Christmas In Chiang Mai

[BelfastMike]

Me and the missus are planning a trip to Chiang Mai over Christmas 21st - 27th December.

Neither of us have been there before so I'm looking for a little advice.

Any recommendations for a hotel, preferrably no more than 20 minutes from the Night Bazaar. Comfy a/c rooms with wi/fi and a pool/spa.

Are there any events on over Christmas? It will be our first Christmas together, normally I go back to Ireland. So I want her to experience the full farrang dinner and celebrations. Presumably one of the expat bars will have something on?

Also looking for somewhere suitable to "pop the question." Any nice romantic spots around the area?

[anonymouse]

I'm sure other poster will give you better recommendations re: Christmas Dinner

But for a romantic place to pop the question I'd recommend a trip out to huay tung tao lake, bring a bottle of champers order some food and she can't refuse you

[foodiedude]

There is a fairly new Restaurant just 2 minutes walk from the night Bazaar that are serving, a three Course Christmas Dinner

Called Tiger Tiger, me and the Mrs have already booked as the Sunday lunch is great there so if the standards are the same it should be well worth the 550 baht and you get a glass of wine for that too.

[Ulysses G.]

It is already almost too cold too swim, although the weather is really nice, so don't worry about a pool.

The Centura Duang Tawan Hotel in in the Night Bazaar and has a fitness center and warm jukuzi for both men and for women and saunas and steam rooms (It also has a swimming pool if you insist). It is not far from the Duke's where many expats have Christmas Dinner because of the great food and reasonable prices.

[anonymouse]

foodie dude's advise might be spot on but I'm guessing he is the owner of Tiger Tiger

I'd go along with UG's recommendations, he has been here over twenty years and he know's his food.

I'd also agree you can't go wrong with the Dukes

[Ulysses G.]

I understand people wanting to promote their own businesses, but there is a very good possibility that a tourist will respond and find themselves alone in a big room with with a crap Christmas dinner. I prefer to recomend places that are pretty much sure things as far as having an enjoyable experience goes.

[ginnyten]

Foodiedude is NOT the owner of Tiger Tiger Bar. The owners are personal friends of mine. They have a wonderful Christmas party and meal planned, so I would recommend it for Christmas day. Another fun place is Tuskers; nice hosts too!

[anonymouse]

Foodiedude is NOT the owner of Tiger Tiger Bar. The owners are personal friends of mine. They have a wonderful Christmas party and meal planned, so I would recommend it for Christmas day. Another fun place is Tuskers; nice hosts too!

Foodiedude might not be the owner and the food might be great but they have no track record unlike the Dukes. I'd go along with the Tuskers recommendation as well, I agree a fun place with lovely hosts

[StevieH]

we had christmas day at tuskers last year and it was excellent, cracking roast dinner and great company. we're going back this year.

[alfieconn]

There is a fairly new Restaurant just 2 minutes walk from the night Bazaar that are serving, a three Course Christmas Dinner

Called Tiger Tiger, me and the Mrs have already booked as the Sunday lunch is great there so if the standards are the same it should be well worth the 550 baht and you get a glass of wine for that too.

Due to the fact that the owners intend to make it "A traditonal family christmas dinner'' and due to the fact that my thai wife and daughter have never sampled a christmas dinner before, my family will be frequeting the ''Tiger Tiger Restaurant'' on christmas day, i'm sure the food will be up to the normal standards.I might even wear a xmas hat, something that hasn't been seen for many a year .

Edited November 27, 2009 by alfieconn

[BelfastMike]

Thanks for the responses.

Booked the flights and Duang Tawan Hotel already.

Tuskers for Xmas Dinner looks good.

Anymore ideas for "romantic" spots to go down on bended knee?

[venturalaw]

Thanks for the responses.

Booked the flights and Duang Tawan Hotel already.

Tuskers for Xmas Dinner looks good.

Anymore ideas for "romantic" spots to go down on bended knee?

You mentioned being near the night bizarre. Tuskers is a distance from there. As far as The Dukes, for Christmas atmosphere and food, I don't think it can be beat - year in and out it's been consistent for true traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

[anonymouse]

Thanks for the responses.

