitchen, things get more casual, and more varied. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this is where mornings kick off with fresh Chiang Mai honey scraped from the comb and warm bowls of soy milk, live noodle stations made to order and a premium array of ever-changing buffet options. And for those in search of coffee, tea or a Spanish style afternoon tea, Ruen Kaew Lounge has you covered.
What are the facilities like at Meliá Chiang Mai?
Beyond its sky-high views and rooftop cocktails, Meliá Chiang Mai is home to the city’s largest hotel kids’ club and a spacious second-floor swimming pool complete with tiki-style bar that serves solid cocktails for grown-ups and plenty of splash zones for the kids. The Kidsdom spans half a dozen rooms, each one tailored around storytelling and free-play. Free to use for guests, it hosts regular activities too, such as yoga for kids, little chef culinary lessons, craft workshops, painting umbrellas and much more. It’s a dream for little travellers (and a gift to their parents) that can even extend into the guest room itself.
For those into keeping up with routine, the 24-hour gym is spacious, air-conditioned and equipped with free weights, state-of-the-art cardio machines and everything you’d need to justify that extra croissant at breakfast.
And for those who prefer to burn calories in more relaxing ways, YHI Spa provides a treatment menu packed with ancient Asian healing wisdom combined with modern wellness techniques – ideal for melting away jet lag or rebalancing after a long day of temple hopping.
What’s the area like around Meliá Chiang Mai?
In recent years, Charoen Prathet Road has transformed into a lively strip of jazz bars, clubs, spas and galleries that connects directly to the famous Night Bazaar and its neon-lit maze of crafts, street food and evening energy. Hidden almost directly opposite is one of Chiang Mai’s best hidden cocktail bars, Noir CMI, a moody, jazz-infused cocktail den that can only be found if you look hard enough. Those into music will also be pleased to find a hidden vinyl shop, Noomtaofire Record, located atop a small boutique fashion joint just steps away from the hotel entrance.
Still holding court nearby is Ram Bar – Chiang Mai’s OG ladyboy cabaret bar that is home to endless fabulousness and late-night fun. In the opposite direction Thapae Road will lead you directly to the old city, past local favourites such as the Baan Tuek Art Center, Kiti Panit restaurant and Siamaya Chocolate’s flagship store, home to some of Thailand’s finest locally grown chocolate – also available in the hotel lobby, in case you prefer to not work up a sweat for such a sweet indulgence.
Why should you book a stay at Meliá Chiang Mai?
Meliá Chiang Mai isn’t just the tallest hotel in town – it might also be the most well-rounded. Whether you’re looking for rooftop sundowners, spa days or a five-star meal with bio-dynamic meaning behind it, it’s a welcome antidote to the city’s sleepier stays.
With over 100 city and resort hotels across Europe, Asia, Africa and America, Meliá knows how to build a hotel with heart – and Chiang Mai is no exception. There's a tangible energy here that sets it apart. Lively yet laid-back, international but locally grounded. It draws tourists, yes, but it’s just as suited to local weekenders, city staycationers and anyone who believes (as we do) that where you stay should feel as memorable as everything else you do while you're here.
Address: 46, 48 Charoenprathet Road, Chang Khlan, Mueang, Chiang Mai, 50100 Thailand.
Price per night: From approx B4,900 per night
Book now: https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/melia-chiang-mai
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