Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.

Describe the hotel in three words: Contemporary Thai chic.

What’s the deal?

Formerly the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, with a storied past as one of the foremost places to rest and rejuvenate in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, this address in the historic heart of the city has been completely remodelled and relaunched as InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping. Multinational hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts and local lifestyle and real estate group Asset World Corporation are behind the revamp, and brought in leading design firm PIA Interior to map out a luxurious look and feel for the converted property.

Drawing from ancient Lanna culture, the resplendent, original, youthful, and mesmerising result is wholly unlike any InterContinental hotel. Emphasising the importance of chang sip mu, the 10 traditional and essential craftsmanship trades that characterised the Chiang Mai of old, the interiors fuse the time-honoured arts of painting, carving, moulding, engraving, lacquering, plastering, metalworking, and the like with modern sensibilities, comfort, and technology.

Lanna-inspired patterns, finishes, and décor, and natural stone and wood make up the visual and tactile design language of the hotel; teak balustrades and intricately woven furnishings are accentuated by art commissioned from local creatives to celebrate their talent. (Preserving history is not limited to the 240 rooms and suites; the hotel shares a lawn with the 600-year-old Wat Chang Kong stupa. It also serves as the backdrop to weekly almsgiving.)

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping will soon reveal the first fruits of its second-phase development in late 2024 and 2025, which includes expanding the current building to a neighbouring plot of land, the addition of more than 50 rooms and suites, the opening of the II Spa and Club Lounge, and a dedicated pool for the Club Wing.

The best room?

It’s got to be the 165-square-metre Presidential Suite. Continuing the chang sip mu design theme, the positively palatial quarters, split into bedroom, living room, and dining room, are appointed with a sophisticated and subtle eye for pattern and detail. Ideal for entertaining guests, the dining table seats up to eight, and expansive windows facing Doi Suthep means that you will always have the sacred mountain in sight—even from the plunge bathtub.

Does the hotel have a standout perk?

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping serves as an excellent springboard and homebase for travellers keen on discovering the plentiful, nuanced attractions that Chiang Mai has to offer, from historical highlights and spiritual sojourns to traditional craft activities and cultural explorations, through its meticulously curated experiences programme. Major landmarks of downtown Chiang Mai are located within walking distance of the hotel, and private tours can be organised through the concierge.

Spend a day admiring the architectural labours of the Wualai silversmithing community and learning the intricacies of silverware decoration before trying your hand at your own piece. Go on a guided temple-hopping excursion between the iconic golden Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple, the forested Wat Pha Lat temple, and the Wat Umong tunnel temple. Coffee lovers can discover a taste of Chiang Mai-grown beans at Doi Chang Coffee Farm, while guests who prefer urban adventures can board an eco-friendly tuk-tuk for a tour of the city. InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping also partners with reputable local tour operators to offer guests an even more diverse catalogue of sightseeing activities, immersive experiences, and off-the-beaten-path treks.

Did they greet you by name at check-in?

Yes, and before check-in, too. Affable InterContinental team members greeted us upon our arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport and made sure the journey to the property, some 20 minutes away by private transfer, was as smooth as can be. Once at the hotel, more personalised welcomes followed—the front-of-house staff was well-prepared.

Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?

Yes, and the refreshing mulberry, apple, and raspberry concoction, zinged up with a hint of lime and lotus syrup, comes with a welcoming ritual, too. A miniature gong hanging from a carved wooden frame was brought with the drink; we rung it to mark our arrival at the hotel.

Private butler for every room?

Unfortunately, InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping does not provide butler services, but the good news is that we not once felt the lack of one—staff members all throughout the property, but especially at the concierge and front desk in the lobby, were alert and responsive, so our needs, requests, and questions were promptly and happily addressed.

Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?

Exactly 300 across all room categories; the bed linen is sourced from a local Chiang Mai brand. Avail yourself of the pillow menu to customise your sleeping experience.

Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?

