Vie Hotel, Bangkok review: Party central

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This was published 7 years ago

Vie Hotel, Bangkok review: Party central

By Paul Chai
Bangkok's Vie Hotel from above.

Bangkok's Vie Hotel from above.

THE LOCATION

This is Bangkok shopping heaven with this Ratchathewi​ hotel just around the corner from the Siam Centre, the first link in a chain of connected mega-malls in this area. Also nearby is Jim Thompson House and Museum, a tropical garden paradise once the Thai home of the American who became a champion of the local silk industry. The house is across the canal from the one-time silk district and is now a museum and high-end textile store (yes, more shopping). You are keeping very royal company too with the Sra Prathum Palace next door that is home to one of the Thai princesses. If your room overlooks the palace you may find the windows have some royal privacy shutters to stop you spying. The Skytrain is across the road, a blessing come peak hour.

Get your coffee fix.

Get your coffee fix.

THE SPACE

The hotel, designed by French architect J.H Boiffils​, is spread across to two tall buildings, the main skyscraper containing the 154 rooms while the smaller building has dining options and the rooftop pool and bar. Head across the connecting walkway to the pool at the end of the day and you can join the sunset drinks where buckets of cold beer are enjoyed as revellers watch the bustling streets of Bangkok below. Fitness is a key tenet of the hotel and it has one of the largest hotel gyms in the city. On arrival guests are welcomed into the dark and brooding lobby, which has a casual bar at the side.

THE ROOM

Vie Hotel, is an MGallery Hotel.

Vie Hotel, is an MGallery Hotel.

The deluxe suite is high-ceilinged, full of dark wood and decorated with Thai art from the owner's personal collection; carved wooden statuettes, ornate drums and paintings of old galleons. Upon entering you find a simple work desk with the room sectioned off into a lounge room with large v-shaped couches with partitions into a sizeable bedroom and bathroom. The whole room has a sophisticated Thai accent, most obviously from the soft furnishing that come from Jim Thompson's nearby and nod to the area's silk heritage.

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THE FOOD

There are two restaurants vying for your attention, the French-influenced La VIE under the guiding hand of Chef Supat Chinsangtip​, which has tall ceilings from which fall lampshades made from silkworm cocoons, and YTSB one of the hottest sushi restaurants in town. YTSB has a striking wooden ceiling that appears to be casting a net over diners, and sushi master chef Chettha Intarawong and his team make art on a plate at the slate bar.

Bangkok sunset from the Vie Hotel.

Bangkok sunset from the Vie Hotel.

STEPPING OUT

Get your local Thai designer on at Siam Centre. Catch the Vie Hotel's free tuk-tuk to the shopping centre and head up to Level 4 that has a local fashion focus and shop windows that are works of art. Labels such as Fly Now III offer vivid prints and a recurring doll motif; it's a zany art-rock vibe aimed at young women. Nearby Gin and Milk offers retro tailoring and men's accessories or you can grab coffee in La Patisserie, a steampunk-style cafe attached to label Singha Life. From here you can take the Skywalk to Central World, another huge home of international designers. Grab a couch seat at Kalpapruek, a three-decade-old Thai restaurant chain offering pina coladas and local dishes like curried fish cakes. Right next to the hotel is the The Rock Pub, one of the city's most venerable live music venues, a dark, gothic rock cave offering bang-on Black Sabbath covers until late.

THE VERDICT

This hotel offers the perfect short break in Bangkok, a sophisticated base with great food and a party on the roof every night with history, art, fashion and shopping all in walking distance.

HIGHLIGHT: Poolside sunset drinks high above the busy streets below.

LOWLIGHT: Champagne in the mini-bar, but no wine glasses in the room.

ESSENTIALS

117/39-40 Phaya Thai Road, Ratchathewi. Doubles start from $134; viehotelbangkok.com

Paul Chai was a guest of Accor Hotels.

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