This new, memorably named bar is discretely positioned down a small path off Nimmanhaemin Soi 1, next to Studio Naenna. Cellar d’Or can’t get much more intimate, with each of its upstairs and downstairs rooms filled with no more than a dozen loungy sofas, giving a salon vibe where people come to meet, discuss, muse and listen to good music over a few drinks. This bar feels as though one is sitting in a stylish European basement flat with friends. The proprietor has a new set of record decks playing cool tunes from old classics to modern hits, and is open to requests. Lounge sofas and low lighting are set for an after party or even pre-party party. The menu has a good selection of wines, classic cocktails served in generously large vessels and some simple bar snacks, such as grilled cheese sticks, French fries, and smoked duck. Come alone and meet new people, take over a room with a handful of friends, come for a cosy tête-à-tête – whatever the occasion, it is a very special and unique little venue.
22 Soi 1 Nimmanhaemin
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 8 p.m. onwards
Summit Global Developments recently unveiled details about their Mountain Lifestyle Collection project, ‘The Alps’, a condominium project constructed in Hang Dong. With this project they intend to revolutionise the idea of luxury living space in an exclusive neighbourhood. This project will bring “forth a culmination of all of our experience, knowledge, and innovation in the luxury market to pour into this truly original and visionary project,” said. Matthew Lin, CEO of Summit Global Developments.
The Alps is a 7-storey freehold development with 79 apartments, offers the ultimate place for privacy and exclusiveness and 30 apartments are available in 3-storey cluster houses. Sizes range from 1,200 sq ft to 3,700 sq ft, with great mountain views. Many features are integrated into the buildings such as a the Sky Terrace located on the 8th floor, with a private clubhouse, indoor and outdoor entertainment and dining areas, a cigar lounge, a private wine cellar, a fully equipped gymnasium, Chiang Mai’s first indoor salt water heated lap pool and extensive sky gardens with private cabanas and party lawn for refreshment.
The Gallery is open for viewing from
Mondays – Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Located on The OfficePlus Building.
086 654 5658
Brain Fitness is a new extra-curricular centre for children aged three to ten years. The vibrant school focuses on developing children’s thinking, analysing and using creative skills, which are trained through a range of fun mental exercises and games. The school offers an all-round learning approach targeting children’s happiness, confidence, experience, focus and skills. Brain Fitness aims to aid children with the skills they need to succeed in life, which regular schools don’t normally address, such as emotional intelligence, co-operation, positivity, attitude and communication. All children receive a free consultation with one of the school’s teachers, after this the staff will discuss the most suitable and beneficial programme for the child. Brain Fitness may be able to provide your child bonus skills which will benefit them in their academic work and daily life, and it also gets them off your hands for a couple of hours!
Open from Tuesdays to Sundays
Closed Mondays
119/1 Moo 6, Sanphakwhan, Hang Dong,
053 442 338, 086 728 5 270
www.facebook.com/brainfitness.chiangmai
Salad Terrace plates up hearty and healthy salads against succulent partners such as olive oil grilled fish or breaded cheddar cheese Tonkatsu pork cutlet. The Caesar is good value for money, presented in a generous portion with plenty of crispy bacon, crunchy croutons, decent shavings of parmesan and a rich dressing. The owner grows his own ingredients using a clean, nutritious hydroponic method. Each plate of salad at Salad Terrace provides half of your daily allowance of greens, providing you can eat it all! Desserts are also not to be missed, as Salad Terrace makes their own frozen yoghurt in green tea and passion fruit and vanilla flavour, which come served with a grilled roti and a choice of honey, chocolate or strawberry sauce. This cute little restaurant has chilled air con and free Wifi and does coffees, smoothies and fresh juices. To get there, take Chang Puak Road, head down soi six and the restaurant is on the left opposite Wat Kutao.
