Review: The Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok

My first stop in Thailand was a memorable one at The Sukhothai Hotel in Bangkok. Open since 1991, The Sukhothai is an award-winning five-star hotel.

Inspired by Sukhothai, Thailand’s very first capital, the hotel’s architecture and design bear witness to this historical and cultural heritage. The richness of the site, with its tropical gardens, lotus ponds and various pavilions, highlights five elements: teak wood, silk, granite, water and glass. These elements combine to create the ultimate experience of Thai elegance.

Milesopedia was invited to stay at this establishment as part of a trip organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. No remuneration was received for the realization of this review. The opinions remain mine and were not influenced in any way.

As an independent hotel, The Sukhothai Bangkok is not associated with a rewards program. However, it is part of the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, which means that when you book a room through the reservation platform, you will enjoy the following benefits:

• Guaranteed best available rate
• Automatic room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
• Free Internet access, subject to availability
• Free daily breakfast for two
• 25 USD food or beverage credit
• Guest of honor status
• Late check-out on request, if available

Visa Infinite credit card holders will therefore benefit from booking via this online platform. You can also use your credit card rewards points to stay there. For example, using the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you can:

• Enjoy the benefits of the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection,
• Redeem Scene+ points for an account credit on payment of your stay
• Avoid foreign currency conversion fees (usually 2.5%)

The benefits of the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection are similar to those reserved for customers who have a hotel status, and I promise you that for breakfast alone, it’s worth it.

Depending on the credit cards you have, you can of course use other points (or cash back) when booking via Expedia for TD or Booking.com, for example, and then get a statement credit by redeeming your points:

• Aventura
• HSBC Rewards
• TD Rewards
• Membership Rewards

The Sukhothai Bangkok is located in Bangkok’s commercial district, close to Chinatown and surrounded by numerous other hotels from the major chains. Thanks toits spacious grounds, inner courtyard and layout, the hotel feels like a haven from the noise and action of the city.

The hotel is located on Sathorn Road, close to Bangkok’s financial district and Chinatown, and a ten-minute walk from Lumphini MRT station. Bangkok is very well served by public transport, and you can also take a tuk-tuk or a Grab (the equivalent of Uber) to get around by car or motorcycle or scooter. Note that Bangkok has a lot of traffic, so the metro is sometimes a better alternative.

As soon as we arrived, doormen took charge of our luggage and delivered it to our rooms.

Since we arrived late after a 24-hour flight, check-in went quickly. I was given a sheet explaining all the hotel’s services as well as the benefits included in my stay, including:

• Club Lounge access: à la carte breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés
• Free washing or dry-cleaning of two pieces (or one suit) per stay
• Free meeting room reservation for 2 hours, subject to availability.

The 210-room and suite hotel offers different categories, first in the main building :

• Superior room (38m²)
• Deluxe room (38m²)
• Executive suite (76m²)
• Luxury suite (76m²)
• Garden suite (76m²)
• Suite The Sukhothai (198m²)

Then in the Club building, where you’ll find the Club lounge, you’ll find other room categories recently renovated in 2018:

• Club Room (45m²)
• Club room with balcony (66m²)
• Club Suite (90m²)
• Premier Club Suite (98m²)
• Club Suite with balcony (138m²)

I stayed in the executive suite, which was part of the main building. The suite was impressively large, with a grand entrance hall leading directly into the living room area.

In the living room, where a welcome message with chocolate truffles and a bowl of fresh fruit awaited me. A few minutes after my arrival, Thai sweets were brought to my room. The large window offered a superb view of the inner courtyard and Bangkok. A mini-bar was at my disposal, along with a Nespresso coffee machine and mini-refrigerator. Beneath the large flat-screen TV, a small desk was available for work.

Next, the room included a king bed, flat-screen TV, and intelligent light control for the entire suite. A second window gives a similar view of the lounge area, with sliding panels that cut out all light for a restful night’s sleep.

I have to say that the room that blew my mind was the bathroom. Covered in mirrors, it included two vanities, a large bathtub, a rain shower, a wardrobe and all the necessary toiletries. It wasn’t just the mirrors; the room was huge.

Slippers, flip flops and an umbrella were also available. Of all the hotel bathrobes, I’ve never worn one as soft and comfortable as the one provided by The Sukhothai.

Here’s a look at other recently renovated room categories in the Club Wing. Once again, the combination of teck wood, Jim Thompson silk, mirrors and granite creates an effect of opulence while paying homage to the elegance inspired by the Sukhothai era.

The breakfast buffet offered a huge variety of typical Asian dishes, including Indian, Japanese and Chinese. Of course, there were also the essentials for a North American breakfast, the best of European pastries and an impressive selection of cheeses, given that we’re in Bangkok.

A cook was on hand to prepare eggs to our liking, with the photos of available options scrolling by on a screen.

Fresh juices, local fruits and coconuts were available, and we were also offered coffee to our liking served at our table. The service was impeccable, the food tasty, and I would have needed to stay at least a week at this hotel to be able to sample every dish.

The Sukhothai offers a varied selection of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes:

• Colonnade: international cuisine
• Zuk Bar: with indoor lounge and outdoor terrace
• La Scala: Michelin Guide Italian restaurant
• Celadon: traditional Thai cuisine restaurant

The hotel also offers “Sunday Brunch” on Sundays (for a fee), a gourmet version of breakfast with seafood, a wide selection of European cheeses and charcuterie, and much more.

We were able to test the Celadon restaurant’s tasting menu, comprising 9 courses and 5 wine pairings. It was my first dinner of my trip in Thailand and certainly one of the most memorable! We were also lucky enough to witness a short traditional dance performance during the meal. The menu changes regularly.

Access to the Club Lounge includes an à la carte breakfast service, afternoon tea and evening cocktails and canapés. With a busy schedule visiting the city, I was only able to enjoy breakfast.

The buffet featured fruit, cereals, salads, cold meats, breads and pastries. To accompany the meal, the à la carte menu offered many options, although the portions were tapas-sized, as seen here. I had an egg Benedict and an avocado toast.

I personally preferred the main buffet for breakfast, but from what I’ve been told, the Club Lounge is well worth it for afternoon tea and evening cocktails. I wasn’t able to test it, unfortunately, but here’s a glimpse of what was available at the end of the day:

The pool was under renovation during my stay, although we were offered the option of visiting another nearby pool during my stay. When reopened, the pool will definitely serve as an added value with the heat that can sometimes be overwhelming in a big city like Bangkok. Here’s what it will look like:

Spa treatments are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the main building, offering different packages and ranges of treatments.

The hotel has invested $9 million in the construction of a new spa, entirely separate from the other buildings and with a design that, once again, will be inspired by Sukhothai. The final result should look like this:

I’ve never seen a hotel gym as large as The Sukhothai. And indeed, it’s the largest fitness center you’ll find in a Bangkok hotel. Hotel guests can use it at any time.

In addition to the main hall, there was a changing room, a spinning room and a store.

My stay at The Sukhothai Bangkok was exceptional. Not only are the premises a tribute to Thai architecture and style, but the staff provided us with outstanding, memorable service. Sometimes, for a more authentic accommodation experience, you need to get away from the chain hotels, and a hotel like The Sukhothai Bangkok is well worth it.

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, I highly recommend this hotel for a luxurious and relaxing experience amidst the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, and for a glimpse of the heritage that Sukhothai has to offer.

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