Tired and maybe still a bit tipsy from all that beer I was given by the nicest cabin crew on my flight to Bangkok, I arrived at the W Hotel in the midst of a late-night tropical storm. Greeted with smiles at the door, I was taken care of at the check-in desk and in no time I was in my room on the 23rd floor. The curtains were drawn, mood lighting was on and the bed looked very inviting.
I woke up to a sunrise over the city. My first ever look at Bangkok by day, through the panoramic window, was a one to remember. I found my welcome treats on the desk. It was very early, breakfast was 1 hour away, so I spent my morning eating chocolate-covered marshmallows and taking in the view.
location: 106 North Sathorn Road, Silom, Bangkok, 10500, Thailand (Chong Nonsi BTS station)
room type: Spectacular Room
price: from THB 8000 (~AUD295)
The room
Unusually shaped, the triangular room felt very spacious. It took me a while discover all the hidden cupboards and features.
All rooms have their own little tablets on the bedside tables, that allow controlling the air-conditioning and lights. Unfortunately, the big curtains were not motorised (it would be very useful, as they’re quite heavy for manual operating) which meant that I had to leave the comfy bed in the morning to let the natural light in and couldn’t do the one-button-to-open-them-all trick.
The glass desk right by the window was one of my favourite features of the room (the other being the bed – giant cloud, where I slept like a baby). It was big, had a great view and lots of natural light. I found myself happily working on my laptop there, instead of floating in the pool (outrage!). A lot of easily accessible power points were arranged around the desk and bed, which made charging all the electronics an easy task.
There was also enough floor space to have a medium suitcase out and open all the time without bumping into it. A large one would work too.
The bathroom was well designed, with the toilet behind a door and large shower fitted in the corner. The curtain, instead of a wall, separating the bathroom area from the rest of the room was ok for me but I wouldn’t be too keen on it if I was sharing the room with someone else. The translucent coloured glass wall was a cool addition too as it allowed some natural light in the dark bathroom and added colour to it. Ah, and the most important feature – the freestanding bathtub. A perfect remedy for jet lag.
I also couldn’t leave the hotel without taking a tonne of photos with the sequinned muay Thai boxing glove pillows. I guess that’s what they’re for.
The food
It was all about that breakfast at The Kitchen Table for me. It’s served buffet style, with eggs made to order and brought to the table. I think even the pickiest person would find something to eat. There are pastries, breads, cheeses, hams, fruits, veggies, salads, yoghurts, freshly squeezed juices and many Asian options on top of that. Delectable spread.
The Kitchen Table is also the place to go for lunch and dinner. The restaurant serves a wide selection of cuisine types with strong focus on honest flavours combining modern cooking methods, dishes inspired by food from all corners of the world with Thai culinary traditions. If you enjoy spicy curries go for Hot & spicy southern-style yellow curry with coconut milk, crab meat and betel leaf (Gaeng Neua Puu Bai Cha Plu) – you won’t be disappointed.
Woo Bar, right next to the lobby, was much more quiet when I was staying at the hotel, as it was during the mourning period. Normally, featuring famous DJs it’s a place to be and party. I spent a few hours there, taking advantage of the 2-for-1 cocktails promo card I found in my room. The cocktails menu is long and it wasn’t easy to decide. After a lot of thinking, I settled on 2 fun cocktails – one with marshmallows, the other with gummy bears. Complimentary bowls of chips & nuts were also provided.
Right next to the hotel, there’s also a beautifully restored old colonial building – The House on Sathorn. It’s now a place for a high tea in the courtyard, luxury dining and drinks in a sophisticated lounge bar. I didn’t have enough time to try the food offering but it’s on my list for the next Bangkok visit.
W Hotel Bangkok
The giant glittering W set against a dark glass wall sets the mood upon entering the hotel. Further, the interior gets even more playful with its many reflective surfaces, nightclub-like vibe. It instantly confirms that it’s not exactly a typical five-star hotel.
Similar to the room, it takes a while to discover everything in and around the hotel. If in doubt – ask the staff. They all seemed very helpful and spoke good English.
The pool, 24h gym, spa and a WET Deck bar are located on 6th floor. While the gym and bar are quite standard, the pool and the spa are matching the quirky side of the hotel. The pool is eye-shaped and has underwater speakers built-in – interesting sensation when you hear music while swimming or, in my case, floating around.
The AWAY Spa is set on a concept of being a place to escape after a night out and emerge renewed. In the treatment rooms, it features funky pod-shaped beds and the choice of mood lighting is yours (green – calm and peaceful, purple – happiness, red – energy). The rest of the area feels peaceful and luxurious. A tea accompanied by a handful of gummy bears after the massage was a nice touch.
Another aspect worth attention is the art. From the bejewelled lobby wall and lights by the lifts to the humorous depiction of traditional character Hanuman at the entry of the gym. The reception wall is the most impressive of them all. It illustrates a phoenix and tiger engaged in an epic battle and is made of approximately 80,000 crystals. Over 30 artisans were involved in applying each crystal by hand during a total of 17 days.
I also liked the art by the ground floor lifts – Bangkok Nights. Inspired by Thailand’s legendary traffic congestion and street lights, it’s made of 800 different kinds of lights, typically found on tuk-tuks. Just like Bangkok itself, the lights change from day to night.
The verdict
W Hotel Bangkok is a great place for comfort and luxury-loving young people (or young at heart). It doesn’t hold back on the bling, music and overall party mood. On the other hand, the rooms are like a quiet retreat. I couldn’t fault the stay – everything from the room, staff to the food and facilities was on a high level. Not your average five-star hotel for not your average audience.
Disclaimer: I stayed as a hosted guest of the W Hotel Bangkok. That didn’t influence my opinions and they are, as always, honest. This blog post includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a small amount of money if you make a purchase using this link and is at no extra cost to you.
No Comments