Our second stop in our Thailand trip was Chiang Mai. We arrived via night train to Chiang Mai station, we walked for a few minutes and stopped by Shewe Cafe were we had brunch and a cappuccino where the barista drew our faces on the foam (for real). We walked for a few more minutes and we arrived to Baan Saen Fang.

The location

The hotel is located right outside Thapae Gate, the Eastern gate of the Old town, the tourist epicenter of Chiang Mai. There are lots of great restaurants to have dinner in around Thapae Gate. It’s also quite close from the train station, and really close to the Night Bazaar. While staying at the hotel we did not take a songthaew (red taxi) or taxi except for visiting the temple of Doi Suthep. We walked everywhere!

I arrived, together with my photographer and friend Sofia, to a hot, hot Bangkok. Took the city line train from the airport to Masakkan and then the metro to Hua Lamphong. After a short walk we arrived to an oasis: Baan 2459. This hotel is truly an oasis within a messy but wonderful city. We were greeted with a welcome drink and soon were invited to our room.

The hotel

Part of what I love from Baan 2459 is that it’s full of history. Built in 1916, Baan 2459 was to be the home of the respected muslim Vadanyakul family for many decades. Within their history, there is a Romeo & Juliet love story as one of the men of that family married a woman from a conflicting muslim clan, against all odds. The Vadanyakul family had to relocate in WWI and Baan 2459 was then rented to a Chinese printing press, which was then shut down. I can’t even begin to imagine everything that happened in these rooms in the past! The hotel is now fully refurbished with a simple but elegant, unique and vintage decoration style.

The hotel is enclosed within gates. Inside it’s full of greenery and so well taken care of you forget for a second you are actually in Bangkok as everything is absolutely polished. Every detail has been thought of.