The Empress Hotel Chiang Mai — a 4-star hotel in the Chang Klan area that sells location and value
Picture this: a 17-floor light-toned high-rise standing out in the Chang Klan area, a few minutes' walk from the lobby to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, the busiest night market in the city — The Empress Hotel Chiang Mai is a 4-star city hotel with 375 rooms that has been part of Chiang Mai for a long time. Plenty of reviews say its clear selling points are the location in the heart of the tourist district, the large pool, and a price that stays reachable for a 4-star property · there are several restaurants, a spa, and a large convention center that hosts seminars and banquets · from around THB 1,400/night · scores 8.7 from 311 Trip.com reviews and 4.0/5 on TripAdvisor, ranked around #92 out of 540 hotels in Chiang Mai
Let's start with the big picture — The Empress Hotel Chiang Mai is a large 4-star city hotel with about 375 rooms in a 17-floor high-rise, sitting on Chang Klan Road on the east side of the Ping River in Mueang Chiang Mai district · this isn't a small boutique or a luxe riverside resort, it's a large-scale city hotel that has been part of Chiang Mai for years, with a wide lobby, several restaurants, a large pool, a fitness center, a spa, and a convention center that can handle seminars, weddings, and big banquets · the clearest selling point here, going by real reviews, is the location in the heart of Chang Klan that's a few minutes' walk to the Night Bazaar, paired with a reachable 4-star price · the hotel also holds the SHA Extra Plus standard for safety and hygiene, which adds credibility for travelers who care about that
So who is it for — going by real reviews, The Empress suits travelers who value location and value over newness and design, families who want a big hotel with a pool for the kids, and tour or seminar groups that need a hotel for large numbers of people plus meeting rooms · with 375 rooms and a full set of facilities, it works well for the kind of trip where you're out exploring all day and come back to sleep in a central spot · couples after a romantic riverside mood, people chasing a brand-new hotel that's flawless in every detail, or anyone who wants quiet privacy may feel this is a large city hotel that gets busy and where some of the decor is showing its age — which is something to weigh against the price you're paying
On location and getting around — The Empress sits on Chang Klan Road, one of the main tourist areas in Chiang Mai · the part most people like best is that it's about a 5-minute walk to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, the famous night market with souvenirs, crafts, and street food to browse every evening · within walking distance of the hotel there are plenty of restaurants, massage shops, convenience stores, and cafes, which makes the walkability of this area very high · Tha Phae Gate and the Old City are about a 10-15 min drive away or a longer walk · Warorot Market (Kad Luang) is a short drive away, and major temples like Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang are in the Old City and easy to reach by car · Chiang Mai Airport (CNX) is about 3-4 kilometers away, roughly a 10-15 min drive · put simply, if you want a hotel to use as a base for night-time wandering and shopping in the Chang Klan area without relying much on a car, this location has the edge
"It's less than a five-minute walk from the hotel to the Night Bazaar, so no matter how late you come back you don't have to worry about transport. The staff remembered our name by the second visit, which made it feel warm, like coming home."
