The W hotel name is synonymous with sleek lines, hip hues and just about every other colloquialism of cool. The brand’s second property in Thailand — the other is the waterfront W Retreat Koh Samui — offers similarly suave attributes in spades, but here are the things that truly separate the 407-room entry from the rest of Thailand’s thriving hotel scene:
1. Location, Location. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the W Bangkok for work (Embassy of the USA is just 1.7 miles away), play (Lumpini Park, less than a mile) or a little of both (Summitt Windmill Golf Club, 15.5 miles away), you’d be hard-pressed to find a more convenient spot. The historic Grand Palace is just over five miles away. CentralWorld, the planet’s third-biggest shopping center, is even closer. And if you want to experience the city’s vibrant nightlife, go-go bars and lounges are literally all around.
2. Munchies and Mingling. With an approach to dining that’s more of the quality over quantity variety, the hotel provides just one true restaurant on its premises, The Kitchen Table. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, this eatery dishes a modern take on bistro fare while meshing Eastern and Western traditions in delicious harmony. Now, if you aren’t in the sit-down mood, you can grab a snack at The Kitchen Pantry or try the lively Woobar or calming Wet Deck for drinks.
3. Outside-The-Box Design. No matter how elaborately decorated a hotel room is, it’s still a room with four walls. Well, that was the case before designers here came up with the convention-ignoring, triangular-shaped “Spectacular Room.” As it sounds, the room has just three sides to it, and one of those is essentially a window providing a stunning look onto the city.
4. The Sweet Suites. Not to be outdone by the triangular treasure, the five styles of suites at W Bangkok — when they open on Feb. 1, they will run the gamut from the comfy 688-square-foot “Studio Suite” to the colossal 2,314-square-foot “Extreme Wow Suite” — are jaw-droppers in their own right. Some have glass-designed work stations. Others are equipped with 55-inch flat-screen TVs. All have magical views, snazzy décor and touch-screen room controls.
5. All The Extras. It makes sense that the hotel for the traveler who has everything would offer just about everything, right? The Wired Business Center takes care of any pressing business needs. The Away Spa, with its six rooms of relaxation, and the soon-to-open Sweat Fitness Center will do the same for any bodily stresses. But in the rare instance the hotel doesn’t have what you need, there’s always W’s unflappable concierge service, Whatever/Whenever, to assist. So, if you’re ever craving Som Tum at 3 in the morning, they’ll do their darnedest to help you find it.
Photos Courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.
