Empress Hotel

Empress Hotel is a 4-star property on Chang Klan Road, Chiang Mai's most famous Night Bazaar strip, placing guests at the centre of the city's busiest evening shopping and dining scene. With 3,300 guest reviews and an overall score of 8.5 out of 10, this is a well-regarded hotel that has established itself as one of the reliable choices in the Night Bazaar area. Rates start from approximately 1,513 THB per night, positioning it as a mid-range option that delivers genuine 4-star facilities without the premium pricing of the area's luxury properties.

Location & Getting There

Empress Hotel occupies a prime position on Chang Klan Road, the long commercial strip that runs parallel to the Ping River and serves as the spine of Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar district. The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar — a sprawling evening market that has been drawing visitors for decades with its mix of handicrafts, clothing, souvenirs, and street food — is essentially at the hotel's doorstep. Kalare Night Bazaar, a more enclosed and organised market complex, sits within a few hundred metres, as does Anusarn Market, known for its food stalls and cultural performances.

The Ping River, Chiang Mai's main waterway, flows just a few hundred metres to the east, with its riverside restaurants and occasional evening cruises. The Old City moat is approximately 1 km to the west, reachable on foot in 15 minutes or by a quick songthaew ride. Chiang Mai International Airport is about 4 km to the southwest. Empress Premier Hotel, the brand's newer sister property, sits just 132 metres away for guests who might want to compare options within the same hotel group.

Rooms & What to Expect

The Empress Hotel offers well-maintained rooms across several categories, suitable for both leisure and business travellers. As a longstanding 4-star hotel, rooms feature proper amenities including air conditioning, hot water, minibar, and in-room safe. Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the hotel. The property has been renovated over the years to maintain standards, and rooms are generally spacious by Chiang Mai hotel standards. The hotel's size — it is one of the larger properties in the Night Bazaar area — means a wider range of room types is available compared to smaller boutique options nearby.

Amenities & Facilities

Empress Hotel has a full complement of 4-star facilities. There is a swimming pool for relaxation, a fitness centre for maintaining workout routines, and a spa offering traditional Thai massage and treatment packages. The hotel provides a daily breakfast buffet that covers both Thai and international dishes. A 24-hour front desk handles guest queries, and the hotel offers airport transfer services for convenient arrivals and departures. Business facilities are available, reflecting the hotel's dual appeal to both tourists and corporate travellers visiting Chiang Mai for work.

What's Nearby — Temples, Markets & Local Life

The Night Bazaar area is the hotel's primary attraction, and it delivers on the promise. The main Night Bazaar stretches along Chang Klan Road directly outside the hotel, active every evening with vendors selling everything from hill-tribe textiles and carved wood to silver jewellery and Thai silk. Anusarn Night Market, slightly more geared toward food and cultural entertainment, is within easy walking distance and offers a different atmosphere from the main bazaar. Kalare Night Bazaar provides a more curated shopping experience under cover.

Beyond shopping, the Ping River is close enough for a pleasant evening stroll, and several riverside restaurants offer dinner with a view. Warorot Market (Kad Luang), Chiang Mai's largest traditional market, is approximately 1 km north — a vibrant daytime destination for local produce, dried goods, flowers, and everyday Thai market life that feels worlds apart from the tourist-oriented Night Bazaar. For temple visits, Wat Mahawan and Wat Bupparam are within walking distance along Tha Phae Road, while the Old City's major temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh — are a short ride away.

Dining

The hotel has its own restaurant serving a mix of Thai and international cuisine, anchored by the daily breakfast buffet. The Chang Klan Road location, however, means the real dining story is outside the hotel's doors. The Night Bazaar area is dense with eating options: street food stalls offering grilled meats, som tam, and khao soi (Chiang Mai's signature curry noodle soup); mid-range restaurants serving Northern Thai specialties; and a handful of upscale dining spots along the Ping River. For quick meals, the Night Bazaar food courts provide cheap, cheerful, and reliably tasty options that many experienced Chiang Mai visitors deliberately seek out.

Guest Reviews

With an overall score of 8.5 out of 10 across 3,300 reviews, Empress Hotel performs well above average for its category. Location is consistently the highest-rated aspect — guests appreciate being in the heart of the Night Bazaar action, able to walk out and shop or eat without any transport needed. The breakfast buffet receives regular praise for its variety and quality, and staff service is frequently highlighted as attentive and professional.

Value for money is generally seen as good, with reviewers noting that the combination of a central Night Bazaar location, genuine 4-star facilities, and rates around 1,500 THB represents a fair deal. Room quality and cleanliness score well, reflecting consistent maintenance standards. The main trade-off guests mention is noise — being directly on Chang Klan Road means evening noise from the market can be audible in lower-floor rooms, which is worth knowing for light sleepers.

Good to Know

Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 12:00. The hotel's position on Chang Klan Road provides excellent access to transport — songthaews pass frequently, and the road is well-served by ride-hailing apps. For first-time visitors to Chiang Mai, the Night Bazaar area is one of the most intuitive places to base yourself: the main attractions are concentrated and walkable, and the evening market provides built-in entertainment without needing to plan or commute anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Empress Hotel from the Night Bazaar? The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar runs along Chang Klan Road directly outside the hotel.

What is the hotel's review score? 8.5 out of 10 from 3,300 guest reviews.

Does the hotel have a pool? Yes, there is a swimming pool along with a fitness centre and spa.

How much does a room cost? Rates start from approximately 1,513 THB per night.

How far is the airport? Chiang Mai International Airport is about 4 km away.

Is breakfast included? Yes, a breakfast buffet is included in standard room plans.

Written by Terra Lanna from verified data — star rating, guest review scores, real coordinates and distances, and Agoda's own facility and location data. Master English version; other languages are translated from this.