On the rooms and decor — The Empress has rooms across several tiers, from standard Superior and Deluxe rooms up to Suites and family rooms · most rooms are a comfortable size, especially the ones on higher floors that many reviews say are spacious, clean, and have lovely views of Chiang Mai or the Doi Suthep ridge · the furniture and decor lean classic in keeping with the hotel's age, with a flat-screen TV, fridge, minibar, and air conditioning all included · that said, a note that comes up again in reviews is that some of the decor and in-room facilities are showing their age, some bathrooms are fairly small and dim, and the showerhead in some rooms is mounted so low you have to stoop or sit to shower · the advice from many reviews is that if you can, ask for a higher-floor room that has been renovated, because room quality here varies quite a bit by floor and renovation cycle
On the shared facilities, the thing that gets talked about most is the pool · The Empress has a large outdoor pool with sun loungers and a poolside bar, which many reviews praise as big and clean, good for families bringing kids to swim, and a nice spot to rest after a full day out · there's also a fitness center, a spa and massage rooms to ease tired muscles, a sauna, plus bicycle and car rental · other shared spaces include a wide lobby, a business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel · one note that comes up is that drinks and food at the poolside bar and the hotel restaurants are fairly pricey compared to places outside, which is normal for a city hotel · overall the facilities are complete at the level a 4-star hotel this size should have, and the big pool is an advantage smaller hotels in the same area can't match
Another standout that sets The Empress apart from typical hotels in this area is its large convention center and banquet halls · the hotel has several meeting rooms and a convention building that can handle anything from small seminars up to banquets, weddings, and large conferences for several hundred people · this is why tour groups, company seminars, and various events choose it often, since you get plenty of rooms, meeting space, and restaurants in one place · for the general traveler, this means that during periods with a big event, the lobby and restaurants can be livelier and more crowded than usual, which some see as a good buzz and others may find chaotic · if you're mainly after quiet, check whether there's a large conference during the dates you book
On food and bars — The Empress has several restaurants covering Thai food, international food, and a coffee shop, plus a bar with live music in the evening · the thing that gets the most praise in reviews is the breakfast buffet, which has a wide range and big portions, and many say it's filling and good value, with Thai food, Western food, fruit, and a cook-to-order corner · some reviews also praise the welcome amenities, such as a snack basket and fruit plate that surprise you in the room · that said, a note that comes up often is that the tea selection at breakfast is fairly limited (mostly black tea) and food and drink prices in the hotel are higher than outside · the advice from many reviews is to make the most of breakfast in the hotel, then head out for lunch and dinner at places in the Chang Klan area or the Night Bazaar, which are close and have more options at lower prices
On service, this is a strength reviews mention often and in the most positive terms about The Empress · even though it's a big hotel, many people praise the staff as friendly, attentive, and able to remember regular guests, with one review writing "on our second stay, some staff remembered our name," which isn't easy to find at a hotel this size · the welcome, check-in, check-out, and concierge service for hailing cars, booking tours, and recommending places to go all work well · one note that comes up is about service charges and taxes that sometimes aren't clear from the start, which leaves some people feeling the final total differs from what they expected · the advice is to ask about the grand total and any extra charges clearly at check-in so there are no surprises at check-out · overall, the warm service is what helps offset the building's age limitations quite a bit
The Chang Klan area and the life around the hotel are also part of the appeal that gives The Empress an edge · Chang Klan is a main tourist area that has the Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, restaurants from many cuisines, Thai massage shops, and plenty of souvenir stores · an evening stroll gives you that lively Chiang Mai atmosphere tourists know well · by day you can take a short ride to the Old City, pay respects at Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang, walk the Sunday Walking Street, or cross over to the Wat Gate area and Warorot Market easily · for those who want to go up Doi Suthep or out of town, the hotel can arrange cars and tours · having a hotel as a base in the middle of Chang Klan like this is why many guests say getting around is easy, and coming back late at night you don't have to worry about finding a ride
Voices from real reviews — on the praise side, guests talk about the location in the heart of Chang Klan that's a 5-minute walk to the Night Bazaar, the large pool, the wide-ranging and good-value breakfast buffet, the warm service that remembers guests, and the value for a 4-star hotel · one review writes "spacious, clean room, lovely city view, the staff are very nice," and many others praise how convenient the location is for getting everywhere · on the notes side, some reviews mention decor and in-room facilities that are showing their age, some bathrooms that are small and dim, low-mounted showerheads, a limited tea selection at breakfast, high food and drink prices in the hotel, and service charges that sometimes aren't clear · these notes don't apply to everyone and often depend on the room you get and when you stay, but they're worth knowing so you can plan and pick the right room