Booked the flights and Duang Tawan Hotel already.

Tuskers for Xmas Dinner looks good.

Anymore ideas for "romantic" spots to go down on bended knee?

You mentioned being near the night bizarre. Tuskers is a distance from there. As far as The Dukes, for Christmas atmosphere and food, I don't think it can be beat - year in and out it's been consistent for true traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

As I posted before the Dukes or Tuskers would be good places to celebrate Christmas.

Chiang Mai is a small place, the op could easily walk to Tuskers from his hotel in 20mins or take a tuk tuk or songtaew that would get him there in just over 10 mins.

[StevieH]

Thanks for the responses.

Booked the flights and Duang Tawan Hotel already.

Tuskers for Xmas Dinner looks good.

Anymore ideas for "romantic" spots to go down on bended knee?

as mentioned before huay tung tao lake is a nice spot, and the waterfall at mae sa is one of the prettiest places i've been to up here. that could be quite a romantic place for proposing.

[alfieconn]

foodie dude's advise might be spot on but I'm guessing he is the owner of Tiger Tiger

I'd go along with UG's recommendations, he has been here over twenty years and he know's his food.

I'd also agree you can't go wrong with the Dukes

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

I’m not even sure that they would serve up turkey due to the fact that they have only justed just finishing gorging themselves with it from a month before

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

[purplehaze]

foodie dude's advise might be spot on but I'm guessing he is the owner of Tiger Tiger

I'd go along with UG's recommendations, he has been here over twenty years and he know's his food.

I'd also agree you can't go wrong with the Dukes

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

I'm not even sure that they would serve up turkey due to the fact that they have only justed just finishing gorging themselves with it from a month before

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

Alfieconn I hope you have a steel pot and flak jacket at the ready for some American incoming.

[anonymouse]

foodie dude's advise might be spot on but I'm guessing he is the owner of Tiger Tiger

I'd go along with UG's recommendations, he has been here over twenty years and he know's his food.

I'd also agree you can't go wrong with the Dukes

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

I’m not even sure that they would serve up turkey due to the fact that they have only justed just finishing gorging themselves with it from a month before

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

Personally I don't give a [insert expletive] I'll be getting my takeaway Turkey and trimmings from Bake and Bite, owned by a Thai by the way and what do they know about cooking Christmas dinner?

You'll find it was the yanks who introduced Turkey to the UK by the way so I'm sure it will be on the menu at the Dukes as it has been for the last five years or so.

[Ulysses G.]

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

Some Brits are great cooks and some aren't. The same goes for Americans. Personally, I look for the best food in town and I could care less about the nationality of the chef.

If Christmas pudding is important to you, you might consider the Holiday Inn. They usually serve it and the cook is usually French and they serve a lot of British favorites.

Try to go slow on the Spotted Dick.

[sticklebrick]

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

Some Brits are great cooks and some aren't. The same goes for Americans. Personally, I look for the best food in town and I could care less about the nationality of the chef.

If Christmas pudding is important to you, you might consider the Holiday Inn. They usually serve it and the cook is usually French and they serve a lot of British favorites.

Try to go slow on the Spotted Dick.

"could care less" meaning you do care! Don't you mean - could not care less? Is that an American thing?

[Ulysses G.]

We say it both ways and it means the same thing, but in different parts of the country. There is different slang all over America, or at least there was when I was a kid.

[amexpat]

I had the thanksgiving dinner, plate really, at Bake and Bite.

It was worth at least half of the 320 baht charged.

But that has been my experience with most of the holiday or special occasion deals around town.

[alfieconn]

Personally I don't give a [insert expletive] I'll be getting my takeaway Turkey and trimmings from Bake and Bite, owned by a Thai by the way and what do they know about cooking Christmas dinner?

You'll find it was the yanks who introduced Turkey to the UK by the way so I'm sure it will be on the menu at the Dukes as it has been for the last five years or so.

Here is a bit of useful information for your goodself

The centerpiece of a sit-down meal varies on the tastes of the host but can be ham or roast beef, particularly since turkey is the mainstay at dinner for the American holiday of Thanksgiving in November, almost exactly one month earlier.

