Newly opened in Spring 2019, the Rosewood Bangkok is a stylish oasis in a prime location of the bustling Ploenchit district.
Surrounded by hotels, a park, and luxury shopping malls, it stands thirty floors above the ground in a fitting design that pays homage to the wai, the traditional Thai greeting.
The hotel seems to pull in its guests though a guarded entrance where you are invited to take a lift up to the 12th floor. I found myself in the reception area, greeted in typical Thai fashion as I checked in. There are 159 accommodations at the Rosewood Bangkok, with just 12 rooms per floor. In addition, there are four restaurants and bars including a speakeasy designed by AvroKO.
Every element of the contemporary hotel reflects the striking design of the bold architecture and the Rosewood brand. From the moment you step in there’s a sense of being in a cultural oasis. Though I practically walked in from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, the clean space and high ceilings of the hotel provided an almost zen-like atmosphere which oozed luxury. It was a welcome retreat from the energetic buzz of the City.
Anyone who knows me and my tastes knows that my drink of choice while on holiday is a Negroni, and back at home in London, my go-to drink is Old Fashioned.
I don’t know if this was pure coincidence, but when I walked into my room, I was drawn to the drinks sitting pretty on the shelf. To my great surprise both of my favourite pre-mixed drinks were bottled and prepared for my arrival…talk about ‘home-from-home’! If it was a coincidence, maybe that’s the magic of making the ordinary into something extraordinary. I guess I’ll never and probably wouldn’t want to know, but I’m happy to believe they were mixed and placed there just for me.
The room itself is designed to feel more like an apartment. There is a plush sitting area and floor-to-ceiling windows, and high end touches including Frette linen, robes and slippers, monogrammed items, and a Dyson hairdryer.
Everything is high tech and state of the art —from the blinds, the shower, mood lighting. It seemed as if all you needed could be controlled by the touch of a button.
As with the rest of the hotel, there was great attention to every detail. Even my phone charger lead which I had left in the wall was rolled up in a velcro strap complete with the Rosewood Bangkok logo.
As you might expect from Thailand, the staff at the Rosewood are more than hospitable. Service was always with a smile and no request was too much trouble.
I particularly enjoyed all of the areas within the hotel, from the gym and spa to the bars and coffee shops.
Breakfast was served at Lakorn, an all-day brasserie with some of the best pastries I have ever tasted. You can help yourself to your choice of baguettes, pastries, croissants and fruit bowls from the bread table, while ordering your choice of cooked breakfast a-la-carte.
Perhaps not surprisingly, my absolute favourite spot was the top floor speakeasy bar, Lennon’s. Only open in the evening, you go up to the top floor in a lift to find yourself in what seems like a vintage record shop decked with vinyls.
You have to walk through the hidden doors which reveal the luxurious bar revealing stunning panoramic views of Bangkok by night. Here, cocktails are named after iconic songs, served with quirky snacks such as chocolate popcorn. If that wasn’t enough, you just have to take the small spiral staircase up to the humidor for your choice of Cuban cigar.
There are plenty of opportunities to worship the ‘temple of the body’ at the Rosewood Bangkok. I was able to make some good use of the state-of-the-art gym in between sightseeing and business meetings.
A gorgeous multi-storey waterfall leads to the infinity pool which is large enough to do laps, or you can just relax on the jacuzzi end when you want some time out.
For some real rest and relaxation, the Sense Spa is a must visit. Taking up the entire sixth floor, it offers a heady mix of traditional Thai therapies with a choice of European products.
All in all, the Rosewood Bangkok is an incredibly designed hotel, from the immaculate lobby, the retro rooftop bar, and infinity pool overlooking the city scape.
With great attention to every minute detail, and service with a smile, I would say it was one of the most impressive hotels I’ve had the pleasure to stay in.
Review by Kalpesh Patel, Asian Wealth Publisher
rosewoodhotels.com