Pros

  • On a quiet, tree-lined street, a five-minute walk to the old city's moat
  • Standard Rooms are some of the largest in town
  • All rooms have minibars and flat-screen TVs
  • Pleasant outdoor swimming pool with small sundeck
  • Lobby cafe and bar plus restaurant with indoor-outdoor seating
  • Free breakfast buffet and live music during high season
  • Bicycles for rent and massage services are available
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Standard Rooms are outdated
  • Breakfast gets mixed reviews
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Bottom Line

Chiang Mai Gate is located just to the south of the old city, a five-minute walk to the moat that marks the its entrance. This two-and-a-half-pearl hotel is over 50 years old and some of the 121 rooms show their age, especially the spacious Standard Rooms. More modern rooms are smaller, but feature pleasant Lanna northern Thai decor, and all rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and come with free Wi-Fi and breakfast with a decent number of buffet options. The hotel has a decent swimming pool, a large restaurant, and a bar/cafe. Massage services and bike rentals are available, too. The nearby Thannatee Boutique has fresher rooms and better style overall. 

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Amenities

  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel

Scene

Older hotel with a dash of northern Thai style

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel is over half a century old, and from the outside it looks every bit an old-school Thai hotel. Inside, the lobby has a bit more charm, even if it's a clue as to the mixture of dated and modern styles travelers should expect here. There's a marble floor, painted columns, and an array of lotus lantern lights hanging from the ceiling that towers overhead. Thai angels and elephant statues accent the lobby, and a set of cushioned armchairs are available for anyone who wants to sit around and relax. Ultimately, though, this is a hotel for people looking to have easy access to the old town at often lower rates than staying right in the center of things. There are a few places to kick back after a day touring the city, including a spacious sitting area that's part of the pool bar, but it's a mostly quiet place. The clientele here are a mix of travelers -- mostly couples and friends -- looking for a good value stay close to the old city.

See More Scene

Location

Five-minute walk to the old town's southern gates

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel is located just south of the old town's moat, on a relatively quiet side-street lined with trees. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops around the hotel, so guests don't need to go far to eat or drink. The southern edge of the old town is a five-minute walk from the hotel, though many of the area's famous temples and markets are within a 15-minute walk. Chiang Mai's night bazaar is a bit far for an easy walk, and takes about five minutes to reach by cab. There are fewer tourists in this area than in the old city or downtown by the night bazaar, making it a great base to experience local life while still staying close to the sights and essentials. The airport is a 10-minute drive away, and the bus terminal and rail station can be reached in about 15 minutes. 

See More Location

Rooms

Large, but old, Standard Rooms plus more modern higher-category rooms

There are 121 rooms at Chiang Mai Gate Hotel, and there's a pretty significant disparity between the categories. While some are relatively modern, others are worn and dated. Entry-level Standard Rooms are the largest in the hotel -- some of the largest rooms that we saw in all of Chiang Mai, in fact -- but they clearly show the hotel's age. These rooms have beige carpeting alongside old satin bed skirts and heavy drapes plus outdated mid-tone wood furniture. Somewhat surprisingly, the bathrooms in Standard Rooms are tiny, with worn shower/tub combos. These rooms, like all others in the hotel, come with minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, although there are no electric hot water kettles.

The Superior and Deluxe Rooms are nicer, with a style that draws on northern Thai Lanna influences. Still, don't expect boutique-level style. These rooms are smaller, but have carved-wood details, vibrant wall panels, and soft furnishings in deep reds, burnt orange, and gold. The bathrooms in these units feature walk-in shower stalls and a decent amount of counter space. Air-conditioning units are also newer in these rooms.

See More Rooms

Features

Outdoor swimming pool, large indoor/outdoor restaurant with free breakfast, and bikes to rent

While most hotels in and immediately around the old town area are small and lack much in the way of features, there are a few surprises here. The hotel has a swimming pool big enough to swim a few laps in, and sun loungers placed around the deck. There's also an adjacent pool bar that extends into a covered terrace that's pleasant for relaxing. There are some shops here, as well, including a small massage parlor and a tailor.