In England, the evolution of the main course into turkey did not take place for years, or even centuries. At first, in Medieval England, the main course was either a peacock or a boar, the boar usually the mainstay. After the French Jesuits imported the turkey into Great Britain, it became the main course in the 1700s.^[4]

I hope this clears up the point

Edited November 29, 2009 by alfieconn

[alfieconn]

Alfieconn I hope you have a steel pot and flak jacket at the ready for some American incoming.

Is that the same as friendly fire

Edited November 29, 2009 by alfieconn

[basinboy]

Duangtawan is a good choice, we stayed during Songkran, but we will not stay there this Christmas, they are pulling the compulsory gala dinner on NYE for some ridiculous amount of money.

We arrive in Chiang Mai and are already booked for the Xmas dinner at the Olde Bell, only 5 minutes walk from your hotel. Wherever you eat, I'm sure you will both enjoy your time in Chiang Mai

[Fishenough]

Did you book your spots at Tuskers? They do sell out. One of the best Turkey with fixing meals I've had here was at the Bake and bit, the one across the corner from Pan Tip plaza at the south of the night brazzer street.

Someone might correct me, is that location across the street from the good italian restaurant actually a Bake and Bit?

[Ulysses G.]

One of the best Turkey with fixing meals I've had here was at the Bake and bit, the one across the corner from Pan Tip plaza at the south of the night brazzer street.

Someone might correct me, is that location across the street from the good Italian restaurant actually a Bake and Bit?

It is called Bake and Bite and it is across the street from Georgios Italian. The turkey/ Christmas dinner in one of the best in town, but it is also quite inexpensive compared to other places.

[philw]

One of the best Turkey with fixing meals I've had here was at the Bake and bit, the one across the corner from Pan Tip plaza at the south of the night brazzer street.

Someone might correct me, is that location across the street from the good Italian restaurant actually a Bake and Bit?

It is called Bake and Bite and it is across the street from Georgios Italian. The turkey/ Christmas dinner in one of the best in town, but it is also quite inexpensive compared to other places.

The Old Bell on Loi Kroh Rd does excellent food and for sure will have great festive meals at very reasonable prices and a very congenial atmosphere, complete with festive Guinness.................( something lacking in some other places)

I have eaten there many times and this is a personal recommendation.

Philw

[Flatouthruthefog]

I find it hard to believe that an American restaurant can cook a traditional Christmas dinner the way the the British do

As I understand christmas pud is not normally on the menu so that basically ses it all.

Some Brits are great cooks and some aren't. The same goes for Americans. Personally, I look for the best food in town and I could care less about the nationality of the chef.

If Christmas pudding is important to you, you might consider the Holiday Inn. They usually serve it and the cook is usually French and they serve a lot of British favorites.

Try to go slow on the Spotted Dick.

"could care less" meaning you do care! Don't you mean - could not care less? Is that an American thing?

You've just put your finger on a quirk of Anglo-American linguistics of great interest. When 'Winnie' and 'Teddy' and their right hand men met secretly, before the US joined WW2, this phrase almost put paid to "the Allies"!

An American said they "could care less" about some point, and the Brits were outraged. For several minutes!

Language can be a real danger, as well as a barrier!

But back to 'a romantic spot' for the OP. My wife is Chiang Mai, born and bred, and before popping the question I simply asked her for HER favourite place around here.

It was the little green area on the east bank of the river, between Nawarat Bridge and Riverside restaurant. Opposite what is now Community Church. Very quiet, very central, and lots of good eateries close by (inc Dukes!!) to celebrate.

PS: She said "Yes!" five times just to make sure. We share a quiet smile every time we pass the place.

[Mousehound]

I'm bringing the wife and son up to CM and also family friends for New Year. We are geared up for the fireworks on the Ping on NY eave. Do you think the same eateries mentioned are the go for New Years and do we need to book. Am staying at Vanilla Hse (near Porn Ping Hotel)

thanks

[uptheos]

The meal at Tuskers was pretty good last year.

Booked in advance it was 400 Baht, which was good value.