The Metropolitan Bangkok

Tucked away down a lane off harried Sathorn Road, The Metropolitan is a haven of upscale tranquility amidst the buzz of Bangkok. The sister to London's coolest city hotel, it's also a place where the cliched East-meets-West approach to hotel design is executed to sublime effect.

Everything from the crisply dressed staff (uniforms by Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto) and the Orient-tinged interiors to the COMO Shambhala toiletries that grace every bathroom is achingly hip. But beyond the boundless style, The Metropolitan has the substance to match: staff radiate energetic enthusiasm, spaces ooze less-is-more sophistication, and the scent of the fragrant toiletries will linger long in the memory.

With interiors by Singaporean designer Kathryn Kng, each of the 171 rooms is bright and modern, drawing in a fresh, seductive mix of East, West and natural touches. The four penthouse suites and 240 square metre Presidential Suite (Mariah Carey counts among famous guests who have stayed here) are cavernous, but what really impresses is the size of the 122 Metropolitan rooms.

Each is between 51 and 54 square metres - the largest standard room size of any Bangkok hotel. The mosaic and limestone bathroom with sunken tub is big enough to swing a few Siamese cats in. Views are pleasingly potent; Sathorn's towering buildings and the green fringes of Lumpini Park remind you that the city, and its unbridled delights, is never far away.

More dazzling than the vistas, are the simple but sophisticated interiors. The plush, traditional opulence often found in luxury hotels make way for stripped down spaces infused with a cool, Zen-like calm.

Dark teak-wood floors and fittings, Oriental furnishings and crisp, contemporary lines define the hotel's signature 'pared down' look, while touches like the earth-toned fabrics of the Egyptian bed linen and overstuffed rectangular pillows warm things up. Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of each room, the king-size bed has a built-to-last quality about it. Hanging above it, original water-lily paintings by Thai artist Natee Utarit gives depth to the room's strikingly-lit interiors.

Whether you're in the powerfully open space of the lobby or the spacious rooms, light is also a feature; by day pouring through windows and into clean-lined spaces to give rooms a satisfying richness and depth, while at night ambient lighting by London-based Isometrix builds in layers to complement the task at hand.

While this deft use of space and light throughout exudes simplicity, in-room facilities are unerringly sophisticated, not to mention functional. Technophiles will marvel at the wireless internet, cordless phone, electronic safe, Bosch radio/CD player, DVD player and interactive TV menu offering on-demand movies and message retrieval. And if the cutting-edge gadgetry and Zen-like calm of the place doesn't relax you, the Yoga mat in the cupboard (or free daily Yoga lesson in the studio downstairs) should help you achieve inner peace.

Fancy meeting facilities on the third floor include three fully-equipped meeting rooms, ideal for any high-flying business presentation or swanky media shindig. A personal meeting butler ensures proceedings go off without fuss.

More delights & charms

Like its sister hotel on London's trendy Park Lane, The Metropolitan's charms stretch far beyond the delights to be had while wallowing in fashionable privacy in your room. Take Cyan, the hotel's 110-seat restaurant.

With its Moorish, seafood-inspired menus by renowned Australian chef Amanda Gale, it's won accolades galore - including Thailand Tatler's Best Restaurant Award 2004 - and become a city destination in its own right. Tuck into toasted coconut waffles with mango, passion fruit and palm syrup for the included buffet breakfast, or indulge in a lingering fish supper by the palm fringed 20-metre pool that flanks it, and you'll discover why.

Follow that with a night-time cocktail at the famous Met Bar, one of the trendiest spots in the world come night. And then there's the 48-seat Glow restaurant serving fresh organic snacks, light meals and juices with a health-giving slant that dovetails perfectly with the holistic COMO Shambhala Spa next to it. With a state-of-the-art gymnasium, yoga studio, 20-metre lap pool, steam rooms and jacuzzi this fragrant retreat provides all the pampering potential you'd expect from a hotel of this caliber.

