Anantara Golden Triangle

Eating

There are two restaurants, Sala Mae Nam, named after the surrounding mountain range and occupying a magnificent vaulted space, and Baan Dahlia, a smaller, more intimate restaurant with the atmosphere of a wine cellar and a mainly Italian menu.

Sala Mae Nam serves northern Thai dishes such as Naem Chiang Rai (Chiang Rai sausages), Nor Oua (deep-fried young bamboo shoots stuffed with minced pork), Gai Ob Samliam Thong Kum (roasted marinated chicken with Thai herbs and spices) and Gaeng Hung Lay (traditional northern-style spare ribs served in a spicy curry sauce).

Baan Dahlia’s menu is decidedly western, with buffalo mozzarella from Italy, New Zealand lamb chops and Margaret River Wagyu beef (from Western Australia). In a bid to offset these food miles, the resort sources many of its ingredients from local farms and its own kitchen garden.

The Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace serves light meals alongside its signature cocktails. Particularly recommended is the Street Hawker, a vodka martini with mango nectar, lime juice, coriander and red chilli.

Dining by Design offers guests the chance to dine in private, with chefs cooking to order, in several enchanting locations, from a rice paddy to a ridge with views over the entire Golden Triangle.

Breakfast is a huge international buffet in Sala Mae Nam – though it’s tastefully done without a bain-marie in sight. An array of terracotta pots holds everything from Full English to Dim Sum to Miso soup. Eggs are cooked to order, and the staff remember how you like your coffee.