It does not get hot enough in this part of the world for bathrooms to require heated floors, but our bathroom was excellently appointed with all other creature comforts, including a bidet.

Are the toiletries full-sized?

Yes; the toiletries, from hand wash and body lotion to shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, are all generously full-sized and supplied by Erb, a leading local wellness brand. Its heady scent—a custom fragrance unique and exclusive to InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping—is a sweet blend of flowers found in the region, tuberose, and ylang-ylang.

Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?

No private pools in any of the rooms, but there is an outdoor one available to all guests that is large enough for some laps and splashing around. Cabanas and sunbeds line the perimeter. Work up a sweat in the 24-hour fitness centre, kitted out with modern cardio and weight machines. InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping will soon be launching its II Spa proper in the second-phase opening of the hotel, scheduled for late 2024. In the meantime, the interim wellness destination on property will see to kneading out your knots and sending you off feeling blissful and stress-free. Go for the Lanna Signature Massage, which draws from the tok sen therapy technique to increase blood circulation and energy flow. Next-level pampering can be had with the two-and-a-half-hour Lanna Journey Package, inclusive of a 30-minute body scrub, 90-minute massage, and 30-minute facial treatment.

Is the restaurant worth its salt?

Yes; the Gad Lanna (a Chiang Mai word meaning “market”) specialises in Northern Thai gastronomy, with a menu built up around in-season ingredients supplied by local farms and the Royal Projects, an initiative designed to promote agricultural practices. Even if unfamiliar with the intricacies of this regional cuisine, Gad Lanna’s contemporary culinary curation will please even the pickiest of taste buds. Spring for the pandan-leaf-wrapped marinaded chicken thigh with sweet black sesame sauce, banana prawn carpaccio in spicy beetroot granita, and grilled Kurobuta pork loin with hot nam jim jaew sauce. More traditional options like minced prawn and squid cakes, som tum green papaya salad, and beef cheek khao soi yellow curry with noodles are also on offer. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served.

Hong’s Chinese Restaurant, newly opened, is spread across two levels with space enough for 168, and gathers the scorching excitement of Sichuan, the balanced seasonality of Cantonese cuisine, and various other regional Chinese cooking traditions for a smorgasbord of deep flavours and classic dishes that honour the city’s Lanna-Chinese trade history. Chong Li, who has previously cheffed at Park Hyatt hotels in Shanghai and Hangzhou, as well as the Mandarin Oriental, Doha, brings his experience to Chiang Mai. His signature lobster mapo tofu, Sichuan-style Wagyu beef rib, and crispy tiger prawns should be on your list.

Hong’s also does an afternoon tea inspired by late songstress Teresa Teng—the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel had been one of her homes away from home up until her passing.

Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?

Yes; the Kam Lobby Lounge is a chic and stylish jazz bar to spend the evening in, accompanied by live music on select nights. Under an arrangement of hexagonal ceiling lamps designed in homage to the ancient Yi Peng Lantern Festival, where countless illuminated floating lanterns are released into the sky, guests can pore over a lengthy menu of New World and Old World wines, Scotch whiskies and other spirits, as well as signature drinks inspired by Chiang Mai. How about a Negroni-like, tequila-based Khom Rosita?

After a drink or two, might we suggest moving up to Hong’s Sky Bar to continue the night with novel cocktails and tapas inspired by Chinese cuisine? Perched on the hotel rooftop, the expansive views of downtown Chiang Mai and the surrounding landscapes afforded by this rare location, one of only few high-rises in town, are second to none.

Would you buy the hotel if you could?

It’s certainly a tempting proposition. For now, we would say we’re leaning towards “yes”—we were impressed by the property’s lively design, robust programme of experiences and activities, and superb restaurants, but we look forward to seeing what exciting new facilities and services the forthcoming phases will bring before making a final decision.

Score: 8

What Our Score Means:

1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.

4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.

7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.

9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?

All images courtesy of InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping.