Hotel Review: Akyra Thonglor Revives 1920s Glam In Bangkok’s Hip Enclave
PUBLISHED July 17th, 2020 09:00 am
When all four of Akyra’s boutique hotels have made the rarefied ranks of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, you know you’re in good hands. A dapper addition to the hip district of Thonglor since 2016, Akyra Thonglor Bangkok marries bar-hopping convenience and creature comforts in one 1920s-glam package. Planning to relive Gatsby-style revelry in the heart of Bangkok? This hotel is it.
Location & Space
Thonglor is the drinking and dining playground of Bangkok’s cool kids, and you can slide straight into the fun from your hotel – perched right above the trendy Ei8ht Thonglor Mall. The Commons Thonglor sits on the same buzzy stretch of road, along with barfly havens like #FindTheLockerRoom, Rabbit Hole, and Backstage Cocktail Bar. Getting to the rest of Bangkok is a breeze as well, with the nearest BTS station Thong Lor a ten-minute walk away. What with the scorching sun, though, we happily made use of the hotel’s free limousine shuttles to the station, available every half-hour.
The hotel itself is no slouch in glamour, having undergone a Roaring Twenties-style revamp by local design firm Begray two years ago. Stepping into the intimate lobby feels like opening up a jewel box – glinting marble and gold surfaces, mirrored ceilings, and Art Deco geometries dazzle the eye. As we wait to check in, old black-and-white films playing behind the counter offer a charming distraction.
Rooms
Artistic vibes are strong in each of the hotel’s 148 studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites – think whimsical Fornasetti plates and abstract swirls of watercolour. While the suite designs skew toward the muted end of the colour spectrum, we loved the lush palette of our akyra Studio. The 37sqm room boasts emerald green walls, an amethyst purple headboard, and gold accents that would do Gatsby proud; the black-and-white wall print of Thonglor’s streetscape is a lovely detail, mirroring the panoramic view you get from the window opposite.
With a king-sized bed kitted with 430-thread-count Egyptian cotton linen – not to mention a pillow menu with microfiber and memory foam options – you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep. There’s complimentary DoiTung coffee to start off your morning right, plus a mini-bar counter stocked with standard spirits and nibbles. In the pristine bathroom, you’ll find Akyra’s signature eco-friendly toiletries made from plant-based essential oils.
Facilities & Services
If you want to keep up your gym bod on holiday, the 10th-floor Fitness Center has a small but serviceable range of equipment – treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, and resistance machines. The lack of windows is unfortunate, but the complimentary earphones are a thoughtful touch.
For lounging with a view, head up to the 11th-floor Pool Terrace instead. Take a serene soak in the jacuzzi at one end of the pool, or sprawl on the chic zebra-striped sunbeds lining the other side. The Otto Pool Bar is next to the terrace, but there’re also call buttons by each sunbed – you’ll barely need to lift a finger to order your fill of Thai craft beers and bar bites. When else do you get to be this gloriously lazy?
F&B
The sole in-house restaurant, Som Tam & Chardonnay, dishes up all three meals of the day on the 11th floor. The breakfast buffet spread sees slim pickings, so do yourself a favour and order from their à la carte menu instead. You’ll find Asian offerings like khao tom and char siu rice, but they also do your classic eggs benedict and a pretty mean omelette. Come dinnertime, the restaurant lives up to its intriguing name with no less than five variants of som tam – from soft shell crab to lobster and caviar – paired with a good-sized list of Chardonnays.
Tucked on the same level is iconic Thonglor haunt 008 Bar, a speakeasy by Pailin “Milk” Sajjanit. The 2016 winner of Diageo’s Southeast Asia Bartender of the Year, she now whips up Prohibition-inspired tipples in a retro, jazzy setting. If a night out on town hasn’t slaked your thirst, her spirit-forward ‘Temperance Songs’ certainly will.
Akyra Thonglor Bangkok Hotel is located at 88/333 Sukhumvit 55, North Klongton, Wattana District, Bangkok 10110, p. +66 2 090 9000. Rates start from 4,000THB per night for a Studio room.
