1892 Bar at Aleenta Retreat

The 1892 Bar is a small, elegant bar at Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai, a boutique retreat in the Suthep area. It occupies the upper floor of the property's original golden teak house, overlooking the garden and the retreat's blessing grounds, and it has a very different feel from the city's busier live music venues.

A century-old piano is the centrepiece of the room and gives the bar its character, and on some evenings live piano music adds to the atmosphere. Seating is plush and comfortable, and you can choose the indoor room or the covered balcony, which looks over the garden. The mood is calm and intimate, closer to a private club than a pub.

The drinks list focuses on cocktails and Thai spirits, prepared by the bar team, and it is a good place to try local spirits you might not find elsewhere. Snacks are served in a Thai izakaya style; the bar has offered a vegan khao soi gyoza, a playful nod to the city's best-known dish. The retreat's restaurant, The Garden, in the same teak structure, serves Lanna, wellness and Western dishes, so you can have dinner downstairs and move up to the bar afterwards.

The 1892 Bar suits couples, small groups and anyone looking for a quiet, sophisticated drink at the end of the evening rather than a party. Because the retreat is a hotel, it is sensible to contact Aleenta before you go to confirm opening times and whether non-residents should reserve, particularly at weekends. Dress smart-casual.

A taxi or ride-hailing car is the easiest way to arrive and leave. Wat Umong is also in the Suthep area, so a late-afternoon temple visit followed by a drink here makes a pleasant, unhurried evening.

This is a bar for slowing down, so allow time to sit on the balcony with a cocktail or a Thai spirit and enjoy the garden view. If you are a guest at the retreat, it makes a natural end to dinner at The Garden; if you are visiting from elsewhere, arrange your transport back before you settle in. Couples will appreciate the quiet atmosphere, and it is a pleasant alternative to the louder bars of the city.