Villa Royale 3

Villa Royale 3 is a private compound of three stilted teak houses arranged around a shared garden courtyard and pool, part of a small boutique hotel estate in the foothills of Doi Suthep on the western side of Chiang Mai. The antique homes were rescued from elsewhere in Thailand and carefully rebuilt here, and each one keeps its carved timber, shuttered windows and old-world character. With three bedrooms for up to six guests, it suits families with older children or two couples travelling together who want their own space within one private enclosure.

At the centre of the compound is a lawn shaded by a palm, with the three houses looking onto it and a still, dark-tiled pool to one side, edged by a slate deck and a pair of white-cushioned daybeds. The ground floors beneath the houses are open to the garden through black steel-framed glass, creating airy sitting areas filled with antiques, sculpture and art, and the manicured gardens make a quiet spot for morning yoga or meditation.

Two bedrooms have king beds and the third has twin singles, all air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and coffee machines. The bedrooms are lined in dark antique wood, with rattan armchairs and a small table for breakfast in your room, and the white marble bathrooms each have a bathtub and a separate shower. A continental breakfast is included, and the hotel’s restaurant serves Thai and international dishes, with gluten-free and dairy-free options and an antique-filled private dining room for a special dinner.