Rosewood Bangkok: Bespoke Hospitality at its Best

There’s no shortage of luxury stays in Thailand’s capital, but the Rosewood Bangkok sure does top the list in terms of bespoke hospitality and making each and every guest’s short stay personal. We check in to find out.

Appropriately, the futuristic tower in which the Rosewood Bangkok’s 150-odd guestrooms occupy 19 floors is shaped like two hands pressed together in the traditional Thai gesture of greeting, the wai. That’s because the service in this tastefully opulent bolthole of luxury, much of which is handled throughout my stay by my personal butler, goes some considerable way beyond what’s normally referred to in hotel reviews as “seamless” – indeed, after check-in, which takes place in the seclusion of my two-room suite, I’m immediately added to a WhatsApp group that enables me to contact my temporary Man Friday wherever and whenever I want. Which I do. Often. It all adds to the surprising – and delicious – sense of intimacy that abounds in a property that, in spite of the unusually spacious accommodations, somehow feels much smaller than it actually is.

Although beautifully appointed and contemporary in style, the decor and furnishings in my suite are refreshingly simple and lacking in ostentation, with the requisite “wow” factor provided by the stunning views of Bangkok’s downtown skyline afforded by floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides; electric blinds provide full privacy at the touch of a button whenever it’s required. (And naturally my bathroom, which gleams with white marble and mirrors, feels like a movie set.) Although the Rosewood’s Sense spa is by no means the biggest in town, its glorious tranquillity makes it the perfect spot for a much-needed reboot, which I take full advantage of during a blissful one-hour hot-stone treatment.

Other standouts include the Nan Bei Chinese restaurants, which features cuisine from both the north and south of the country, and the Lakorn brasserie that offers both European and Thai selections – though for me the highlight is surely the speakeasy-style Lennon’s bar, which in addition to its list of innovative cocktails houses a collection of some 6,000 vinyl discs that must surely rank as some kind of record (pun unintended) in this part of the world.

I haven’t mentioned the Rosewood’s location – and I should, because it could hardly be more convenient. The Chitlom BTS Skytrain station is literally downstairs and the property sits right on the Ploenchit-Sukhumvit axis, meaning offices and a host of major shopping and dining destinations are just minutes away, while smooth expressway transfers to and from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhum airport should take around 40-45 minutes.

With its luxury, superb service, seclusion and convenience, the Rosewood sets the bar even higher in a city already renowned for its impeccable hospitality. It’s definitely worth re-visiting (and not least because the hotel is currently offering a third night’s stay free-of-charge).

(Header: Premier room at the Rosewood Bangkok)