Newbies Guide To Chang Mai

[duan]

I am taking a TG to CM for a few days and would welcome any help anyone can give me on the following:-

1. Royal Princess hotel

2.Good restaurants similar to Baan Khanita/Lemongrass/Oam Thong in BKK

3.Good bars

All help greatly appreciated

Cheers

[jomama]

My sister from the states stayed at the Royal Princess recently. Excellent service, good location, good breakfast buffet. Rooms a bit small and the outside could use some upgrade....

Many people from BKK with money like to stay there.

[chanchao]

Lots of restaurants here: http://food.netasia.org and here http://chanchao.fotopages.com .

I think on weekends The Riverside is also good as a bar. What type of bar were you looking for? Something quiet or with music or?

Royal Princess hotel seems pretty good.. It's right at the Night Bazar which is pretty touristy.. Kind of like being on Sukhumvit in Bangkok. But it's easy to get away from as well, Chiang Mai isn't that big a place.

Cheers,.

Chanchao

[ThaiPauly]

If you want to go to a bar with great atmosphere try the Chaingmai Saloon on Loi Kroh, 200 metres walk fro Starbucks at the Night Bazzar. Thats where many of us TV members are meeting up for a drink or ten this saturday (13th)

If you are here at this time why not come along, you would be more than welcome

Cheers

TP

[Rinrada]

Royal Princess lookls like a nice place.

Last couple of visits crashed out in the Rydges,Porn Ping (bubbles Disco underneath)Imper Lanna,Downtown (mai peng) and the one that the wife likes is the Dun 2 Wan although one of her mates have offered us a condo in an aparttment block that she owns....so maybe no more hotels.

Lots of restaurants and pubs (angrits)...Red Lion-Irish -Omallys-UN -Spotlight .....roll on my next long weekend...

http://www.r24.org/thailand.nu/chiangmai/princess/pictures/

[jackr]

If not the Princess, Chiang Mai Plaza (slightly farther out than the former) is the bees knees with quality rooms in the Executive Tower. The Riverside bar is cheaper than the Goodview next door, both not too far from the Night Bazaar and hotels, and is more cozy...good live bands. Just opposite the Princess is the Anusarn (spelling) market with some fairly good seafood places and O'Malleys; a block north is the Red Lion etc.

As ThaiPauly says, if you're here tomorrow, pop into the Saloon after 7

[SiamOne]

If you want to go to a bar with great atmosphere try the Chaingmai Saloon on Loi Kroh, 200 metres walk fro Starbucks at the Night Bazzar. Thats where many of us TV members are meeting up for a drink or ten this saturday (13th)

If you are here at this time why not come along, you would be more than welcome

Cheers

TP

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yep, the Saloon is nice enough

BUT....the owner can be a miserable bloke, esp. after one of his (frequent) quarrels with his wife

and his peanuts are terrible, they used to be excellent!!

[Rinrada]

Keep hearing a lot of good reports about the "Bears Den" Tried to check it out on last visit but not enough time...any comment?

re :Nuts....never touch em in bars.

Report a couple of years ago showed up a barrel load of wee germs after punters had gone for a pee and them gobbled the nuts (no washee hands)

Last night in our local the landlords wife served up for free a bucket of roast potatoes (individual portions)and probabally doubled the bar takings for the night ......total cost about £2-50...luvly

[lamphun]

If you want to go to a bar with great atmosphere try the Chaingmai Saloon on Loi Kroh, 200 metres walk fro Starbucks at the Night Bazzar. Thats where many of us TV members are meeting up for a drink or ten this saturday (13th)

If you are here at this time why not come along, you would be more than welcome

Cheers

TP

yep, the Saloon is nice enough

BUT....the owner can be a miserable bloke, esp. after one of his (frequent) quarrels with his wife

and his peanuts are terrible, they used to be excellent!!

The food is good value though.

[bkkmadness]

I love the cheeseburgers at the Saloon and at Mikes place for that matter. I heard Mike is a complete a.sshole though, but I've never seen him myself. Fact or Fiction?

Ah, I might have to hang around this section some more, I really like Chiang Mai but don't often get a chance to visit it.

I heard Spicys is indoors now as well?

[jaloochapurr]

Met Mike when he first opened. I would not used that word to decribe him though. What I would say is he from New Jersey in USA and is a little rough. I did not gather he has had much luch with the girls in USA due to his ersonality but could be wrong. Just one of those who found the secret place and maybe should not of.

