Royal Train Garden Resort

We popped in for a late lunch and were the only ones there. The four dishes all arrived hot and tasted great. I also ordered the cold caramel tea, which was the best I’ve had in ages. Definitely worth stopping by and giving it a try.

I only came for lunch, not an overnight stay. The garden is large but poorly maintained, and the food costs too much for the quality.

The food was very good, but the meal was disappointing because of the noise and lack of attention. After serving us, the waitress never came back, so we had to go inside to ask for the bill. There didn’t seem to be a manager around or anyone interested in how our meal was going. A staff room near the front of the restaurant was extremely loud, like everyone had gathered there for a party during their break. Later, when they went back to work elsewhere in the resort, they put music on that was too loud as well. This was my second bad experience here. The first time, I left money on the table and walked out. The restaurant has no front door, just a side entrance with no signs pointing it out, and the area looked unclean and neglected. It’s a shame, since I can see this must once have been a beautiful place.

The views and setting make the trip from Chiangmai city worthwhile. The property sits near Rajapruek Royal park, between mountains to the east and west, with a rice Paddy and bridge to the south. The building is made of teak and Dang wood, and there’s an old steam engine locomotive on site. It’s a relaxing place, with a restaurant, cafe, and resort attached. The staff were great, and I really liked the ice latte. We had fried red snapper and fried rice with somtam, and both were delicious. The snapper was crisp outside, while the fish inside stayed tender and flaky. Bannock coffee farm, roaster and Cafe is just down the road to the south.