Akyra Manor Chiang Mai

When you’re floating in the rooftop infinity pool at a state-of-the-art boutique hotel like Akyra Manor Chiang Mai, looking out over the neon lights and the stream of motorbikes zipping through busy downtown streets, it makes perfect sense that Chiang Mai means “new city.” Not so fast: “new,” in this case, is relative, referring to the date of its founding in the 13th century. The northern Thai city is known for its rich history, particularly its hundreds of old Buddhist temples. But that fact will probably be far from your mind when you’re inside a hotel as thoroughly modern as this one.

Located in the heart of the city center, amid the cafés, boutiques, art galleries and cocktail bars of happening Nimmanhaemin street, Akyra Manor Chiang Mai rises up eight stories but contains just thirty suites. Or “sanctuaries,” as the hotel calls them — a term that sounds a bit more reasonable once you’ve set food inside one. Each suite is surprisingly spacious, given the location, and features a private patio or courtyard with an outdoor hot tub. The look is modern, mixing an Asian-inspired aesthetic — spare, calm interiors, a preference for natural materials — with a sort of sixties-era glamour. In any suite, you’ll find retro pieces like an Arco lamp or an modular sofa, as well as walls that mimic the look of traditional woven screens, potted plants, and patios lined with earthy white stones. Standard amenities include king-sized beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, free wi-fi, all-natural bath products, and iPods pre-loaded with music and hooked up to Bluetooth speakers.

Once you’ve had a good soak in your private hot tub, head up to the rooftop for drinks at the Rise Bar: the view at sunset, when the city lights come on against the darkening silhouette of northern Thailand’s hills, is gorgeous. And if you’ve had enough Thai food for awhile — a situation that’s hard to imagine, but to each his own — there’s Italics, the Italian restaurant onsite that’s been earning a bit of buzz on the city’s developing food scene. You might only be passing through the “new city” on your way to more dazzling landscapes, but Akyra Manor Chiang Mai is the kind of hotel where you wouldn’t mind sticking around another day or two.

How to get there: Akyra Manor Chiang Mai is a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai International Airport.