Going to Chiang Rai is like stepping back in time to the old country where there are very few modern buildings, the airport is still small and life is basically on a slow mode . This is great when you want a different atmosphere not too far from the cities and is just a one hour fifteen minute flight from busy Bangkok. You can watch the landscape change from nothing but concrete jungles to lush greenery and cooling mountains waiting to welcome you. My travel buddy and travel photographer (visit her site here for more great photos!)decided to make a long overdue trip to the Northern Territories of Thailand and Chiang Rai was the first on our list. First stop was the Melt in Your Mouth restaurant for something to eat and to have a dining experience in Chiang Rai that was memorable on our first visit to this province.
We used Google maps to locate this place but still had some difficulty finding it as the GPS took us to the back of the building. Guess Google is not too smart after all! This quaint little restaurant is nestled along the Kok River in Chiang Rai city but it takes a lot of little ‘sois’ or small lanes to get in here. However, this little gem is worth searching for and though well camouflaged with plenty of greenery around it almost all but blends into the river scene nicely. The building is Colonial in design with nice whitewashed full length windows to afford view and a well-tended garden and riverside grounds for a leisurely meal.
Slate tiles pave the way up to the restaurant and main building keeping from view a homely and warm interior that more than beckons and welcomes you. We arrived in the rainy season here in Chiang Rai which nicely added up to that romantic atmosphere of a grey balmy season and a welcoming hot tea away from the wetness outside.
Step inside to a typically English styled drawing room not unlike the olden Colonial homes in the early 40s to 60s style. They even have Celadon and Waterford decor to complete the setting but remember, this is Thailand not England! Plush seating all around for your to relax and enjoy the time which seem to move very slowly in Chiang Rai. I wondered if they had a fireplace in use during the colder season which can drop down to around 1 degree Celsius.
Plush wing chair seating if you like to read and have a cup of tea with scones and cream here. Kudos to the owners for the marvelous setting and ambiance in warm colours and attention to details.
We wanted to enjoy the outside so opted for a riverside seating in the early morning. The call of birds was a welcome sound from that of congested traffic in the cities. The outside seating on the patio is a great way to enjoy the river flowing past with its rush weeds and heavy set Banyan and Willow trees swaying in the breeze.
We ordered an iced Caramel Macchiato, slow cooked ribs with fruit sauce and rice, and a local dish of fried Enoki mushrooms with Thai sauce. The coffee was delightful with Macchiato coffee in the little inverted Eiffel Tower sitting in a cup of fresh whipped cream and caramel.
Portions of food that arrived were rather large compared to the very reasonable pricing. The costs of this meal was actually cheaper than a McDonald breakfast in the airport! The deep fried tempura mushrooms were tasty and crunchy which went very well with the mushroom sweet and sour dipping sauce. Definitely a must try when you are here.
This is the slow cooked pork ribs in fruit sauce. Heavenly with a side serving of fresh fruit and mixed niblets accompanied by steamed Jasmine rice. This is a definate #norulesjusteathere type of place.
Patio seating by the Kok River which affords you a view of the inner garden and the river.
A spiral staircase that leads up to the upper deck dining and a sweeping view of the grounds.
Melt in Your Mouth Desserts and Eatery in Chiang Rai serves a mix of fusion Thai cuisine and international cuisine. They have a beautiful selection of cakes, pancakes and other sweets that looks scrumptious but were too full to try and will be back on our next trip for more. The idyllic setting of this little piece of heaven in Chiang Rai is delightful for a quick getaway or to enjoy some quiet moments ( provided it is not during lunch or dinner times) and is listed as one of the places to drop by when you are in visiting Chiang Rai and to put on your list of things to do in Chiang Rai.
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