Looking for digs at the heart of Bangkok that remove you from the bustle of the city? U Sathorn might just be the urban resort you should be checking in to.
First impressions of U Sathorn might confuse the regular Bangkok visitor. Unlike many of the city’s hotels, which welcome guests with maddening lobbies filled with new arrivals on buses and taxis, and with the onslaught of the Thai capital only steps away, this little-known property has a distinct resort vibe. Its spacious, open lobby overlooks its iconic swimming pool – the hub of the hotel’s social scene – and is graced with eye-catching art pieces, part of an inspiring rotating art series (Arnaud Nazare Aga’s colourful bears were on display during our recent visit) that guarantees to leave a great first impression.
First Impressions
The check-in process is more like that of a resort than an urban hotel as well; staff are happy and unharried, advising on tuk-tuk transfers and cocktail happy hours, and taking preferences on pillows, in-room music, soap, and tea selection as part of the hotel’s U Choose program, before guiding guests to one of just 86 guest rooms. Oh, and did I mention the hotel’s 24-hour check-in policy, which offers guests a full 24 hours in their room, no matter what time they check-in? All this only minutes from major financial and corporate precincts.
The Room
Rooms range from Superiors (32sqm) through to Suites (72sqm), with some rooms on the ground floor offering direct access to the hotel’s manicured gardens, while those above feature private balconies. Each guest space features a large bed, a work desk, tea and coffee selections, flatscreen wall-mounted televisions, plenty of storage space and cavernous bathrooms with vaulted ceilings. Our room is a calming and refined space that’s intuitively appointed; there’s plenty of space on the balcony for sundowners, USB and AC sockets galore, high-speed internet and a rain shower that feels like you’re taking a walk through the rainforest during the monsoon.
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Most rooms look towards the large palm-wreathed pool that dominates the property. Here, you’ll have to be quick to claim your sun lounge but once you plant your flag you’ll have little reason to move, with attentive pool staff catering to your every whim (you can even organize a poolside massage although the hotel is currently signing up a new spa brand so there might be changes to the treatment menu).
Delectable Dining
Also overlooking the pool is J’AIME by Jean-Michel Lorain Proud, a Michelin-starred French eatery that also serves as the hotel’s breakfast hotspot, where the most coveted tables are those that line the terrace. Here, by day you’ll be able to try a wide selection of Thai and western breakfast staples, and by night you’ll be able to discover the delectable cuisine of Burgundy native Lorain and resident chef Amerigo Sesti amidst fanciful interiors reminiscent of a private boudoir.
Downstairs, the recently extended Library is a great spot for Thai or western dishes by executive chef Chatree Wongsriphaisan – think slow-cooked Wagyu beef with fettuccine in a wild mushroom cream sauce; and pistachio-crusted salmon served with grilled asparagus tips, rocket salad and dill-caper cream – as well as old world wines and innovative cocktails.
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Work Up a Sweat
To work off those calories between jaunts to Bangkok’s top rooftop bars and eclectic wet markets, there’s also a fully-equipped fitness centre. It is the time of New Year’s resolutions after all.
U Sathorn, 105, 105/1 Ngam Duphli Alley, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok, Thailand; +66 2 119 4888.
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