BANGKOK DISRUPTOR

First Impressions

Having never stayed at a Vignette Collection property, I arrived at the newly-opened hotel with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised. Not only is the location in Langsuan sublime, with prime districts like Sukhumvit, Silom, Siam and Chidlom all close at hand, but the hotel itself — designed by award-winning Eight Inc — is a picture of innovation and Thai hospitality. After a quick check-in process in the tramcar-inspired lobby, during which I marvelled at Thai artist Kachama Perez’s incredible textile masterpiece, I’m up in my one-bedroom suite.

The Room

My space boasts a kitchenette, a small work desk, a couch and dual 49inch flatscreen TVs, a small dining table, and a double sized bed in a separate room. While the space is certainly small compared to many other Bangkok hotels, it’s very contemporary and packed with useful amenities, from the air purifier to USB charging sockets and even a washing machine. Each of the hotel’s 393 rooms (Sindhorn Midtown also has serviced apartments for long stay guests) also features large format bathroom amenities from Karl Lagerfeld and modern comforts such as Fritz Hansen’s iconic Drop chairs.

Facilities

One of the best elements of the hotel is the swimming pool, which has fantastic cityscape views. You’ll also find a modern fitness centre on the 19th floor, and even an Emergency Popsicle Line, linked to a dedicated Popsicle Butler (it’s for kids but we won’t tell if you need to beat the Bangkok heat). Downstairs, in The Black Cat, the hotel’s uber-cool cocktail bar, complimentary shots of Lao Khao (a Thai distilled spirit) are served with pickled fruit each evening, to give that true Bangkok sense of place.

Dining

The new hotel recently introduced three eclectic dining offerings; The Black Cat, modelled as a Thai whisky bar, combines contemporary mixology with live music on selected evenings, while Bangkok’78, inspired by the golden age of Thailand, presents the city’s greatest culinary hits (including impressive breakfasts) in a retro-inspired concept. Java junkies will love Sip & Co, a chic addition to Langsuan’s flourishing café culture. sindhornmidtown.com

– NICK WALTON

68 Langsuan Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand; Tel: +66 2 796 8888; sindhornmidtown.com