Open daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed on Wednesdays
27 Kutao Road, Sriphum,
next to Puri Piman Apartments
083 570 3954
Gps 18.803331, 98.987954
Hot Springs House is a brand new resort and a real gem tucked in the lush northern Thai countryside. This small resort, lovingly built over four years by its owner, is made from natural teak wood and has only eight rooms, each individual in style and character. It is structurally remarkable; the owner has constructed a magical wooden lodge out of natural pieces of wood, giving the resort a unique organic feel. In and around the house are little seats and perches, and the resort has a collection of original antique red Japanese postman bikes, which you can take out and cycle around the nearby village past the rice paddies, through the temples and traditional wooden homes. Whilst stopping over at the hideaway, Citylife ate a copious amount of chicken and speckled quail eggs, which seemed to taste so much better after boiling them in the natural hot spring waters bubbling and gurgling out of the ground. There is a turquoise pool and Jacuzzi, or, better yet, soak in a hot bath of naturally heated hot spring water. Great weekend getaway for romancing couples, corporate retreat, group of mates or those seeking a good healthy soak in mineral springs.
25/1, Moo 4, Ban Pong Kom, Pamiang, Doi Saket
www.hotspringshousechiangmai.com
081 258 4785
This new bar may remind you of a venue down Thong Lor’s trendy wining and dining district in Bangkok. Situated on the third floor of Nimmanhaemin’s Kantary Terrace development, this venue concentrates on wines, drinks and cigars only, though we are told you can order food from the hotel restaurant. The room and balcony are decked out like a stylish European or New York watering hole with large brown sofas, seats and an elongated wooden bar. Blue Monkey Cigar & Wine Bar does classic cocktails, which are reasonably priced and a variety of wines ranging from 850 to 2,500 baht per bottle. Each evening you can be serenaded by live piano music and a singer, who plays classic, jazz and other soft relaxing music. On sale is a range of cigars starting at a modest 75 baht and climbing up to big Cuban daddies. There is a special smoke extracting ventilation system in place, so _ gasp! _ you can actually smoke inside. If you are looking for something a little adult and sophisticated, this joint may just hit the spot.
Open daily 1 p.m. – midnight (Music starts at 8 p.m.)
On the third floor of Kantary Terrace, Nimmanhaemin Road
081 8837334
Daiso is a Japanese chain store which sells everything for 65 baht. It’s the Japanese version of the ‘pound’ shops in the UK or ‘dollar’ stores in the US. Daiso is worth a good browse even just to be amazed at some of the strange gadgets on offer. Daiso sells everyday household items to make your life that bit easier, and things you never knew could… ceramic plates, mugs and vases, mini tool kits, stationary sets and rubber gloves to soap dispensers, first-aid boxes and dodgy looking facial massagers. The people at Daiso have been very inventive in coming up with all kinds of plastic contraptions to solve different practical problems you may have at home. If you love a bargain, adore gadgets or are setting up house, this is a must-visit.
Fourth floor of Airport Plaza
Looking for a reliable, safe and trusted babysitter in Chiang Mai? Babysitting CM is a child-minding service which will provide you with experienced babysitters with a high command of English. Kids will be safe and enjoy activities, games and care provided by Babysitting CM. Activities provided for children include brain development, for example drawing, playing with toys, paintings and much more, without watching TV or cartoons. There will be one person allocated to look after one to two children, three children will be allocated two babysitters. Children must be more than one years old.
www.babysittingcm.com
082 028 9606
In addition to a pool, spa, fitness centre, tour and taxi service, the hotel houses a restaurant in a quiet and tranquil area not far from the city. Its prime location at the foot of the Doi Suthep mountains allows its patrons to sit outside and enjoy views of a small lake oft-visited by migrating geese. The in-house chef, who spent many years in the kitchens of Switzerland, cooks up a number of delicious fusion dishes, providing a menu that is regularly updated. On Citylife’s visit we tried the salmon steak, dressed in lemon oil served with a mix of mushrooms and Japanese sauce, smoked salmon and black fettuccine with a cream sauce and a fried shrimp salad roti cocktail, all of which were delicious. Kiree Thara provides a range of spacious villas with stylish rooms and balcony areas that make for a luxury stay in Chiang Mai or for inviting friends for a gathering, for which the hotel can provide BBQ and drinks services.
202/14 Moo 1, Chang Puak
053 010 692, 086 912 4829
www.kireethara.com
contact@kireethara.com