X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort

Open since November 2017, X2 Chiang Mai Riverside Resort attracts attention immediately with its sleek, modern design -- a definite departure from the colonial- or Lanna-inspired style seen at most hotels in the area. Whereas Chiang Mai hotels typically feature pitched roofs, ornate teak woodwork, and intricate carvings, X2 (pronounced "Cross Two") goes for a more austere look with a contemporary building made of thin handmade red bricks (a reference to the ancient brick wall surrounding the Old City), concrete, steel, dark wood, and glass. Inside, the hotel maintains the same sleek, spartan aesthetic. A circular couch sits at the center of the cave-like lobby, directly below a round skylight in the ceiling. The domelike window lets in some natural light and pays homage to a restored old well in the hotel's courtyard, which also contains century-old tamarind trees. 

The design may seem stark, but the service is warm and the attention to detail impressive. Guests are given personalized chocolate bars and jasmine garlands as welcome gifts before being shown to their rooms, which are among the most modern and high-tech in Chiang Mai. Geared toward couples and business travelers, the hotel common spaces are as refined as the rooms and the property's overall design. Off the lobby is H20 Water Bar and Tea Lounge, where a tea master prepares pots of Tichaa and Ahmed teas; the lounge also sells more than 50 types of spring and mineral water from around the world. The bar and a conference room upstairs can be used for meetings. The hotel's elegant riverside restaurant is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Nicholas Isnard and the upscale spa has enormous treatment rooms for romantic twosomes.

The majority of the clientele come from Thailand and China, and from the U.S. and the U.K. to a lesser degree. Most guests are couples and business travelers, though on our visit, we did spot a family of four enjoying the rooftop pool.

X2 Chiang Mai sits on riverside real estate, away from the touristy downtown area. It's a half-hour walk to the action of the Old City, but most guests time their Old City outings around the schedule of the hotel shuttle, which provides free rides (about 15 minutes) to and from Three Kings Monument and Night Bazaar. The shuttle departs the hotel and the two pick-up points three times a day. Car or tuk-tuk rides to and from the airport take about 15 minutes.

Like the rest of the hotel, X2 Chiang Mai's rooms embrace a wholly contemporary style. That look is telegraphed before guests even enter their accommodations, thanks to mounted metal room numbers perpendicular to the ceiling, where lights create shadows spelling out the room number on the wall. It's a cool detail. Inside, rooms are as modern as you'd expect with a few subtle nods to traditional Thai decor. They have hardwood floors with striped woven throw rugs, gray walls (mostly bare, save for abstract, shadow-forming wall art), and sleek dark furniture. Some rooms have accent walls with dark blue or brick-red herringbone print, while others have accent walls with intricate and textured patterns. A few elements, like hanging lanterns, silk pillows, and woven bed runners, pay tribute to Lanna design.

The hotel's four room categories share this overall design scheme, and amenities vary slightly. The two Tamarind Suites (540 square feet, including the balcony) are the entry-level rooms. These are the only two units in the hotel without river views; they overlook the hotel's courtyard instead. Most units (20) are Riverfront Suites, which are slightly larger than Tamarind Suites -- 550 total square feet. The six Grand Suite River View units (700 square feet) are similar, but add giant soaking tubs in the bathrooms. Two Pool Suite River View units offer the most indoor/outdoor space -- 1,905 square feet -- and have private swimming pools in their front yards. Like the Grand Suites, these have standalone soaking tubs.

Rooms largely have the same amenities. All have king beds with pillow menus, individual AC, wireless Geneva Bluetooth speakers, 42-inch LG Ultra HD TVs with 42 satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi. There is a free loaner Smartphone in every room; with these, guests can text, use the internet, and place unlimited local and international calls (to the U.K., China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Australia), all for free. They are especially handy for calling the hotel shuttle for pick-up. Minibars come with nuts, chips, and dried fruit, and an array of premium alcohol, like Johnnie Walker Black Label and Belvedere vodka. White and red wines are available, as well as Fentiman’s rose lemonade and ginger ale, Coca-Cola, and mango and guava juice. Minibar snacks and drinks (not wine) are free in the two Pool Suite River View units. Bottled water, hot water kettles, and an array of free Ahmed teas (English breakfast, rooibos and cinnamon, green, Ceylon) are provided. The safes are free to use, and they have built-in chargers for iPhones and laptops. Every room has a balcony or terrace with outdoor seating, usually a daybed.

Bathrooms come with black marble countertops, rainfall showers, separate toilet vestibules, and, in the top two categories, standalone soaking tubs by Cotto. There are C.O. Bigelow toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion) custom made for the property, as well as razors, toothbrushes/toothpaste, cotton pads, cotton buds, and shower caps. Rooms with tubs also have loofahs and bath salts. Cotton robes, slippers, and full-size hairdryers are provided.

Considering this X2 only has 30 rooms, it has an impressive number of features -- all of them outstanding. The Oxygen Dining Room occupies a separate glass pavilion-like structure by the river. Overseen by the French chef Nicholas Isnard, Oxygen serves Thai-French cuisine for all meals. Breakfast is free and for guests only, but the restaurant opens to the public for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Oxygen's bar has more than 100 different wines, one of the largest offerings in the area. The hotel will arrange private dinners on the lawn or sunset dinners and Champagne cruises along the river with a private butler. Twenty-four-hour room service is also available. H20 Water Bar and Tea Lounge, near the lobby, specializes in tea and water. It offers dozens of still and sparkling mineral waters from around the world, such as Santa Vittoria from Australia, Rychal-Su from Russia, and VCH from the Caldes de Malavella spring in Spain. The lounge itself can be turned into a meeting room for about 20, and there is also an upstairs conference room that can accommodate 30 people.

On the rooftop of the main building is the hotel's "Ozone" area, which consists of an LED-lit infinity pool and a fitness center. The pool has sunken wicker loungers, poolside cabanas, and a pool bar serving food and drink. The fitness center's floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the pool deck, and inside there are steam rooms for men and women. X2 Spa features luxurious and spacious couples' suites with river views, heated beds, rainfall showers, and whirlpools for two. The spa offers scrubs, facials, and Thai and oil massages, as well as spa packages.

The hotel has a private pier, and guests can use the hotel's kayaks for free. There are also free bike rentals. The hotel provides free shuttle service to and from two points in the Old City -- Three Kings Monument and Night Bazaar -- three times a day. Guests can also call X2 from their hotel-issued Smartphones to arrange return trips. Parking is free in the hotel's 50-car lot. Laundry service is available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout.