A friend and I went to Chiang Dao yesterday for some business of his, and as we were early and had missed breakfast before leaving, decided to go to the 'Chiang Dao Nest' to grab a bite. I'd heard that the owner's wife was quite the cook, so figured this would work. I'd never been to the Nest before, but have heard about it for years. All good reports, but nothing specific. For some reason, in MY mind I had formed a mental image of a typical Old City backpacker guest house, but set in Chiang Dao.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE REALITY!!!

What a splendid, green and peaceful, immaculately cared-for resort!! Spacious, with sala all around for relaxing, quiet (except for the nature sounds) tranquil vibes... I guess there was a lot of it that we never even saw, except from a distance, but what we saw really impressed me. The choice of breakfasts certainly did the chef's reputation credit; Big British breakfast, American Style breakfast, and everything in between. We opted for scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, and toast. We didn't get toast. What we got, besides the main foods being delicious and in good portion size, was freshly baked mini-bread, a huge knob of butter and plate of Jam. Absolutely grand! The menu was large, with great sounding dishes, very up-scale but not pretentious. And... to me and my own criteria for a 'good' restaurant... a pepper grinder on the table as well as course-grain salt! If the tea had been a good English Breakfast blend instead of a Hilltribe Oolong, I'd give the Nest 5 gold stars! I was impressed by EVERYTHING, including the rest rooms! This is NOT a backpacker guest house by any stretch of the imagination. This is a 'resort' set in a patch of dense greenery just a few hundred meters from the foot of Chiang Dao mountain. I'm glad that we were hungry and had the opportunity to eat there. It was a real eye-opener for me, and I look forward to going back there with my wife, perhaps for a couple of days of just chillin' out!

+1 but dont tell to many people!

Stayed CD Nest 1 many times ,its a lovely area for a short stay,pool gets bit chilly in the winter.Nest 2 also has excellent Thai food. Somebody suggested a while it could be an option to become another Pai...give us a break !

I agree, CD Nest (both 1 and 2) are great

If I find myself at a loose end on a Saturday or Sunday I have been known to ride up there just for lunch.

+1 but dont tell to many people!

Why Not??

What lead you to believe that it was a backpacker guest house? I've also never been there, however all of the feed back reported to me gave me a mental picture just what you experienced.

Lets not forget the Thursday barbecue.....Well worth the trip. Sometimes we drove back to CM, other times over the years we book a cabin if there was room. Wicha (sp) is truly a wonderful host, even stopped by a couple times at our restaurant for a meal and a visit

Thursday night is a must visit.

Edited August 15, 201312 yr by Fishenough

Stayed there before. Good food and nice view but we received shit service.

Thanks to all for the recommendation--I would dearly like to get the chance to try it out.

If it's not backpacker then I'm out. I don't want to sit near a bunch of crusty old duffers talking about their pension plans and buying property.

Crusty old duffers in Thailand usually talk about their latest young girlfriends.

Clientele tends to be middle-class, both Thais and foreigners. The pricing and location (own transport required) keeps backpackers and your average Thai out.

Crusty old duffers in Thailand usually talk about their latest young girlfriends.

I imagine the price of Viagra, too plus ordering copious amounts of Tiger balm for the lumber region, afterwards.

What lead you to believe that it was a backpacker guest house? I've also never been there, however all of the feed back reported to me gave me a mental picture just what you experienced.

I really don't know. Perhaps the name? Perhaps hearing the names of the owners used in such familiar manner? I don't know.

It's like forming a mental picture of someone you only hear on the phone, and having the reality be so different. Like the female voice that American military jet pilots used to hear; images of a sexy young thing from the voice (only) of a 65 year old grandmother.

I'm very glad that we did stop in. The Chiang Dao Nest is truly a gem hidden away at the foot of the mountain.

+1 but dont tell to many people!

Why Not??

Because excellent places should not be revealed to anyone, so they go out of business.

( Not saying I agree, but that can only be the logic. )

This mindset is rife on the backpacker forums especially. Something like "if only nobody had mentioned Ko Tao or Pai then it would still be the same as it was in 1990."

Welcome, FoikGuitar. Nice that you have finally arrived.

Welcome, FoikGuitar. Nice that you have finally arrived.

Thanks! Been back a couple of months now, and feels as if I've never been away. Be it ever so humble...

That's nice too, but I was referring to your having finally arrived at a place, Chiang Dao Nest, that many of us have been enjoying and raving about for years and years now.

Stayed there before. Good food and nice view but we received shit service.

I also found that.

I see you carefully avoided mentioning the price, so it must have been a real shocker.

Am I going to drive up to Chang Dao and pay 350bht for an American breakfast, I think not.

Edited August 16, 201312 yr by AnotherOneAmerican

I see you carefully avoided mentioning the price, so it must have been a real shocker.

Am I going to drive up to Chang Dao and pay 350bht for an American breakfast, I think not.

Two delicious large breakfasts, with freshly made still-warm bread. Three pots of tea. One pot of coffee. In a wonderfully peaceful setting. 600 baht.

Worth it to some. Not worth it to others. More than my money's worth to me.

I doubt that I would drive up there 'just for breakfast' when there are breakfast buffets such as the Empress Hotel so close at hand. But from now on, when I'm in Chiang Dao and feel the need to feed, I'll certainly consider the Nest as one of the nicer options in the area.

Edited August 16, 201312 yr by FolkGuitar

That's nice too, but I was referring to your having finally arrived at a place, Chiang Dao Nest, that many of us have been enjoying and raving about for years and years now.

Ahh.... I see. My mistake. Of course, people have been raving about The Red Lion and the Irish Pub for years too, but to me they are 'just' bars.

The Chiang Dao Nest was something special.

I see you carefully avoided mentioning the price, so it must have been a real shocker.

Am I going to drive up to Chang Dao and pay 350bht for an American breakfast, I think not.

It's true that it's possible to run up a pretty big bill in their restaurant. The accommodation is not expensive but if a couple were to take 3 meals per day there your food bill can easily add up to twice what you pay for your room. However, in the case of CD Nest 1, their food is unusually good for a Western restaurant in North Thailand.

The gardens of the temple are really nice and, unusually, the plants are mostly labelled in English. The view from the top can be worth while. Had a great time there and ate at the Nest#1 and next door with Malee and her husband a couple of nights. When we were there last the average age was under thirty - we were the oldest and there were quite a few in their early twenties.

Hope their "music licenses" are in order. Those "nice folk" seem to be heading north....

Stayed there in the first year they opened,wanted to stay 3 nights,but

left after only 1 night, the mattresses where the hardest I have ever

tried to sleep on. do they have newer ones now?,as i am sure they would

have had complaints.

regards Worgeordie

Stayed there before. Good food and nice view but we received shit service.

I also found that.

And me too. I found the service much better at Nest 2