The best ways to nurse your NYE hangover in Chiang Mai

Okay, so the big boys down in Bangkok may have an endless supply of intravenous drip, but up here we’re pretty new to the game. Thankfully, Anantara Resort has done a solid and paired up with VIVID so we can now go from crawling wreck to peak and perky in one 40 minute sitting. Drips are administered by a trained nurse to deliver a cocktail of amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals directly into your system, ideal for those who like to go hard on NYE. The Liver Detox is your best bet, helping reduce headaches and dizziness by flushing out toxins, rehydrating you instantly and restoring vitamins lost while consuming alcohol. Once complete, you’ll be ready to start those New Year resolutions without delay. 

B2,200-B4,300 for one session. Packages available here. Anantara Chiang Mai Resort. 9am-8pm

Nothing quite helps a hangover more than a hearty breakfast-brunch of eggs, bacon and strong coffee. While there’s tons of spots in Chiang Mai that hit the spot – you can check out all of our best brunch recommendations here – one of our faves for a hangover has to be Me&Bacon. With two spots, one on Narawat road, the other tucked away in Suthep, it covers most of the city radius. What makes this place so special is the thick and generous cuts of cured, grilled bacon, usually served atop a few over-easy eggs and oversized waffles or sourdough bread. Their coffee is nothing to shake your fist at either, with strong americano topping our hangover musts and they open earlier than most of the slow life cafs around. It’s a win-win in our books. 

Me&Bacon Nararat and Me&Bacon Head Store. 8.30am-4pm

There’s some science behind why a Sauna followed by an ice bath is good for you, even when you have a hangover, but we’ll let our experience guide us on this one. Raise leisurely and head down to The Cocoon at noon for a day of poolside relaxation, fruit shakes, acai bowls and an unlimited helping of steam, sauna and ice bath recovery. While there are a few spots for such wellness in the city, we like this one as it’s outside, relaxed and has hammocks in the corner that you’re totally allowed to sleep in. They also stock beer – perfect if your idea of hydrotherapy involves a little hair of the dog.

Entry B300 (plus B100 for the dry sauna, well worth it). The Cocoon Chiang Mai. Midday-7pm 

There's nothing better than showing off you’re up and awake early on January 1. For this, there’s the coffee shop – but we’re not talking about any old spot, we’re talking about the coolest coffee shop in the city. Opening at a bright and easy 8am, Roast8ry Coffee Flagship Store is the place to check-in, ideally with a few snaps of some weird and peculiar coffee concoction. The cool thing about this spot is obviously the wonderful menu of options that range from your regular espressos to test-tube samplers and a dash of fizz to strong shots of coffee. Aside from that, the service is fast, the music is good and the location is perfect. See you there. 

Roast8ry Coffee Flagship Store. 8am-5pm

As the most iconic and longest-running show bar in northern Thailand, Adam’s Apple is going all out on January 1 with an unforgettable New Year's Day celebration that brings together their best show boys, drag queens, and cabaret performers. This LGBTQ+ friendly venue is open to all, and entry is free for this special New Year party with the hope you start your year with laughter, joy and a little bit of carefree drinking. Because what’s better than getting over your hangover than putting the recovery off ‘til tomorrow? 

Free. Adam’s Apple. 9pm-midnight

Sometimes the best way out of a hangover is to really get your brain working again. Checkmate Chess mixes relaxed coffeehouse chess, quick-fire speed rounds and beginner-friendly learning sessions led by experienced players. Whether you’re shaking off the night before or simply fancy something calm, social and slightly cerebral, this is one of our ‘smarter’ recommendations for starting the year right. If your head can take it.

Jan 1. Free. The Spot CNX. 6pm-9pm

Here in Thailand, it’s a no brainer to seek out a massage any time you feel sore or need a little TLC. Thankfully, Chiang Mai is packed with massage spots and, while we know you all have your favourites, for us there are few places that hit the spot quite like Sense. With locations all over the city, they’re an easy, professional choice – although for us it’s the branch in Suandok with the added onsen packages that really fit the hangover recovery theme. Choose from two- to four-hour packages and get an hour in your own private onsen as part of the therapy. Follow that with some warm oil, a body mask and a little foot treatment and you’ll be feeling better in no time. Well, two to four hours to be precise. 

Packages from B1,750. Sense Onsen Suandok Wellness & Spa. 11am-10pm

If you’re anything like us, a hangover can make you quite… emotional. Luckily, we find you can easily replenish some of your lost serotonin with an animal or two. With cat and dog cafes on their way out, the new fad (and said to be one of the more likely animals to next become domesticated) are capybara cafes – thankfully Chiang Mai has one of its own. Not only can you pet and play with these giant rodents, but you can also fill up on coffee, food and snacks while you’re at it. And if everything gets a little too much and you still need a lie down, their resort rooms are the perfect place for an impromptu New Year’s staycation. 

B200-300 entry. Capybara Coffee & Resort Chiang Mai. 10am-7pm

A good way to recover from any hangover is to eat, but avoiding fatty foods and opting for something soupy is usually a really good choice (you’ll thank us later). Although not everyone's cup of tea when it comes to hangover eating – we know, it’s a pain to have to cook the food yourself – there’s a reason Chiang Mai’s hot pot havens fill up so much over the New Year season. While there’s nothing better than a cheap and cheerful spot in your local area, if you want to go all out and treat yourself, then head to Haidilao in Central Festival for the ultimate in boiled meat indulgence. Four soup options, all the meat you could dream of and even whole brains if you really dare. If there’s a queue, get your nails done or  take a break in a massage chair, while those with kids can drop them off at the restaurant’s very own staffed play area (for free!) and eat in peace. 

Haidilao Hot Pot Central Festival. 11am-3am