Chiang Mai Wine & Chocolate
Chiang Mai Wine & Chocolate is heaven to the hedonist. This particular wine shop suggests an indulgent mix of imported Belgium chocolate with white or red wines; for example, dark chocolate with Nibiolo red wine from Italy or Fan Filet chocolate with French white wine. A selection of cheeses is also available to complement the flavours of individual wines. Chiang Mai Wine & Chocolate is careful to control the quality of wine by laying bottles in exactly the right position on a teakwood shelf. The price of wines varies from approximately 350 - 950 baht. Right now there is a special promotion for you, "Set by Glass", offering white or red wine with either chocolate, or French bread and cheese, only 129 baht.
Open daily: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Tel.: 053-999-616, 086-730-4448
Address: "Star Dome Golf and Sports Club", 2nd floor of training golf club Pimantip, the entrance of AIA.

The Dark
Night clubs get going after most of the bars have closed. Like every other disco in town: claustrophobic, sweltering hot and full of girls and boys out on the pull. If the whisky and fag smoke doesn't cut it, they offer shisha pipes stacked with fruity tobaccos. Downstairs, and at the back of the club, are two more clubs - as if one wasn't enough - so if you're disenchanted with The Dark it's not very difficult changing the scene. It seems like this whole complex is fast becoming the club scene hot spot, nevertheless, as with everywhere else, the music is geared to Thai tastes: non-entity techno. Downstairs in Mandalay you can appreciate a bunch of mad lady boys on speed do renditions of 'I will survive' and take the piss out of foreigners. The Dark is much better.
3rd floor Mandalay Bar, Moon Muang Road
Tel. 053-208395-8

Dharavhadi Medical Clinic
If you are looking for a new look or a gorgeous body (without surgery or pain!), Dharavhadi Medical Clinic is the perfect answer. Dharavhadi is a brand new beauty clinic using the latest technology, located in the popular area of Nimmanhaemin Road with luxurious but comfortable décor and a friendly atmosphere. It offers solutions to a variety of face, skin and cellulite problems, using the advanced Dermaplus system from Italy. This is a new way of delivering medication to the derma level, in order to penetrate deeper and wider than injections, but it is not at all painful and 99% free from side effects. Dharavhadi also offers IPL Plus (Nova Max), Carboxy Therapy, Thermafirm systems and more. For July, 30 % discounts for all clients. Open daily: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. For reservations, call: 053-894555, 085-7096666.
Opposite Mike's Burger, Soi 1 Nimmanhaemin Road

Tabeya (Ya Tai)
Tabeya is a new choice for Japanese food lovers or anyone who prefers healthy dining. Situated on Soi 11 off Sirimankalajarn Road, this trendy restaurant is furnished with textured wooden chairs and tables, decorative Japanese symbols and other contemporary design elements. There are about 15 tables spread between the indoor and outdoor sections of the restaurant. Special recommendations include fresh fish and seafood prepared in original Japanese style to create authentic flavours. Every week, Tabeya's professional chef comes up with a variety of delicious new seafood dishes for you to try. The restaurant also has a special sushi cook from the USA and the most popular menu item is Tsukidashi (Tabeya hors d'oeuvres). Specialty drinks include Italian soda (mocktail), home made coffee from Doi Chai (coffee beans available for purchase). Wireless internet service is provided both indoors and out. Open daily: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. for food and 2-4 p.m. for drinks only, except Sundays.
2BR Office Centre, Sirimankalajarn Rd. Soi 11
Tel. 053-221484

Cote Jardin Café et Restaurant
Very stylish French restaurant where mouthwateringly delicious home-style French treats are served at prices that even Citylife Deputy Editors can afford. Rather than a sprawling menu to complicate things all dishes are chalked onto a board and change daily: fresh, fresh, fresh! Goat's cheese and bacon salad, chef's home made pate, venison stew, lamb cous cous, duck confit and salmon steak are just some of the specials that may appear on the daily menu. The ambience at Cote Jardin is totally chilled, with dim lighting, great background music and a smart colour scheme. This is a place to eat para-standard fare in a very romantic setting or just sip a few cocktails at the bar without paying through the nose. The staff is friendly, as is the owner and the chef, who will talk you through the menu, translate the names of the dishes and make sure you have a night to remember. Dishes hover around the 200-350 baht range.
15/1 Ratchamanka Rd., Soi 2 - Walk down the Soi behind Cosy Corner on Moon Muang (Cote Jardin was closed throughout June but they promise to be open by July, so best to call to confirm)
Tel: 086 273 8675 (French), 081 088 9418 (Thai)

Kao Soi Lamduon
The second branch of this excellent restaurant, Kao Soi Lamduon on the Super Highway has moved to an elegant new Lanna style venue next to its previous location. Made according to Khun Lamduon's secret recipe, this flavourful, spicy kao soy (a Northern Thai curry with egg noodles and crispy noodles served with chicken, pork or beef) is fit for royalty (quite literally - Khun Lamduon has been invited to cook this Northern specialty for the Royal Family on numerous occasions!) As the name suggests, kao soy is the main focus here, but a number of other traditional Thai dishes are also available, including satay, noodle soup, Northern sausage and - for the more adventurous - spicy blood soup with noodles. Drinks include Thai iced tea and coffee, rosella juice, tamarind juice, lemongrass tea and Singha and Heineken beers. The downstairs area is open to walk-in customers, but advance booking is required for the upstairs section. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily but closed on the last weekend of every month.
Superhighway Rd. before Kuang Singh Intersection
Tel. 053-212798
E-mail: kaosoilamduon@yahoo.com


Sukantara Cascade Resort and Chiida Spa
From the sound of rushing water that greets you until the time you return along the lemongrass scented garden path, Sukantara Cascade Resort is a journey of sensual indulgence in all its forms. Set into the slopes of a lush jungle valley divided by a spectacular waterfall, the boutique resort offers a range of luxury accommodation in an unsurpassable natural location. Just an hour from the city in the green folds of the Suthep-Pui mountain range, Sukantara provides a choice of four different lodging options: deluxe Lanna cottages, twin Lanna cottages, suite pool villas and luxury camps. And Sukantara's charms don't end just at its scenic sleeping quarters - the resort has a private spa that blends ancient Thai Lanna and Indian Ayurvedic philosophy to create a unique signature menu of irresistible treatments.
As our last issue has a wrong picture, we apologise for our mistake.
12/2 M.8 T. Mae Ram, A. Mae Rim
Tel: 081 881 1444, 089 920 6517
www.sukantara.com
Chiida Spa open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Rimping Village
The latest boutique hotel to hit Chiang Mai, Rimping Village has a contemporary Lanna style design with 24 rooms equipped with all the mod-cons. Enjoy an atmosphere of relaxation that is part and parcel of the Northern tradition. A cool, refreshing swimming pool is placed below a huge banyan tree so that guests can absorb the mood of nature while finding relief from the tropical heat. The hotel provides a selection of rooms to cater for a range of visitors, including family suite, Rimping deluxe, deluxe, and superior rooms. The restaurant offers a delicious array of Thai and foreign food.
Also, you can find a plethora of excellent restaurants and hip pubs along the Ping River for dinner or drinks, while the Night Bazaar is also situated near the hotel and offers great shopping. To celebrate its opening this July, Rimping Village will offer special rates to all its customers.
13/1 Soi 2 Chiang Mai- Lamphun Rd
053-243915-6, E-mail: info@rimpingvillage.com and www.rimpingvillage.com