PUBLISHED May 22nd, 2017 08:47 pm | UPDATED March 26th, 2019 01:11 pm
Volve Hotel Bangkok is the very definition of a boutique hotel – a small property between 10 to 100 rooms with upscale accommodation in a unique setting -, unlike some of the other hotels in the city that tout themselves as one but are merely budget. This 28-room hotel has a story to tell, and it’s told through attention to detail every step of the way.
For instance, their coffee bar in the lobby serves to show that Thai coffee can be as good as the major exporting countries. The coffee beans were grown in Chiang Rai and roasted in Chiang Mai, expressing itself as an espresso or with milk. Before the influx of upscale restaurants, bars, and cafes in the area, Thonglor used to be an affluent neighbourhood of landed houses. The communal table in the lobby used to be the wooden stairs of the house that used to be and terrazzo (an old-school flooring material that consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass) is utilised in the stairs. Owner Pavee Tansirikongkol also marries East and West by featuring oak and teak, as well as Italian white marble and Thai grey marble in the floor of the lobby.
Our Deluxe Corner Room was spacious enough at 28 square metres (301 square feet) not to feel boxed in, helped by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlook the city. With a neutral white and grey colour scheme, there’s a Scandinavian aesthetic vibe to the room that never gets old while the marbled fabric of the couch gives Volve distinct hipster cred. The bathroom was relatively small in an effort to be generous with the living and sleep areas. That said, the Malin + Goetz bath amenities might be enough to make up for it. With free, reliable wifi, international power outlets and USB charging, you can also be as connect as you want to be.
No sweat if your room doesn’t include breakfast since there’s a plethora of cafes to be explored nearby.
But if you’re looking for a lazy morning in, Volve has the all-day dining Yesteryear Café nestled in the basement. While serviceable, the breakfast could be improved – my partner’s wonton noodles were overcooked though my mango sticky rice (we love that we could have it for breakfast) was pretty decent.
Take the stairs on your way down from the room and you’ll notice the artwork in the stairwell. Again, it’s the fusion of traditional and new with Thai temples in the background of Western children and families frolicking. If you love cats, try to spot the hidden cat in each collage. A great reward for taking the stairs instead of the elevantor, we think.
Some potential drawbacks for you folks might be the lack of smoking rooms (though they do have a smoking area in the back of the lobby) and the lack of staff to help with the baggage when you arrive and depart. That said, the design, stories, and the perfect location – quiet enough but not too far from the BTS and the Thonglor action – means Volve Hotel Bangkok is deeply in our favour.
Volve Hotel Bangkok is located at 26/1 Sukhumvit 53, Bangkok, Thailand 10110, p. +66 2 000 1000, e. hello@volvehotel.com.
Top Image: Studio Suite