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 SOFITEL CENTARA GRAND |
Chatuchak BANGKOK |
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For those not wishing to stay inner city, Bangkok’s Sofitel Central Plaza Hotel is a perfect location. |
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A short 15 minutes to the airport, almost across the street from the vast weekend Chatuchak flea market, and directly linked to a huge shopping market and Central department store, this place is convenient. As of August, you can catch the new subway from here, as well. Not only that, the hotel holds Bangkok’s record for the most expat chefs, each presiding over their own signature restaurants. We especially loved the antics of chef Alberto Bruni, who presides over arguably the city’s best Italian eatery, Don Giovani, or Gio’s for short. The hotels’ executive chef Vittorio Bertini harks from the same village in Liguria, although they didn’t really know each other until they met in Asia. Chef Bertini gives Alberto rare praise indeed, when he boasts, “If you awarded stars to Giovanni’s, you would need to give it 5 stars plus." At the hotel restaurant’s Vietnamese eatery, the chef trained in Hanoi at the famed Metropole hotel under Didier Corlou.Dynasty’s chef harks from Hong Kong, and on our last vistit he excelled in "flower clams" or geoduck at this always-full-for-lunch restaurant. The “neck” is sliced paper thin into ribbons, then steamed bunched like a flower, and accompanied with a soy and wine dipping sauce. But best of all, the hotel restaurants here really attract the locals, instead of farang tourists. |
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www.accorhotels-asia.com/3432 |
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rave: july 2007 |
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| THE TIVOLI |
Sathorn BANGKOK |
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We couldn’t say no to free nights in Bangkok, so headed to the newly opened Tivoli in the city’s embassy area. A clean, modern property with friendly staff, its wide flat screen televisions make Siam@Siam miserly; likewise the swipe cards. But breakfast was indifferent, and we were up from bed constantly turning off and on the overpowering airconditioning. Here, a remote control would have worked well (which likewise lacks in Siam@Siam). Its location is in a labyrinth of back streets, and even local drivers get confused. But it's value for money – we see internet rates at just 2000 per night. Also within 10 minutes’ walking distance of Suan Lum night market. |
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www.thetivolihotelbangkok.com |
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rave: july 2008 |
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| SIAM @ SIAM |
Patumwan BANGKOK |
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With over a 96% occupancy since its mid ’07 opening, Bangkok’s Siam @Siam obviously is doing something right. This design-hotel demonstrates a demand away from the homogenous beige motifs so prevalent elsewhere. The lobby hosted a vintage Nissan Figaro when we last stayed, and its naked concrete and burnt russet/orange is a throwback to the 70s. But cutting edge it ain’t. Inconvenient swipe cards instead of newer touch cards are the norm – quite a nuisance in the lift – and room televisions are the square analog boxes phased out elsewhere. The hotel insultingly charges for ice to complement its expensive mini bar sales, and no choice of pillow comfort. On the plus side, the sheets were high count cotton percale. The room service menu is uninspiring – and a hamburger we ordered had absolutely no taste. Zero, zilch, nada. Worse, reservations needs to get its house in order, as we suffered the ignominy of no response after repeated emails and faxes. On the plus side, free internet. Location is uber central, near the National Stadium Skytrain, and great shopping. |
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www.siamatsiam.com |
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rave: july 2008 |
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| THE ORIENTAL |
BANGKOK |
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Bangkok's Oriental regularly tops the charts as the world's finest hotel. Consequently, we often schedule the Oriental river cruise dinner for our gala farewell to food tour guests. Credit for the hotel's 5-star plus reputation goes to Kurt Wachtveitl, the German-born general manager there. He just celebrated his 40th anniversary at the hotel, along with guest relations veteran Ankana Kalantananda, who has herself been at the hotel for 60 years. These are certainly records in an industry beset with staff turnover. Wachtveitl began his career at The Oriental at the tender age of 30, and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award from his peers in '06.
“The inhabitants of great hotels are the most pampered creatures on earth," says Wachtveitl. "As a hotel manager you have no choice but to develop your staff. I am lucky that Thais have great potential for the hospitality industry because of their warmth and caring attitude. We are all looking forward to the future and to many productive years ahead.”
But Wachtveitl's taste for "developing staff" recently soured, when he accused rival lebua hotel (sic -- it's always spelled lower case) with poaching his best employees, as well as teams from other esteemed Bangkok hotels. Seems he was piqued over loosing many favored workers, only to have them slink back to their former employer months later, caps in hand, begging for their old jobs back. Front page headlines hit the Bangkok Post on our last day there, when lebua shot back with a defamation suit. But the lebua antics are likely to backfire: with people asking 1) why it has such high staff turnover rates, and 2) the source of lebua's seemingly unlimited budget. |
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www.mandarinoriental.com |
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rave: july 2008 |
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| NOVOTEL SUVANABHUMI |
Airport BANGKOK |
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We finally had a chance to stay at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport hotel, The Novotel, during our stay last month. While there's still no direct walking passageway between the airport and terminal, who needs it, with punctual van service every 5 minutes. The hotel is lush, boasts good restaurants -- the Thai chef has won international awards! -- and beds ultra spacious. Can't figure out the huge picture window exposing bedroom and bathroom, though. We originally thought the hotel was only for early morning depatures, but had so much fun here, we'll arrive early next time. |
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www.novotel.com |
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rave: may 2007 |
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| ARUN RESIDENCE |
Rattanakosin Island BANGKOK |
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We're reluctant to divulge a favored retreat -- especially when the property has only 4 rooms, and actually only one suitable for our purposes. Yet we can't rave enough about Bangkok's Arun Residence. There, at the end of a small soi off Maharat Rd, sits this small boutique property, transformed into a few small, simple rooms. Inexplicably, the stairway hosts some of the best views of the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun directly facing. But at the top of level three sits our favorite, with a huge balcony overlooking both river and temple. We basked here over four days, but haven't been able to find a vacancy ever since. The in-house Deck by the River restaurant is also excellent -- and a quiet balcony reprieve from the hustle bustle of Bangkok. |
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www.arunresidence.com |
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rave: may 2007 |
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| S15 |
Sukhumvit BANGKOK |
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S15 is a trendy new Bangkok hostelry on busy shopping street Sukhumvit. Great location, and small rooms decorated in modern minimalism. We loved the free internet, but everything else left us cold, and we moved out after only one day. Why? If you advertise yourself as 4 and 5 star, and charge accordingly, the stay should be exceptional. It wasn't. |
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www.s15hotel.com |
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rave: Dec 2008 |
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| LE LEBUA |
Bangrak BANGKOK |
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Only slightly more pricey is the full service 5-star lebua at State Tower hotel on Silom Rd. Home to some of Bangkok's most pricey restaurants, from Sirocco, to Mezzaluna to Breeze, the property regularly runs special promotions while it undergoes yet another upgrade. Let's hope the next revamp allows you to step onto the balconies to experience some of the city's most exquisite views. |
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www.lebua.com |
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rave: may 2007 |
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