Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai

The concept of the art hotel is familiar by now: we’ve come a long way since the days when standard hotel room decoration featured generic watercolor seascapes or framed reproductions of iconic artworks. But rarely does a hotel commit to the concept so thoroughly as the new Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel in Chiang Mai.

The hotel is eight stories tall, with a modern art gallery on the ground level. And above that, each of the seven floors was designed by a different contemporary Thai artist working within a certain theme or genre. Categories include classics like Pop Art (fourth floor) and Impressionism (seventh floor), as well as Nude Art (on the second floor, if case you fancy taking a stroll down this particular corridor.) It’s not quite as racy as it sounds, but these rooms and suites, seductively outfitted in black and white, are for adults only.

Needless to say, the in-room aesthetic varies widely at Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel. On the Abstract Art floor, for example, the exposed brick walls and earth tones evoke the cozy feel of an artist’s studio, while the top-floor Lanna Romantic rooms, with their sophisticated grays and minimalist canopies, look comparatively exotic. The square footage varies widely, too. Most floors have a range of room categories, including an Artist Signature Room — spacious, open-plan suites that are practically miniature art galleries. Standard amenities across categories include flat-screen TVs, spacious work areas, complimentary wi-fi. And, yes, artist’s easels stocked with canvases and paint, should creative inspiration strike.

Elsewhere in the hotel, there’s a sleek infinity pool and terrace with views over the city, and the industrial-chic Jarid Restaurant, specializing in Thai fusion cuisine and cocktails, some of which were inspired by the same modern artists responsible for the interior design. It’s an art-filled enclave, yes, but a practical place to stay, too: the downtown location makes it an ideal jumping-off point to explore the city, preferably on one of the bicycles handily provided by the hotel.