[bklyngal]

If not the Princess, Chiang Mai Plaza (slightly farther out than the former) is the bees knees with quality rooms in the Executive Tower. The Riverside bar is cheaper than the Goodview next door, both not too far from the Night Bazaar and hotels, and is more cozy...good live bands. Just opposite the Princess is the Anusarn (spelling) market with some fairly good seafood places and O'Malleys; a block north is the Red Lion etc.

As ThaiPauly says, if you're here tomorrow, pop into the Saloon after 7

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are a few much better than the Plaza.....I stayed there about 3 months ago and was very unhappy. The beds were of very poor quality, springs springing...blankets were not only shabby but dirty. The temp in the rooms are not what you expect when you have ac, we opened the window for air (during the hot season) The buffet for breakfast is an array of warm eggs and not much else. Fruit is brough out as it gets eaten so there is not even trays with an assortment. You have to get your own coffee in the am. I am real bad at this...never made a ggod waitress. To get to the pool you have to walk through a part of the hotel that looks closed...not real nice or safe for that matter. I spoke to the mgr and told him how unhappy we were with all of these things and got a "we thank you for your comments" So no more Plaza for me....I also stayed at the Sheraton which was much nicer, pool, food rooms. and people...they are happy to work in this hotel not like the Plaza where they are sour. So for what its worth that my opinon...BTW also great food at the riverside..

[ThaiPauly]

I love the cheeseburgers at the Saloon and at Mikes place for that matter.  I heard Mike is a complete a.sshole though, but I've never seen him myself.  Fact or Fiction?

Ah, I might have to hang around this section some more, I really like Chiang Mai but don't often get a chance to visit it.

I heard Spicys is indoors now as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it Mike's Burger Bar is now under new ownership!! Would be good to see you up here some time BKK, even only if its for a burger

[ThaiPauly]

Keep hearing a lot of good reports about the "Bears Den" Tried to check it out on last visit but not enough time...any comment?

re :Nuts....never touch em in bars.

Report a couple of years ago showed up a barrel load of wee germs after punters had gone for a pee and them gobbled the nuts (no washee hands)

Last night in our local the landlords wife served up for free a bucket of roast potatoes (individual portions)and probabally doubled the bar takings for the night ......total cost about £2-50...luvly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have been to the Bear's Den a few times, would not go again, service is very very slow and the food is average.

Love the Roast potato idea, reminds me of Sunday Luches in pubs in the UK. Cant beat em

[bkkmadness]

I love the cheeseburgers at the Saloon and at Mikes place for that matter.  I heard Mike is a complete a.sshole though, but I've never seen him myself.  Fact or Fiction?

Ah, I might have to hang around this section some more, I really like Chiang Mai but don't often get a chance to visit it.

I heard Spicys is indoors now as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it Mike's Burger Bar is now under new ownership!! Would be good to see you up here some time BKK, even only if its for a burger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I come up there I will PM you for a bevy and a munch in the Saloon, although I tend to stray to Spotlights pretty early on.

Edited August 15, 2005 by bkkmadness

[jackr]

If not the Princess, Chiang Mai Plaza (slightly farther out than the former) is the bees knees with quality rooms in the Executive Tower. The Riverside bar is cheaper than the Goodview next door, both not too far from the Night Bazaar and hotels, and is more cozy...good live bands. Just opposite the Princess is the Anusarn (spelling) market with some fairly good seafood places and O'Malleys; a block north is the Red Lion etc.

As ThaiPauly says, if you're here tomorrow, pop into the Saloon after 7

There are a few much better than the Plaza.....I stayed there about 3 months ago and was very unhappy. The beds were of very poor quality, springs springing...blankets were not only shabby but dirty. The temp in the rooms are not what you expect when you have ac, we opened the window for air (during the hot season) The buffet for breakfast is an array of warm eggs and not much else. Fruit is brough out as it gets eaten so there is not even trays with an assortment. You have to get your own coffee in the am. I am real bad at this...never made a ggod waitress. To get to the pool you have to walk through a part of the hotel that looks closed...not real nice or safe for that matter. I spoke to the mgr and told him how unhappy we were with all of these things and got a "we thank you for your comments" So no more Plaza for me....I also stayed at the Sheraton which was much nicer, pool, food rooms. and people...they are happy to work in this hotel not like the Plaza where they are sour. So for what its worth that my opinon...BTW also great food at the riverside..

Were you staying in the basement

[true blue]

I love the cheeseburgers at the Saloon and at Mikes place for that matter.  I heard Mike is a complete a.sshole though, but I've never seen him myself.  Fact or Fiction?

