Zhennan Teabar Hotel

The staff were friendly, the bed was comfortable, and the TV had streaming services. But after four nights, I wouldn’t recommend the hotel. This review is about the hotel only, not the tea bar, which seems to account for many of the good reviews. The noise was relentless. Cleaners started at 6:30 every morning, banging and dragging a mop or hoover up and down the stairs. I’ve never stayed somewhere that began cleaning so early, and it made sleeping impossible. The bedroom walls are thin, so we could hear other guests talking, plugging in chargers, and drying their hair. Our room was extremely small, with no window, ventilation, or natural light. I hadn’t realised at booking that the rooms had no windows apart from one. When I asked to move to that room, I was told it was already booked by a long-stay guest. There was no storage for bags or clothes, just two hangers. A room this small really needs more hooks and shelves.

Our room was clean, and the staff were lovely. Even when we declined room cleaning, they still brought fresh towels. We had the smaller room, so opening a suitcase meant putting it on the bed. It was very reasonably priced, though, so that was fine with us. If you need more room, it’s worth paying a bit extra for the larger one. Kiang (Kiang) was a big help, sharing great local suggestions beyond the square that let us see a more authentic Chiang Mai. He also makes a great Matcha Latte, and you can ask him about the tea selection.

I didn’t stay at the hotel, just visited the tea bar. The place felt festive and cozy, with lovely decor. I tried Taiwanese Bao Zhong and Tibetan salty butter tea, and liked both a lot. The guy working there was so friendly and helpful, the service was outstanding. I wish I’d had cash to tip him. A great spot to spend some time 🤍

I found this sweet little tea house while walking around Wat Pra Singh. It’s tucked down a small road and has a clean, minimalist feel. There’s a good tea selection; I had White-Chenpi with peanuts and loved it.