For eating and drinking, the Palm Tree restaurant serves free buffet breakfasts for guests -- it gets mixed reviews -- and is then open for all day dining. The restaurant serves a mix of Thai favorites and Western dishes. Live music is played here in the evenings during high season. In addition to the aforementioned pool bar, there's also a lobby lounge and cafe, the Chill Chill Cafe, which serves cocktails, coffee, and snacks.

Other facilities at the hotel include bicycle rentals, a parking lot, and a travel and tour desk in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel

Scene

Older hotel with a dash of northern Thai style

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel is over half a century old, and from the outside it looks every bit an old-school Thai hotel. Inside, the lobby has a bit more charm, even if it's a clue as to the mixture of dated and modern styles travelers should expect here. There's a marble floor, painted columns, and an array of lotus lantern lights hanging from the ceiling that towers overhead. Thai angels and elephant statues accent the lobby, and a set of cushioned armchairs are available for anyone who wants to sit around and relax. Ultimately, though, this is a hotel for people looking to have easy access to the old town at often lower rates than staying right in the center of things. There are a few places to kick back after a day touring the city, including a spacious sitting area that's part of the pool bar, but it's a mostly quiet place. The clientele here are a mix of travelers -- mostly couples and friends -- looking for a good value stay close to the old city.

See More Scene

Location

Five-minute walk to the old town's southern gates

Chiang Mai Gate Hotel is located just south of the old town's moat, on a relatively quiet side-street lined with trees. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and shops around the hotel, so guests don't need to go far to eat or drink. The southern edge of the old town is a five-minute walk from the hotel, though many of the area's famous temples and markets are within a 15-minute walk. Chiang Mai's night bazaar is a bit far for an easy walk, and takes about five minutes to reach by cab. There are fewer tourists in this area than in the old city or downtown by the night bazaar, making it a great base to experience local life while still staying close to the sights and essentials. The airport is a 10-minute drive away, and the bus terminal and rail station can be reached in about 15 minutes. 

See More Location

Rooms

Large, but old, Standard Rooms plus more modern higher-category rooms

There are 121 rooms at Chiang Mai Gate Hotel, and there's a pretty significant disparity between the categories. While some are relatively modern, others are worn and dated. Entry-level Standard Rooms are the largest in the hotel -- some of the largest rooms that we saw in all of Chiang Mai, in fact -- but they clearly show the hotel's age. These rooms have beige carpeting alongside old satin bed skirts and heavy drapes plus outdated mid-tone wood furniture. Somewhat surprisingly, the bathrooms in Standard Rooms are tiny, with worn shower/tub combos. These rooms, like all others in the hotel, come with minibars, safes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi, although there are no electric hot water kettles.

The Superior and Deluxe Rooms are nicer, with a style that draws on northern Thai Lanna influences. Still, don't expect boutique-level style. These rooms are smaller, but have carved-wood details, vibrant wall panels, and soft furnishings in deep reds, burnt orange, and gold. The bathrooms in these units feature walk-in shower stalls and a decent amount of counter space. Air-conditioning units are also newer in these rooms.

See More Rooms

Features

Outdoor swimming pool, large indoor/outdoor restaurant with free breakfast, and bikes to rent

While most hotels in and immediately around the old town area are small and lack much in the way of features, there are a few surprises here. The hotel has a swimming pool big enough to swim a few laps in, and sun loungers placed around the deck. There's also an adjacent pool bar that extends into a covered terrace that's pleasant for relaxing. There are some shops here, as well, including a small massage parlor and a tailor.

For eating and drinking, the Palm Tree restaurant serves free buffet breakfasts for guests -- it gets mixed reviews -- and is then open for all day dining. The restaurant serves a mix of Thai favorites and Western dishes. Live music is played here in the evenings during high season. In addition to the aforementioned pool bar, there's also a lobby lounge and cafe, the Chill Chill Cafe, which serves cocktails, coffee, and snacks.

Other facilities at the hotel include bicycle rentals, a parking lot, and a travel and tour desk in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.