There are so many wonderful things about Thailand, and even more so in the northern city of Chiang Mai. One of those things is a Green Tiger.
Tucked in a quiet alley inside the quaint Old City of Chiang Mai, the Green Tiger House, and its plant-based Reform Kafé, is a peaceful oasis that awaits you, where you can enter a delightful world.
Many hotels have various free amenities, and even a pool, but Green Tiger goes further with solar-heated water, energy-saving LED lights, natural body care products, and an area for used books and magazines. And there is outstandingly friendly service, who is ready to help you with whatever you need — and even some things you didn’t yet know you needed!
Green Tiger House isn’t just remarkable because it’s a fully plant-based hotel. Green Tiger House and Reform Kafé stand on their own merits as truly excellent places to stay and eat at, regardless of your diet.
Reform Kafé serves both Thai and Western food, including khao soi, Chiang Mai’s delectable signature dish, as well as scrumptious curries, stir fries, pad thai, and soups, in addition to sandwiches, veggie burgers, and pasta, plus salads, smoothies, fruit and vegetable juices, and more. Everything is carefully prepared, beautifully presented, lovingly served, completely plant-based, and absolutely delicious! And the food is locally-sourced and organic, whenever possible.
Breakfast, which is included and only for hotel guests, is outstanding. I started with fruit, coconut yogurt, and fresh-squeezed pineapple juice, then had some fresh whole grain bread with thick homemade mango jam, and moved on to black sesame pancakes with mixed berry jam between them and sliced banana and coconut whipped cream on top.
The tofu scramble with veggies is also a fine choice, as is their traditional northern Thai offerings.
They have local, organic coffee with a choice of plant milks, but I opted for the green tea. Breakfast was delicious, satisfying, and of course served with smiles.
With Green Tiger House’s 32 comfortable rooms, some with their own balcony, each containing wooden bed frames and luxurious bedding overlooking lovely views in the magical city of Chiang Mai and a fantastic in-house restaurant, you might be torn between staying in and going out. If you stay long enough, which I heartily recommend, do both!
view from my room
When you’re ready to venture out, however, a great day trip is to visit Elephant Nature Park, an indescribably beautiful elephant sanctuary about an hour away by air-conditioned van. With no riding, bullhooks, chains, or other forms of exploitation or violence, as well as an included sumptuous vegan lunch buffet, ENP walks the talk. It’s an incredible experience!
nearby temple
Other wonderful things to do in Chiang Mai include:
- renting a bike
- taking a vegan cooking class (Bodhi Tree Cafe 2 and Hidden House are the closest and both great!)
- eating at other veg restaurants (Amrita Garden, Aum, Free Bird Cafe, Goodsouls, Moreganic, Morning Glory, Rad Rabbit, and Taste from Heaven are all wonderful and there are many more in town)
- visiting temples (the nearby Wat Chiang Mun is large, absolutely beautiful, and the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, yet not overly-touristed, while Wat Suan Dok has Pun Pun restaurant, which bills itself as vegetarian slow food, in the back; there are also a few temples very nearby on both sides of the moat that are dazzling)
- practicing meditation, yoga, and/or a sound bath
- going on a nature trek (vegan meals are easily accommodated on request)
Green Tiger House is Thailand’s first Green Key-certified hotel. They institute various eco-friendly practices, including plant-based food, solar water heating, water and energy conservation, chemical and waste management, phasing out plastics, and they plan to continue in this sustainable direction, so you can rejuvenate yourself, while treading lightly on the planet.
Green Tiger House was happy to help me have a compassionate, sustainable, and meaningful time in Chiang Mai during my complimentary stay at their hotel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. You deserve to be delighted at this amazing hotel, too!
Dan Brook, Ph.D. is a Board Member of the San Francisco Veg Society and an Advisory Board Member of Jewish Veg.