Ah, I might have to hang around this section some more, I really like Chiang Mai but don't often get a chance to visit it.

I heard Spicys is indoors now as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it Mike's Burger Bar is now under new ownership!! Would be good to see you up here some time BKK, even only if its for a burger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I come up there I will PM you for a bevy and a munch in the Saloon, although I tend to stray to Spotlights pretty early on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ron not bad owner in chang mia saloon and staff very polite food good and ron look after everyone though some times free peanuts not good but a free man

[cdnvic]

They also have half decent (for Thailand) mexican food too. You're right about the peanuts, they are soft and I don't think fully roasted.

cv

If you want to go to a bar with great atmosphere try the Chaingmai Saloon on Loi Kroh, 200 metres walk fro Starbucks at the Night Bazzar. Thats where many of us TV members are meeting up for a drink or ten this saturday (13th)

If you are here at this time why not come along, you would be more than welcome

Cheers

TP

yep, the Saloon is nice enough

BUT....the owner can be a miserable bloke, esp. after one of his (frequent) quarrels with his wife

and his peanuts are terrible, they used to be excellent!!

[Rinrada]

I love the cheeseburgers at the Saloon and at Mikes place for that matter.  I heard Mike is a complete a.sshole though, but I've never seen him myself.  Fact or Fiction?

Ah, I might have to hang around this section some more, I really like Chiang Mai but don't often get a chance to visit it.

I heard Spicys is indoors now as well?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As I understand it Mike's Burger Bar is now under new ownership!! Would be good to see you up here some time BKK, even only if its for a burger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I come up there I will PM you for a bevy and a munch in the Saloon, although I tend to stray to Spotlights pretty early on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Re Spotlights.....Air Con always most acceptable there

[chanchao]

>BUT....the owner can be a miserable bloke, esp. after one of his (frequent)

> quarrels with his wife

> and his peanuts are terrible, they used to be excellent!!

Perhaps they're still the same peanuts?

ALso had a burger there once which was still raw (and cold) inside.. .. hmm..

Cheers,

Chanchao

[lamphun]

Wet peanuts are a Chiang Mai speciality.

I've only eaten there twice but both times the food was excellent.

[Sansai Sam]

The owner of the Saloon is the most miserable Son of a B***h I have ever met. Mikes is now owned by Brian (Mike is from San Diego by the way, not New Jersey). The Royal Princess had a fire on the weekend and most all the restaurants you mentioned are closed due to the flood. Havea nice visit!

[jomama]

Sansai Sam:

Are you always this positive?

I was in the Saloon a year or more ago and they were showing George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh. I hadn't seen it in years and was very interested. The owner said I could take it and copy it even though he never met met before. I did so and returned the original.

I don't recall his name, but he's a big, older guy of few words. If it's the same guy, you are way off base.

All the restaurants ARE NOT flooded.

Stay in you handbasket...you're well on your way.

[Sansai Sam]

Oh holier than tough Jo....

I am sure your ONE experience over a year ago is a better reference but I know dozens of people (some on this thread) that have had bad experiences with Ron.

On another note...when I wrote my response "MANY" of the restaurants along the river were closed (FYI-the Riverside re-opened yesterday) and the Royal Princess will reopen next month.

[duan]

I understand that the Royal Princess has had a bad fire recently.Can anyone confirm the extent of the damage and the likely date of return to normal service?

[cm das]

I used to play in a band at the Bear's Den. I never had problems with slow service (though being in the band, maybe I got some kind of special treatment) and though I haven't had much farang food there, I & many of my Thai friends thought the Thai food was pretty good. There's a new menu but I can't say much about the new dishes - I stick with the few vegetarian Thai dishes I can eat! My only gripe with the place is that it's a bit sterile, & usually fairly empty. On a few nights we had a decent crown in there, dancing & livening things up, but usually it's slow. Still, it's worth a try. And Kevin & the staff there are all good folks in my opinion.

[SiamOne]

Oh holier than tough Jo....

I am sure your ONE experience over a year ago is a better reference but I know dozens of people (some on this thread) that have had bad experiences with Ron.

On another note...when I wrote my response "MANY" of the restaurants along the river were closed (FYI-the Riverside re-opened yesterday) and the Royal Princess will reopen next month.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's like I said, he is a real pain when he has had one of his (frequent) marital blow-ups...other days, seems like a nice guy

but his peanuts still are awful....don't know why he bothers with them. They were very good when I used to go, then suddenly he started buying rubbish ones.

Hamburgers can be good, often tasteless without lots of sauces