- With classic architectural charms and seclusion from the hustle and bustle of Thailand, Maison Mystique promises to be a lifetime-defining hotel.
- Nestled in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima (two hours from Bangkok), this is the antidote to Thailand’s usual Instagram-first resort vocabulary of beaches and infinity pools.
- Access to the Maison Mystique estate is reserved exclusively for registered guests – the hotel is currently is in its soft opening phase.
From NOT A HOTEL’s Rusutsu ski villa in Japan to the five-star Caruso Belmond Hotel on the Amalfi Coast, some stays are just inherently… cinematic. Thailand’s answer? A dreamlike boutique neighbouring Khao Yai National Park is dubbed Maison Mystique.
Tucked away within the verdant embrace of Thailand’s southern highlands – a hidden address protected from obnoxious travel-to-be-seen punters, located approximately two hours from Bangkok – while you’d be forgiven for thinking this “House of Imagination” was another whimsical product of director Wes Anderson, it was actually conceived by founders Fearn Kate and Bun Dhadasih.
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Stepping through the threshold feels like being transported to equal parts fantasy novel and anachronistic old-world chateau with dabbles of Ottoman influences.
The Hall of Mystery, Maison Mystique’s beating heart, spirals upwards with its emerald marble staircase framed by carved rosettes and atmospheric indigo walls. Nearby, the Garden Hall blooms in pale botanical tones – a space inspired by European orangeries, all trellised walls and fern-laden corners.
Then there’s the Hall of Starry Night, where gold stars and crescent moons shimmer above guests in a quiet tribute to celestial mythology, and Bibliothèque Émeraude, the hotel’s library that serves as a tasteful refuge for readers by day and a chic bar by night, complete with masterfully-poured cocktails and live music.
Maison Mystique houses 22 rooms and suites categorised under four distinct narrative worlds: Botanical Obscura, Nocturnal Curiosities, Siren Reverie, as well as Celestial Lullaby.
In Botanical Obscura, you might sleep beside Victorian butterfly specimens or vintage illustrations that whisper of explorers and forgotten taxonomy. Nocturnal Curiosities, on the other hand, leans into moodier registers – velvet teal walls, curated oddities under glass domes, candlelit shadows stretching across the floor. Siren Reverie channels mythology and romance, while Celestial Lullaby invites guests into cloudlike chambers illuminated by constellations of gold leaf on midnight ceilings.
But as magical as the interiors may be, Maison Mystique’s true soul lies in its mossy yet manicured outdoors.
The property’s Garden of Curiosity is practically a living story: wander through vine-draped archways, stumble upon secret gates, follow winding paths that lead to a labyrinth or the blooming tranquillity of the Kitchen Garden. Le Jardin Bijoux, for example, evolves with the seasons, shifting its colours and moods like chapters in an ongoing tale (each room flaunting a unique palette).
Dining – whether it involves local cuisine or European fare – is equally immersive thanks in large part to the Vivarium Dining Room, which resembles a natural light-rich glasshouse built for pure culinary theatre. Here, guests can expect to enjoy menus shaped by local produce and botanical inspiration under a canopy of florals.
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Botanist’s Bible offers something with a slower rhythm within its intimate salon de thé – tea, pastries, and quiet hours spent among antique illustrations, against the backdrop of a timelessly sophisticated setting; and at Bar Mystère, cocktails arrive infused with smoked herbs, edible flowers, plus a welcome hint of drama.
As for something more intimate, the invitation-only whisky lounge Hidden Adam awaits behind a discreet door with rare drops to be savoured.
Maison Mystique is still currently in its soft opening phase (“A whispered beginning before our grand unveiling… we are in a trial run, fine-tuning the details to create an unforgettable stay”). Head to its official site to gauge room/suite availabilities and pricing.
