Chiang Mai’s old town may only be 1.5 square kilometres big, but the number of accommodation options is more than enough to make your head spin.

Having just opened in late 2023, Nuu is situated on the left edge of the old city between Suan Dok gate and Ratchamanka Road, the only main road going all the way from west to east of town. And as you shuffle past the city wall during rush hour, it’s hard not to be drawn to Nuu’s cheerful facade.

The property has retained the building’s raw concrete exterior while adding bold dashes of colour with its massive orange sign that hangs overhead. Sporting Nuu’s clever logo, it uses two upturned “n”s instead of the usual “u” with a cheeky space denoting the different letters. Arched windows and doorways echo the same curves found in the logo, with a trendy green HAY bench positioned under quirky fonts that invite you to take a further glimpse of the interiors.

Guest Rooms

Nuu’s twenty or so guest rooms are located on the third and fourth floors of the property. Do note they’re only accessible by stairs, although staff would be more than happy to give you a hand with your luggage.

The entire building is also west-facing, so most guest rooms get a canal view plus gorgeous light during the day that keeps everything airy, bright and clean. Our Standard Studio was a deep room with an unsurprisingly spacious bathroom and a massive rain shower. While not luxurious in furnishings, the rooms have a cute touch of patterned textiles, rattan and natural wood that evokes an ethnic vibe reminiscent of Northern Thailand’s mountainous tribes. I loved their branded robes, a bold departure from the generic fluffy white robes provided by most hotels that added so much character to the room–it’s available for sale at the lobby if you want to take a token of Chiang Mai home.

Our complimentary breakfast was served in the room at your preferred time, with a choice of Thai main dish, snacks, juice and coffee served on a tiered tray. The Thai sausage and egg dish was mouth-watering, but portions were so generous that I elected to skip the snacks on the latter days.

Common Area

Above the hotel lobby, the common area doesn’t get as much natural light as the ground floor but retains its bright decor with plenty of artwork and textile detailing. There’s not much action on this floor, so you can enjoy complimentary coffee and tea in peace, though I feel like I could do the same in the confines of my room. The previous property was likely a hostel with minimal modifications made, as there was a random but huge shower area tucked away behind that was still accessible. Kinda quirky, but all’s cute and clean.

Thoughts

If you like to spend most of your day out and about, Nuu has a fantastic location on the edge of town and mighty air conditioning. Their staff are primarily local university students oozing the same cheerful energy as the property, always ready to help and give local recommendations that will keep you away from tourist traps.

Beyond the vibrant lobby, Nuu’s space does feel underutilised. There’s ample room for an added lift shaft, and a top floor sits vacant above the guest rooms, which would have been lovely if it had been turned into a cafe. Further down the line, they may find the means to renovate the property and fluff up the facilities, though currently, they are a pretty basic hotel. But one that has gotten all the basics right for a very reasonable price.

In the lobby, Nuu also retails its clothing brand, Bana Playa, whose lineup focuses on resort wear pieces made in Thailand with block-printed fabrics from India. It reminds me of Daughters of India, which also happens to be what I’m wearing here, but with a light tropical touch and menswear options included.

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