De Lanna Hotel — A Lanna Boutique in the Heart of the Old City
Picture this: a Lanna-roofed hotel tucked into a tropical garden inside the old city walls, a few minutes' walk from Tha Phae Gate, the ancient temples and the Sunday Walking Street — De Lanna Hotel is the boutique many travellers pick for its contemporary Thai feel and central location at a price well below the luxury hotels · Opened in 2009 · most of its 62 rooms have a private balcony, from approx. THB 1,400/night.
De Lanna opened in 2009 and positions itself as a Lanna-style boutique hotel in the heart of the Chiang Mai Old City · What has kept it among the popular midrange choices for years is its location inside the old city walls on the Sri Phum side, an easy walk to Tha Phae Gate, the temples and the Sunday Walking Street · The hotel is a cluster of Lanna gabled-roof buildings around a tropical garden, and once you step off the street it's quieter and leafier than you'd expect — many reviews describe it as a small oasis in the middle of a busy quarter.
There are 62 rooms, from the roughly 25 sq m Superior up to the 48 sq m Honeymoon King Suite · The thing guests mention often is that most rooms have a private balcony looking onto the garden or pool — a spot to rest after a full day of sightseeing that many love · Rooms are done in contemporary Thai style with wooden beds and Lanna textiles, and come with air conditioning, a safe and free Wi-Fi · To be honest though, the hotel has been open since 2009, and some reviews warn that the rooms show signs of wear and the bathrooms are on the small side.
"Sitting on the balcony in the evening after a whole day of temple-walking, looking down at the garden pool — so quiet and relaxing, even though Tha Phae Gate is just minutes away."
At the centre of the hotel is the outdoor pool set in a tropical garden, which many reviews call a highlight — cool water, shaded by trees, perfect for a dip to beat the heat after a day out · There's a poolside bar, a small gym and an in-hotel restaurant · The buffet breakfast draws consistent praise, with both Thai and international dishes made from local ingredients, served in a pleasant garden setting.
Service is another point reviews agree on · Many staff are described as warm and helpful — sorting out car hire, tours and restaurant recommendations · There's a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, and rental cars and bicycles for getting around the Old City · The overall feel is a mid-size hotel built around comfort and location rather than luxury, well suited to travellers who plan to spend most of their time out exploring.
The honest trade-offs from real guest reviews are the age of the rooms and inconsistent hot water · Several reviews note showers that sometimes aren't warm enough and weak water pressure, plus older air-conditioning units that can be noisy at night · Some bathrooms feel cramped for two · If you expect a brand-new room or a 5-star spa, this isn't it — but viewed as a well-located room at an affordable price, most guests call it good value.
The overall score sits at 8.7 from 166 reviews on Trip.com, and 4.0/5 on TripAdvisor from 786 reviews, ranking mid-table among Chiang Mai hotels · Its highest-scoring point is the location, which earns a perfect 100/100 walk score · Those numbers reflect that most guests are happy with the setting and value, while most complaints come down to the age of the rooms.
The verdict from real guest reviews: De Lanna is best for travellers who want to stay in the heart of the Old City, walk to the temples and the Walking Street, at an affordable price · If you plan to be out all day and just want a clean room, a great location, and a pool for an evening dip — and you're not fussy about a brand-new room — this delivers · But if you want a fully modern room or the full facilities of a luxury hotel, you may want to look a tier up in another area.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Heart-of-Old-City location; walk to Tha Phae Gate and the Walking Street
- ✓ Pool in a leafy garden with a quiet, relaxing feel
- ✓ Warm, helpful staff who sort out cars, tours and restaurant tips
- ✓ Most rooms have a private balcony over the garden or pool
- ! Rooms show signs of wear; the hotel has been open since 2009
- ! Inconsistent hot water and weak shower pressure in some rooms
- ! Older air-conditioning units can be noisy at night in some rooms
- ✓ Excellent setting; walk to everything in the Old City
- ✓ Great value for such a central location
- ✓ Lovely garden and pool with a Lanna feel
- ✓ Good breakfast with plenty of choice
- ! Bathrooms are on the small side for two
- ! Some rooms pick up noise from neighbours or the corridor
- ! A few in-room fittings feel dated and due for an upgrade
- 💡If you expect a brand-new room with full facilities — the hotel opened in 2009, rooms show some wear and hot water can be inconsistent → if that bothers you, choose a recently renovated hotel.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper sensitive to noise — older AC units and noise from neighbouring rooms can disturb some rooms → request a recently updated or quieter-floor room when you book.
- 💡If you're travelling with lots of luggage or as a couple who want a roomy bathroom — some bathrooms are cramped → choose a Deluxe or Suite with more space.