By Leisa Tyler
The St Regis penthouse.
ST REGIS
The glamorous St Regis Hotel, which overlooks the Royal golf course at Ratchadamri, has a whole wing of serviced apartments but only one is for rent. Stretching over 800 square metres, the duplex penthouse is the private residence of Bill Heinecke, the self-made Thai billionaire and owner of the hotel. Decorated by the Heineckes, the elegant property is finished in beige, cream and maroon and studded with Thai and Chinese antiques, including the costumes Yul Brynner wore in The King and I. A 20-seat dining table, private pool and patio, wine cellar, full kitchen, three bedrooms and two butlers on call complete the picture.
The penthouse is available from THB 290,160.
MARRIOTT THONG LOR
This gleaming new tower on the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi 57 is well located to indulge in the offerings of Thong Lor, Bangkok's hot-spot neighbourhood for restaurants and nightlife. The 74 one, two and three-bedroom residences, which start at 55 square metres, have pale hardwood floors with purple furnishings, small but well-equipped kitchens with a full fridge, four-plate burner, coffee maker and washing machine and dryer. The ground floor breakfast room offers an excellent spread to start the day and the top floor al fresco bar, Octave, an even better way to end it. It's excellent value.
One-room apartments are from THB 4660 ($158).
See Marriott.com
ORIENTAL RESIDENCES
This soaring skyscraper nestled among the embassies of Wireless Road is owned by the same family that owns Bangkok's illustrious Mandarin Oriental hotel. The property follows a colonial theme, with oversized ceilings in the lobby offsetting white shuttered windows and potted purple orchids. The guest rooms, neat with dark wood floors, pale blue and beige furnishings and silk curtains, each have a mini kitchen with a half-sized fridge, toaster, two-plate stove and kitchen table but no clothes washing facilities. The small balcony is a bonus; pity there is nothing to sit on. The hotel has a great Chinese interpretation restaurant, Mandopop, but the service needs work. Studio apartments are from THB 4979.
ANANTARA RAJPRASONG
This tower with 79 one and two-bedroom "suites" is well located within walking distance of the shops of Chitlom, Siam Square and restaurants of Soi Lungsuan. Starting at 77 square metres, the guest rooms are not luxurious but are amply furnished with separate sleeping areas, marble bathrooms and small kitchenettes stocked with a microwave, two-plate burner, fridge-freezer and pots and pans. There is no coffee maker, toaster or clothes washing facilities and the hotel breakfast is not worth the extra money. The guest room balcony and views over Lumpini Park and ground-floor swimming pool nestled into a thicket of foliage compensate. Studio rooms are from 4321.
See anantara.com
HANSAR
Set off Ratchadamri Road, this 94-room, "eco-chic" high-rise designed by Singaporean architecture firm WOHA is characterised by a soaring 2000-plant vertical garden in the lobby. It's Hansar's studios of interest here; each a spacious 59 square metres, with stovetop, fridge-freezer, built-in washing machine, separate workspace and a spacious bathroom with terrazzo tub and rain shower. There are free minibars stocked with soft drinks and beers and a sleek spa, infinity lap pool and fitness centre. Eat at the French Provencal restaurant called Eve, and Cafe Boca for Thai, or at endless choices on Soi Langsuan, just steps away. Studio apartments from THB 5650 including breakfast.
CITADINES
Tucked inside Sukhumvit Soi 8, a quiet lane away from the hedonism of upper Sukhumvit, this hotel is one of several Citadines properties in Bangkok, a budget chain owned and operated by the Ascott Group. The 130 functional but basic all-white residences, which start at 25 square metres for studios, come with fully equipped kitchens including utensils and separate bedrooms with bouncy queen-size beds. There is a small pool and fitness corner, a coin-pay laundrette and a complimentary tuktuk service to zip guests up to Nana BTS and the nightlife of Soi 11. Studio rooms are from THB 1849.
See citadines.com
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