137 Pillars Suites and Residences, Bangkok
Located in the fashionable Thonglor district, this exclusive hideaway has 34 spacious suites. The striking rooftop infinity pool might form the backdrop for the money shot at 137 Pillar Suites and Residences, but it’s the Jack Bain’s Bar at the suite-only property that bids one to linger, what with top-shelf whiskies, an extensive collection of coveted Old World wines, and a flight of cigars from Cuba and Honduras. Butler service, private wine cellars, and generous balconies go beyond the checklist of what we’ve come to expect from a five-star offering. Plus, access to a fast-track immigration track at the airport means you’ll arrive in the heart of Bangkok even before other travellers flying Business – certainly gives one reason to keep the tab running at this boutique hotel.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
With a history stretching back to 1876, the grande dame of luxury hotels in Bangkok has long staked its claim along the Chao Phraya River. Writer John le Carré wrote The Honourable Schoolboy during his stay at the hotel, Joseph Conrad made frequent appearances at the bar, while actor Marlon Brando found repreive in its elegantly-appointed suites. Today, the 12 suites in the refurbished Garden Wing are some of the finest in the city, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and a contemporary décor touched with Thai silk. The Bamboo Bar continues play host to some of the best jazz performances in the city while gourmands do best to book ahead for a table at the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred French restaurant Le Normandie.
Park Hyatt Bangkok
A good view is essential to a luxurious acomodation, and all 222 guestrooms and 32 suites here enjoy unobstructed views of the city. The Park Hyatt Bangkok looks down on the moneyed streets of Phloen Chit, occupying the ninth to 35th floors of Central Embassy Mall. Inside the hotel, New York and Toronto-based firm Yabu Pushelburg have chosen to keep the palette soft and neutral. Coupled with custom-made furnishings, natural stone, and soaring ceilings in the lobby and dining areas, guests find themselves cocooned in luxury that whispers, not shouts. The Penthouse Bar & Grill, occupying the top three floors of the building, is where titans of industry brush shoulders with the local high society crowd over pedigreed steaks and elaborate cocktails.
The Peninsula Bangkok
The experience starts even before you step foot in the hotel. A luxury airport transfer, as defined by The Peninsula Bangkok, takes the form of a vintage Rolls-Royce or helicopter service that bypasses Bangkok’s notorious traffic, dropping you right at the helipad atop the 37-storey building. It’s a grand beginning, setting the tone for more superlative experiences to come. Take for example the duplex suites boasting private terraces and outdoor jacuzzis, offering commanding views of the legendary Chao Phraya River snaking through Bangkok. Then there’s the Thai-inflected afternoon tea, placing classic scones alongside pastries and sweets made from seasonal South-East Asian ingredients.
Waldorf Astoria, Bangkok
The Waldorf Astoria is finally in South-East Asia, and Bangkok is its city of choice. Located in the THB11 billion Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard, it was designed by famed Hong Kong architect Andre Fu. Departing from the Waldorf’s proclivity for gilded opulence, Fu has given the Bangkok property a decidedly more contemporary treatment, sliding in the occasional Thai accent to lend the 171-room-and-suite property a sense of place. Take for example the Front Room, an 80-seater restaurant serving Thai-inspired Nordic cuisine, which will see diners gathering under a cascading installation of 100 glass lanterns suspended from a double-height ceiling, a feature inspired by the Loi Krathong lantern festival.
This story was first published on The Peak.