Whether you are in the tastefully furnished lobby, lying face-down on a treatment table in the spa or with your feet up in your own private space, the same calming, youthful air persists. Sleek serenity would be one way to describe it. A surreal sensation of being in two places at once - the heart of Bangkok's bustling business district and yet in hip seventh heaven - would be another. Whatever that peculiar feeling is, and however it's achieved, a stay at The Metropolitan is something irresistible.

Location: South Sathorn Road, an approximate 10 - 15 minute walk to MRT (underground) station Lumpini.

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Luxx Hotel Bangkok

Bangkok's Smallest Hotel LUXX, one of the smallest hotel in Bangkok introduces a new taste of luxury for its guests. The new home for the young, hip and trendy traveler is bringing design, comfort and experience to a new level. From being a home of one of the owners to a left alone building, a young architect and designer merge a vision to create a premium class accommodation facility to fit the taste of the young, hip and trendy.

Thailand 's Newest Design Hotel

Thailand is strategically located at the heart of Asia and lies as the gateway to Indochina . Bangkok is one of the most modern and developed cities in Southeast Asia and a hub for trendy and chic places. The old Don Muang International Airport is about 30 minutes drive to LUXX and once the new Suvarnabhumi International Airport open this year, travel distance will be reduced to about 15-20 minutes using the Bangna Trad expressway.

The Holistic Concept of Accommodation

Beyond Hotel is a philosophy translated to its features and amenities. It is a 4-storey twin hotel building composed of a mezzanine floor and 13 individually designed rooms and suites. Each room is built on a studio concept and features a heavenly bed space, cable TV with hot and cold shower. Suites are perfectly structured into one-bedroom set-up with LCD TV, personalized DVD player, coffee and tea making facilities, minimalist pantry and private views overlooking the newly created courtyard that reflects the spirit of calmness and zen. The wireless wi-fi internet access offers in the rooms and the lobby totally free of charge.

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The Davis Hotel Bangkok

Being billed as Bangkok's first boutique hotel is no easy reputation to live up to. For starters, The Davis Hotel Bangkok is much bigger in terms of the number of rooms one would expect from a typical boutique hotel (237 guestrooms and ten Thai villas). When it opened in July 2003, it set new style parameters, and it wasn't long before others followed suit. Yet, four years on, and with new boutique contenders emerging fast and furious on the Bangkok hotel scene, The Davis still exemplifies the very essence of what a boutique hotel is all about - a unique hospitality experience that has, well, that little something extra which only the French have a word for: "panache".

Down Sukhumvit Road Soi 24, the imposing European-style curved Corner Wing is the first sign that you've arrived somewhere that's decidedly different. Two mythical Asian lions cast in concrete silently hold guard on either side of the entrance, while an antique Victorian street clock on a decorative cast-iron pole is juxtaposed to one side on the neatly brick-paved surface.

Tucked in next to the Corner Wing is Camp Davis, a two-storey retail complex, and passing that brings you to the Main Wing with its chic, clinical-looking contemporary lobby. You've arrived at a 'different experience'. So different, in fact, that you can change rooms for 60 consecutive nights without encountering the same interior twice.

A gripe some people would have with its location is that it's a good 15-minute hike to Sukhumvit Road where the popular Emporium mall and Phrom Phong Skytrain (BTS) station can be found. The hotel does offer a complimentary tuk-tuk shuttle service, but with only six seats and a limiting schedule on the half-hour, it's best to book your seat(s) with the concierge desk in advance.

On the upside, taxis are plentiful and cheap, and this 'soi' (street) off Sukhumvit has a life all of its own - far removed from the traffic-clogged main road with its pavement vendors, tourist touts and customary tailor shops. Besides, this is the type of hotel selected for its very special flair.

