Akyra Thonglor Bangkok
Bangkok is a crazy city. The tumultuous heartbeat of Thailand hits you like a sledgehammer as you exit the air conditioned doors of Suvarnabhumi Airport, so it pays to stay in a hotel that allows you to take a moment to drink it all in. A short ride from the airport (shorter in distance that in time thanks to the endless sea of static cars that plague Bangkok’s roads) is Thonglor; one of the city’s most fashionable districts and home of the Akyra Thonglor Bangkok.
As soon as you enter the calming reception area of the hotel, the madness of the Thai streets outside ebbs away. Friendly smiles and a cold towel and welcome drink are the first indicator of a great service; the Akyra has a real feather in its cap thanks to the very helpful team. With the jet lag kicking in, we were whisked up to our room for the two-night stay; an Akyra Studio on the tenth floor with views out to the sprawling city below.
The room itself is markedly art deco in theme. That’s not to say that it feels over the top; rather the details of crushed velvet and signature colour palette are definitely applied well. An en-suite bathroom has a real sense of luxury to it, and leads into a small living area (complete with sofa and table) and then a huge, and very comfortable, double bed. As afar as rooms go, this definitely ticks all the boxes, and was the perfect place to rest for a few hours after we had landed, and get a quick in-room massage.
One floor above us in the hotel was a signature Bangkok hotel experience; the rooftop pool. During the day, this was the perfect place to catch a few rays while wearing a few less layers, and each morning it was the perfect place from which to watch the sunrise during a morning swim. Next door is the on-site restaurant, Som Tam & Chardonnay, which serves an excellent breakfast complete with both hot and cold options. I’m always happy if sticky pork buns make it onto the menu, and they had these in abundance.
In terms of location, the Akyra Thonglor is just a short stroll from the Thonglor Sky Train, and so it’s a great hub from which to explore the city. The Chao Phraya River, lined by important cultural icons such as The Grand Palace, can be reached within half an hour, as can Suvarnabhumi Airport (very useful if you need to hop off to the south or the north of Thailand).
Akyra Thonglor Bangkok is part of the Small Luxury Hotels collection, and you can find out more here.