On price and value — the starting price for the lowest room tier is around THB 1,400-2,200/night in normal periods, while deluxe and higher-floor rooms move up to around THB 2,200-3,500, and suites or family rooms go higher than that, depending on the period and events in town · compared to 4-star hotels in the same area, The Empress sits in the group that's reachable on price and comes with full facilities, especially the big pool and the central location, which is clear value for someone on a mid-range budget · compared to luxury riverside hotels like 137 Pillars House, which starts at eighteen thousand, or Anantara and Raya Heritage, which start in the several-thousands to tens of thousands, The Empress is much cheaper and leans on value and location more than luxury · for families or travelers who want a big hotel with a pool and a central location on a low-thousands budget, this is one of the good-value choices in Chiang Mai
If you line up The Empress against its neighbors in the Chang Klan and riverside group a bit more, the picture of where it stands gets clearer · compared to a riverside boutique like Sala Lanna, which sells river views and a sky bar but has fewer rooms and limited facilities, The Empress gives you a big pool, plenty of rooms, and a location within walking distance of the Night Bazaar, but no riverside view or boutique mood · compared to high-priced luxury riverside hotels, The Empress wins clearly on price and value but loses on newness, design, and privacy · and compared to newer chain hotels in the Nimman or Old City areas at similar prices, The Empress has the edge on the big pool, the convention center, and the Chang Klan location, but the rooms and decor look more classic and aged · so The Empress's position is fairly clear: a large-scale 4-star city hotel that sells location, value, and a complete set of facilities, suited to people who value function and location over luxury and newness
Things to know before booking — one, ask for a higher-floor, renovated room, because room quality here varies by floor and renovation cycle, and higher-floor rooms have nicer city and Doi Suthep views and get more praise · two, if you're serious about bathrooms, ask about or request a room with a larger bathroom and a higher showerhead, since some rooms are small and the showerhead is mounted low · three, make the most of breakfast in the hotel, then head out for other meals at places in the Chang Klan area or the Night Bazaar, which are cheaper and have more options · four, ask about the grand total and any extra charges clearly at check-in, so there are no surprises with service charges at check-out · five, if you're after quiet, check whether there's a conference or large banquet at the hotel during your dates · six, in high season (November-February) and during the Yi Peng/Loy Krathong festival, rooms fill quickly and prices climb, so book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first
In short — The Empress Hotel Chiang Mai is a solid answer for travelers, families, and seminar groups who want a large-scale 4-star hotel in the heart of Chang Klan that's a few minutes' walk to the Night Bazaar, with a large pool and full facilities, at a reachable price · the warm service that remembers guests, the wide-ranging and good-value breakfast buffet, and the convention center that handles big events are the strengths that have kept this hotel part of Chiang Mai for so long · the limits you have to accept are that some of the decor and facilities are showing their age, some bathrooms are small with low showerheads, food and drink prices in the hotel are high, and it's a city hotel that gets crowded at times · but if what you're after is a hotel to use as a base for night-time wandering, shopping in the Chang Klan area, bringing the family to the pool, and not paying a lot — The Empress delivers that at a level its 8.7 score from real reviews stands in for, on a budget many people can reach
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Location in the heart of Chang Klan, a 5-minute walk to the Night Bazaar
- ✓ Large outdoor pool, well suited to families
- ✓ Warm service, attentive staff who remember regular guests
- ✓ Good value for a 4-star hotel with full facilities
- ! Some of the decor and facilities are showing their age
- ! Some bathrooms are small and dim, and some showerheads are mounted low
- ! Food and drink prices in the hotel are higher than outside
- ✓ Easy walk to the Night Bazaar and restaurants in the Chang Klan area
- ✓ Wide-ranging breakfast buffet with big portions
- ✓ Large, clean pool; higher-floor rooms have lovely city views
- ✓ Has a convention center and banquet halls for big events
- ! The tea selection at breakfast is fairly limited
- ! Service charges and taxes are sometimes unclear from the start
- ! It's a large-scale city hotel that gets crowded at times
- 💡If you expect a brand-new hotel with rooms flawless in every detail — some of The Empress's decor and facilities are showing their age, and room quality varies by floor → ask for a higher-floor, renovated room and look at updated room photos before booking
- 💡If you're serious about bathrooms and showers — some bathrooms are small, dim, and the showerhead is mounted so low you have to stoop to shower → ask about or request a higher room tier with a larger bathroom at the time of booking
- 💡If you're after quiet privacy — this is a large-scale city hotel with a convention center and banquets, crowded at times → check whether there's a big event at the hotel during your dates, and consider a small boutique if you want quiet