Inside Camp Davis are several restaurants (Thai and international), a Starbucks, a dental clinic, nail spa and beauty salon, ice cream shop and a few gift shops. The immediate vicinity has even more offerings: a number of authentic local eating experiences, a few massage shops (not of the happy-ending genre), a spa, a modern Tops supermarket, more coffee shops, a DVD hire outlet, pet shop, some boutique shops, an Internet shop, laundry and even a chocolatier - all adding to a charming neighbourhood feel.

Back at the hotel, there's even more to explore beyond Camp Davis, and the adjoining Corner and Main Wings, which are seven and nine storeys, respectively. At the back of the hotel lies the 'pi-ce de r-sistance', ten exquisite two- and three-bedroom Thai villas set in an idyllic garden, and ranging in size from 164 to 250 square metres.

With meticulous attention to comfort and design detail to keep the style authentic, the villas present an unprecedented level of luxury. Textured wooden walls, sumptuous silk touches and elegant furniture are off-set against the graceful arc of the ceiling, creating a wonderfully soothing space to sleep, eat, dream, relax and live.

Perfectly complementing the exquisite interiors are hi-tech trimmings like a data port for broadband Internet connectivity, a fax line, satellite (flat screen) TV, DVD/CD player, a fully-equipped kitchenette, and a bathroom with separate shower and tub where you'd want to spend much more time in than usual.

The same design and comfort philosophy is extended through all rooms and suits of the Corner and Luxury Wings, with a style and configuration that suits every taste. In the Main Wing, choices include Superior, Design and Deluxe Rooms (all 42 square metres, the 'differentiator' being the interior style), as well as one-bedroom Junior, Davis and Deluxe Suites (80 square metres and, again, decked out in different interiors) with separate lounge area and fully-equipped kitchenettes.

Executive Suites have two bedrooms in a spacious 130-square metre space. The Davis Suite here comes highly recommended with its four-poster bed, lots of dark woodwork in the lounge area, and beautifully decorated with ornamental Thai arts and crafts - yet oozing a contemporary mood. The A-shape ceiling creates a particularly unusual but pleasant feeling of added space.

The Studio Room in the Corner Wing (33 square metres) has what would be for some a very 'sexy' feature. A large window provides a full-on view either into the bathroom or from, but a curtain can be drawn for those who prefer bathroom privacy. The Premier Room offers a roomier option at 55 square metres, and weighing in even bigger are The Diplomat and Emperor Suites (both 100 square metres), and the Ambassador Suite (110 square metres). All the suites have Jacuzzis.

In-room features throughout are the same as that found in the villas (except the additional add-ons mentioned previously), but the varying interior styles of the different accommodations defy clear definition. It's distinctly Thai, but also modern. It's warm and cosy, yet also positively 'cool'.

The outdoor rooftop pool on the ninth floor of the Main Wing is not particularly big, with only a limiting number of deck chairs around. Claim yours early enough if lounging around the pool is on the agenda. The rooftop is a wonderfully relaxing area though, with lots of greenery, good views, a Pool Bar, and also where you'll find the well-equipped Spa & Fitness Centre.

There's a separate outdoor pool for use of guests staying at the villas, but note that guests staying in the Corner Wing have to walk the few minutes or so between that and the Main Wing, passing Camp Davis.

The Davis Hotel Bangkok is, understandably, very popular with business travellers. Rooms and suites are perfectly equipped for their needs, and the second floor Business Centre has all the facilities conducive to clinching that important business deal: impressive meeting rooms, wireless Internet, secretarial support, fax, photocopy and courier services. There's also wireless Internet in all lobby areas (not free though).

Guests should never have to leave the hotel to eat or be amused, and Gallery Cafe and Club 88 make sure of that. A delectable (and very affordable) continental and Asian buffet spread is a tempting option at Gallery Caf- for lunch or dinner, while an equally impressive breakfast buffet is laid on. Club 88 is a lively nighttime bar venue with Filipino entertainers crooning, shaking and tapping to the tunes of hits from the 80's and 90's - and the odd guest joining in the fun at times.

