This was published 10 years ago
Sofitel So Bangkok, review: Thais back in style
Infinity pool, Sofitel So Bangkok.
French fashion flair meets urban chic decor at this high-rise, writes Sean Mooney.
You know you're in for a different kind of hotel experience when your car door is opened by a porter in puffy knickerbockers. I'd prepared myself for a touch of flamboyance at the Sofitel So Bangkok - which, after all, bills itself as an "urban design hotel" - but all the staff wearing shimmering silks in a variety of catwalk cuts still take me by surprise. Brilliant shades of red, pink, green and blue are accentuated by a flowing sash here, a golden honeyeater there. It's so different, so dramatic, so ... well, so Lacroix, sweetie.
Yes, that's Christian Lacroix, the fashion designer who has dabbled in everything from perfume to pyjamas, and who more recently turned his mind to the interiors of several French hotels. Now it's Thailand's turn for a touch of Gallic theatricality. Quite frankly, with a host of new luxury properties opening up in Bangkok in recent times, the Sofitel So was always going to have to be a bit on the bold side to stand out from the crowd.
The journey to the 25th floor confirms that this property is all about the cutting-edge employment of colour, light and design. We pass art installations and an open lobby bathed in light from panoramic windows on our way to the piece de resistance: Club Signature. This eccentric executive lounge is so named because of Lacroix's autograph on the wall. It is a world of pink, yellow and silver dominated by a surreal fashion-themed painting. It really shouldn't work; except it does.
I return to the lounge many times, not only for the champagne, canapes and city views, but also for its cheeky-chic ambience.
Over a butterfly-flower and lemongrass mocktail I'm told that a room has been chosen for me based on my personal details. It is explained that the design concept of the hotel is based on five elements: the guest rooms come in earth, metal, water and wood themes, while the public areas are all about fire.
Apparently the best thematic choice for me is water, an element characterised by sophistication and calm. This might be more about what I need right now, rather than what I already possess.
The hotel's 200-plus rooms and suites range in size from 38 to 138 square metres, with many different specifications. There are the cheapest So Cosy and So Comfy rooms, to top-of-the-tree So Suite, So Lofty and So VIP. Tree is the operative word here, as the hotel's emblem is Monsieur Lacroix's colourful take on the tree of life, and vegetation is also central to the view.
The electric blinds in my room roll up to reveal the temples, lakes and, yes, trees of Bangkok's finest urban oasis: Lumphini Park. The city's skytrain and a line of skyscrapers frame this fabulous natural space, a reminder that chaos and congestion await beyond the park's borders.
The room itself is beautiful: think marble walls, huge onyx bath tub and floor-to-ceiling windows. The facilities are also top notch, from the Illy coffee machine and free mini-bar, to the LCD TV and Apple Mac mini that functions as a hotel guide.
All the rooms' styles feature this technology, but otherwise they are quite different; the earth rooms are decorated with Thai wall paintings, the wood rooms have hand-sketched murals, and the metal rooms are all about white-and-silver minimalism. The water theme in my room is reinforced by two Siamese fighting fish, mercifully separated from one another by a partition.
What doesn't work quite so well is all the water that covers the bathroom and bedroom floors when I use the shower, although this is quickly rectified.
Thankfully, the infinity pool on the 10th floor experiences no such problems. It's an inviting space with a park view, and a good choice for an alfresco drink or meal. In fact, all the public areas manage to combine hipness with a welcoming vibe; from the Red Oven, a market-style restaurant, to Park Society bar and restaurant on the roof. Then there's Chocolab, the hotel's chocolate delicatessen, where you can watch the staff making all kinds of cacao creations using fine (you guessed it) French chocolate.
It is with some trepidation that I head to So Spa for its signature treatment, the Serenity of the Five Elements. I do so knowing that along with wood, earth and water, there will be some fire and metal coming my way. But I needn't worry; heat from a herbal poultice represents fire, and they manage to carry out a surprisingly relaxing body massage with metal balls. It's the wooden hammer that takes me by surprise, but I do end up feeling refreshed.
Indeed, the Sofitel So is such a relaxing and aesthetically pleasing hotel that the bedlam of Bangkok can come as quite a shock if you do choose to head back out past those puffy-panted porters.
Sean Mooney was a guest of Sofitel So Bangkok.
Trip notes
Where Sofitel So Bangkok, 2 North Sathorn Road, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 2 624 0000, sofitel.com.
Getting there Thai Airways operates daily flights between Sydney and Bangkok. 1300 651 960, thaiairways.com.au.
Staying there From $150 a night.
Top marks For choosing a location with a special view, and for truly unique style and design.
Black mark The occasionally troublesome plumbing.
Don't miss Trying a lychee and rose-petal martini on the rooftop terrace.
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