With its slanted glass windows, Rosewood Bangkok’s Premier rooms sport possibly one of the most exciting designs in Asia. The triangular architectural embellishment is both unexpected and daring in a city where room count and ROI are considerations that can’t be ignored. Its single-floor loft-like appearance more than adds to a residential state-of-being that Rosewood is known for in their properties in London’s Holborn and its flagship in Kowloon.
Since its 2019 opening, the 158-room Bangkok property with its unmistakable traditional ‘wai’ greeting design cuts a dash in downtown Ploenchit. (Incidentally, the property also has stellar suites that they term ‘houses’, each of which with their own pools and terraces.)
And if your personality is more inner-city tourist, Rosewood Bangkok’s hush-be-quiet type of luxury is right up your alley. Interiors for both rooms and public spaces are unabashedly carpeted (there’s no minimalist wooden flooring here), with well-appointed furnishings that are more home-like than hotel. Thoughtful notes from housekeeping include ones that say, “We noticed your suitcase was on the floor, so it’s now properly placed on a rack.” At turndown, instead of the usual chocolates, tamarind candies are offered instead. It’s a sweet (pardon the pun) point of difference that Rosewood Bangkok works with here. But, for me, chocolates would probably be the tastier option.
Bathrooms, however, go the classical route with marble countertops and flooring, as well as tubs to luxuriate in. Amenities include supersonic Dyson hairdryers that, once experienced, might make one never want to go back to conventional devices.
Other thoughtful Rosewood-exclusive items include a plush leather-bound shoe polish ‘brush’ that has, over the years, led to other chains appropriating the said item’s design—but they could never fully replicate its function. The reason: Rosewood’s feathery horse-hair-like version gives shoes high gleam in less than a minute, while the other versions do not. If you’re wondering which shoe polish contraption has pride of place in my carry-on—hands down, it’s Rosewood’s. Surely, this gives a minor if telling revelation that true luxury, the kind to write home (or in a story) about, can’t be copied or stolen. Indeed, this tangible—and shiny—notion of luxury is already ingrained in a hotel.
Beyond the rooms, and before guests decide to venture into the sultry heat of the City of Angels, breakfast should be savoured at Lakorn (‘theatre’ in Thai), an elegant space that marries Continental pizazz with classy Siamese charm. The light-filled space is a celebrated spot to tap into the Thai capital’s legendary buzz. Choose a table on the outdoor terrace that seems a world apart from the chokehold street below. The breakfast scene, along with its menu, is a carefully considered mix of freshly pressed juices, made on the spot, and pastries that would invariably lead to someone watching his or her diet to do unthinkable things. Among the pastries and cakes are standout pain du chocolat and croissants that give off seriously authentic French vibes.
If you decide to dine within the hotel, Nan Bei, the Chinese restaurant known in town for its roasted ducks, is a well-considered venue to impress guests and to seal deals. The space’s adventurous retro-meets-new-classic design and sultry lighting is the perfect canvas in which to tuck into flavoursome salted egg prawns, pickled cucumber, and noodles that seemingly originate from some of Beijing’s top tables.