S15 Sukhumvit Hotel

From outside, it's easy to mistake S15 Sukhumvit Hotel for an upmarket interior store. Its name and the exterior signage are as subtle as it is inconspicuous, while large window panes offer glimpses of a suave-looking lobby that could easily be perceived as a showroom of the latest decor trends. Step inside, and you're welcomed to an intimate and 'good taste' hospitality experience.

The hotel's name is derived from its location on the corner of Sukhumvit Road's Soi 15. If you didn't know, this puts you in the heart of it all. Steps away are where the Skytrain and underground meet (BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit stations, respectively), and among established neighbours count several top city hotels. Nightlife, shopping malls, department stores, entertainment, and a multiple restaurant choices are all on its doorstep too - giving S15 a location that's not just convenient, but downright desirable.

To describe the decor throughout - from public areas to rooms and suites - is to make an inspired definition of all things considered hip and cool in designer circles. Chocolate and hazelnut browns contrasted against muted earth tones of light-coloured granite and marble, glass, mirror and reflective sheet metal. Natural materials like leather and a host of warm fabrics interplay with Italian light fittings, abundantly used to create dramatic visual imagery to savour. Like the sculptures that feature so prominently (one even in every room), which the owner also sourced from foreign soil.

The massive outsized black-and-white photographic images of moments and places uniquely Thai are his own work though, offset in heavy dark wooden frames. If this 'definition' doesn't say it, think stylish, chic and simply sensational - the kind of interiors people take photographs of to recreate. I guess it helps to also own one of Thailand's leading interior chains. What is evident is that S15 is a work of passion; the culmination of extraordinary taste, design vision and years of experience in the industry.

At the risk of sounding biased (and too bowled over by the fabulous interior), this is probably a good time to mention that S15 doesn't have a pool. Nope. But that's more or less the only negative. As expected, hi-tech trimmings echoes the contemporary design credo. Free Wi-Fi Internet throughout the hotel. Massive plasma television screens in every room. DVD machines and iPod docking stations (the latter in S15 Suites only). A well-equipped Business Centre.

A spa sanctuary and fitness facilities up on the seventh floor. Mezzanine Caf- on the second level serves a variety of local and international cuisine, doubling up as a coffee shop between meal times. A beverage service is offered in the Lobby Lounge. Except for making a splash, every need or whim is pretty much catered for. Friendly and attentive service perfectly complements the tangible offerings.

Thankfully, the days of hotel rooms being merely functional square boxes are long gone. In recognising this, the rooms and suites at S15 have been designed with a totally out-of-the-box philosophy, offering interesting shapes, sizes and configurations that have resulted in living spaces with conveniences and little treats that are a pleasure to spend time in - echoing the hotel's design style, features and fittings.

There are 72 rooms in the seven-storey building (40 S15 Deluxe Rooms, 23 S15 Junior Suites, and nine S15 Suites) that range in size from 30 square metres to a roomy 50 square metres. Bathrooms are luxurious marble-cladded enclaves with bathtubs and separate rain showers, beds covered with sumptuous linen, feather down duvets and a choice of pillows.

All the other expected little extras are there too: electronic safes, tea- and coffee-making facilities, ample wardrobe space, well-stocked minibar, IDD phone with voicemail and the like.

The real pleasure lies in the knowledge that the hustle and bustle of Sukhumvit Road is right outside the thick drapes and dark-stained shutters - yet, inside, this stylish sanctuary of good taste is a serene and quiet space to linger and relax. The S15 Deluxe Rooms are available in twin bed or king-size options, while Junior Suites impress with the innovative use of space.

The real star of the repertoire though is the S15 Suites, featuring a contemporary take on the four-poster bed, with its dark wood forming a stark contrast against crisp white linen, as well as a comfortable lounge and study area with a desk that runs the entire length of one wall.

