At Pingnakorn Riverside — A Colonial Boutique on the Ping River with Rooms Bigger Than the Price
Picture this: a pale colonial-style building with high roofs and timber balconies, sitting on a quiet stretch of the Ping River in Wat Ket — At Pingnakorn Riverside is a midrange boutique hotel that channels the architecture of King Rama V's era blended with applied Lanna design · The detail people talk about most is that standard rooms start at 42 sqm, far larger than hotels at the same price, alongside a riverside breakfast praised for its variety · 62 rooms, from approx. THB 1,400/night.
At Pingnakorn Riverside opened in 2016 and went through a major renovation in 2024 · The building was deliberately designed in an Eastern Colonial style blended with applied Lanna architecture from the reign of King Rama V, evoking the old trading days along the Ping River · Many reviews agree that walking into the lobby feels like stepping into a well-kept heritage hotel rather than a new build dressed up to look old.
There are 62 rooms in total, with standard Deluxe rooms starting at a generous 42 sqm — larger than many similarly priced rooms in Chiang Mai · Suites such as the Junior Suite and Family Suite stretch to 78–85 sqm, ideal for families · The roomy bathrooms get frequent praise · The decor leans on timber tones and vintage furnishings to match the concept throughout the property.
"The room was much bigger than expected and the bathroom was huge. The riverside setting is calm and quiet, and waking up to a buffet beside the Ping River felt like great value."
The highlight is the outdoor saltwater pool with a Jacuzzi and a children's pool in a leafy setting, plus the Nakara restaurant overlooking the Ping River · Breakfast is praised for its variety and good coffee, and several guests say it is the reason they happily got up early · The east-bank riverside setting is noticeably quieter than the city-centre side, ideal for travellers who want to escape the bustle while staying a short drive from the tourist areas.
The hotel sits on Charoen Rat Road in Wat Ket, on the east bank of the Ping River · It is about 10–15 minutes by car from the Night Bazaar and the Old City · Wat Ket itself has charm, with old temples, riverside cafés and Warorot Market (Kad Luang) a short ride away · The honest caveat is that walking into town takes over 30 minutes, so most reviews recommend relying on Grab or the hotel car.
The honest downsides are noise and the age of some rooms · Several reviews note that soundproofing between rooms and from the corridor is weak, so you may hear your neighbours · Some guests found beds hard or creaky, a few rooms have ageing furniture or mould in the bathroom, and breakfast is occasionally slow or not kept hot throughout · Wi-Fi is also unreliable in spots despite showing full signal.
The overall score sits at 9.2 from 178 reviews on Trip.com and 4.2/5 on TripAdvisor · Service scores especially high (friendly, attentive staff), followed by cleanliness and location · These numbers reflect a guest base that mostly leaves impressed by the spacious rooms, the riverside setting and the value, despite the gripes about noise and age-related details.
The verdict from real guest reviews: At Pingnakorn Riverside is best for travellers who want spacious rooms and a quiet riverside setting on a midrange budget and don't mind a short drive into town · The colonial design and the breakfast beside the Ping River make it feel like more than its price · If you are a light sleeper or want to walk straight into the tourist areas, this may not be it — ask for a recently renovated room away from the corridor first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooms larger than the price suggests, big bathrooms, calm riverside setting
- ✓ Beautiful colonial-meets-Lanna design, photogenic throughout
- ✓ Varied breakfast with good coffee, served beside the Ping River
- ✓ Friendly, attentive staff who help with transport and tips
- ! Weak soundproofing — you hear neighbours and the corridor
- ! Far to walk into town, you rely on Grab or the hotel car
- ! Some beds are hard and some furniture shows its age
- ✓ Excellent value for rooms this size
- ✓ Leafy saltwater pool with a Jacuzzi and a children's pool
- ✓ Quiet east-bank riverside location away from the city bustle
- ✓ Distinctive vintage colonial atmosphere
- ! Wi-Fi is unreliable in some spots
- ! Breakfast occasionally slow or not kept hot throughout
- ! High fee for a lost key (THB 200) and the restaurant closes early in the evening
- 💡If you are a light sleeper sensitive to noise — soundproofing between rooms and from the corridor is weak, so you may hear neighbours → ask for a room away from the corridor or on a quiet floor up front.
- 💡If you want to walk straight into the tourist areas — it takes over 30 minutes on foot into town, so you rely on Grab or the hotel car → budget for transport and time, or consider a city-centre stay if you have no car.
- 💡If you expect a flawless brand-new room throughout — the building opened in 2016 and, despite the 2024 renovation, some rooms still have hard beds or older furniture → request a recently renovated room and check its condition at check-in.