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Novotel Siam Square Bangkok

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If the purpose of your stay in the Thai capital is for business, an indulging shopping spree or to be close to the nightlife action - Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square passes these criteria with flying colours. Perfectly situated in the heart of Siam this superior four-star hotel is just a stone's throw away from the Siam Square Skytrain (BTS) station, in close proximity to an underground (MRT) station, and surrounded by Bangkok's prime shopping, entertainment and commercial districts.

Practically in the shade of Bangkok's most famous and monstrous malls - the likes of Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, Siam Centre and MBK - Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square has bundled together a hospitality package that includes fantastic dining options, a hip nightclub, first-class business services at the BIZ Centre, a beauty and Day Spa (Tammachart), fitness facilities and a great outdoor pool - and these are just some of the highlights.

At The Square, with its funky interior and novel theme, an extensive buffet with interactive dining options is offered. The exquisitely designed and award-winning Chinese restaurant, Lok Wah Hin, serves up a delectable selection of Shangainese, Cantonese and Czechuan cuisine, while Focazzia is home to Italian and Thai favourites in a fun atmosphere.

La Brioche the Deli offers French pastries and savoury delights, and in the Pastel Lobby Lounge a wide range of cocktails can be enjoyed together with live music in the evenings. Concept CM2 is a snazzy nightclub favoured by both trendy guests and locals, featuring some of the world's best guest DJ 'imports' from time to time. On some nights, live bands grace the stage, or nurture your own rising star aspirations at the karaoke venue, Sensations.

Rooms are compact, but comfortable and very cleverly designed to assure functionality and to make the most of the available space (which is pretty average by city standards). The slide-open work desk is a particularly nifty feature - there when you need it, and out of the way when you don't.

All 429 superior, deluxe and suite rooms are newly renovated and come with satellite television, ultra high-speed wireless Internet access (also available throughout the hotel) and all the normal trimmings. The contemporary d-cor style of the rooms and throughout the hotel can best be described as 'a modern take on city living', with an emphasis on soothing colours and textures to add to the cosy ambiance.

The single button telephone enquiry service - whether it is room service or restaurant reservations one requires - makes the days of finding the right extension seem like a very distant memory. The serene, peacefulness of the room forms a stark contrast to the bustling Siam Square culture so closeby - but yet, a world far removed too...

The same quality finishes throughout the room - from the bed linen to furnishings and wall cladding - are reflected in the luxurious bathroom too, which is crisp, clinical and, again, with an emphasis on supreme functionality.

The comforts, luxuries and room amenities aside, what stands out is the overall 'pleasure package' offered to guests. The well-known restaurants are not just there because guests need to eat. They offer a fascinating array of flavours to feast on from across the globe. Concept CM2 is not just a club to give guests an outlet to party it up. It is in fact one of the capital's top nightlife venues.

And the same goes for the BIZ Centre, Tammachart and the hotel's conference and banqueting facilities - all offering venues and value-for-money that are renowned and as popular with locals too.

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Shanghai Mansion Bangkok

To grasp just how romantic and ravishing Shanghai Inn's interiors really are, picture a scene from a classic Chinese Opera or one of those fantasy martial arts films of recent years. Then, close your eyes and imagine you've stumbled onto the set. No chorus of chanting concubines or wall scaling movie stars await your arrival at this friendly boutique hotel, but in terms of d-cor, what unfurls here is a comparable visual extravaganza.

Open since April 2006, it evokes all the drama and opulence of the Orient: palatial passages are hung with red lanterns, rooms are of such intricacy and bold colour they could trigger sensory-overload, and furnishings at every turn evoke Imperial China. In addition, a list of amenities that includes free wireless Internet ensures those craving stylized and stimulating over unparalleled luxury will feel quite the modern Emperor or Empress.

But, when it comes to hotels, interiors only ever tell half the tale. Fortunately, Shanghai Inn's location on Yaowarat Road - in the heart of atmospheric Chinatown - means those with a penchant for things Far Eastern will find it as well placed as it is well ornamented. From the street vendors selling roasted chestnuts or Buddhist charms, to the satisfaction that shines in the faces of those sat hunched over bowls of Bird's Nest Soup, this is an endlessly fascinating enclave. One that with gold shops, shrines, herbalists and a history as old as the city itself, is even more colourful than Shanghai Inn's rooms.

Not being near a BTS Skytrain station is a disadvantage, but a complimentary tuk-tuk regularly departs for Hua Lamphong train station, Silom and Patpong, Erawan Shrine and the main shopping centres. And the Old City or Rattanakosin - where anyone who favours Bangkok's culture over its commerce will spend most of their time - is only a few blocks away.

Ascend the escalator into the lobby, and the hustle of modern day Chinatown is traded for flavours of Old Shanghai. The first thing you see is a balcony overlooking a central atrium teeming with decorative parasols, each one dangling from the ceiling as if magically floating midair. Its theatrical and playful and a hint of what's to come. To one side is the reception area with walnut furniture and statues of laughing Buddhist monk Hotei; to the other is the quaint traditional teahouse where breakfast is served (includes cereal, cooked breakfast, juices, tea, coffee and fruit). There is no restaurant, but who needs one with Chinatown on your doorstep!. Beyond, long lantern-lit corridors are reminiscent of a Qing dynasty palace where royal scandals play out, leading guests in fitting style to the sumptuous rooms.

Each and every one is a wonder to behold and explore, a feast for the senses: mock-antique Chinese furniture and lamps, plush drapes and silk cushions contrast with soft pastel walls and faux-silk wallpaper depicting scenes from court life. Lanterns droop elegantly from ceilings, while exotic plants and flowers rise majestically out of vases. Rather than a uniform colour scheme, each has its own distinctive tone - think vibrant pinks, reds and blues. Reserve one of the four Junior Suites with their own spacious living area, daybed and tea table set (37 square) and you have the privilege of a balcony and windows looking out across Chinatown.

You may go to sleep and wake up to the sound of mercantile commotion, but for many the views will be worth it. The 51 Superior Rooms (25 square metres), in contrast, are intimate - cosy, less bright and with much smaller bathrooms. They are, however, no less ravishing to the eye. Nor are they deprived of the highlight - a mock-antique four-poster wood bed that, despite being ornate and delicate, is very comfortable - or wood framed mirrors, shower, raised sink, antique towel rails, cupboards and a kitschy birdcage that looks like a prop lifted straight out of Fu Manchu. The overall effect is dream-like and likely to inspire flights of fancy.

No kowtowing servants are on hand to answer your every beck and call, but Shanghai Inn's helpful receptionists and modern amenities ensure you never feel shunned. Slip into the Chinese slippers and dressing gown, or enjoy the satellite TV, fridge, mini-bar, and Chinese tea set with kettle. There's an electronic safe and hairdryer but most impressive of all trappings is the complimentary wireless Internet in every room - a feature that still eludes the quarters of most five-star hotels.

There is also a small reading area with library and Internet facilities for those without laptops. And, when feeling hurried or harried by Chinatown's relentless pace, the Yin-Yang Spa - with 22 beds for body massages and 30 seats for foot massages - is the perfect tonic. Nestled on the third floor, its simple, unassuming facade is belied by an extravagant menu of relieving and rejuvenating treatments. Try the 'Yin-Yang Foot Massage', a Chinese treatment in which fresh ginger is smeared liberally over legs, or the abundantly sensuous but modestly priced two-hour traditional body massage with herbal compresses. Ask at the spa reception for special packages and prices for hotel guests.

With all this - an endlessly inspiring location, bags of character and an unrelentingly lavish style - not much can be levelled against Shanghai Inn for the price. Just be prepared, when you put your clothes on in the morning, to feel a little underdressed.

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