Bangkok is the gateway to Thailand. It’s usually where first time Thailand visitors fly in, and it’s where most travelers touch down to leapfrog across the country’s diverse destinations. This megalopolis of a city is host to some of the most iconic tourist spots in the country, glitzy shopping malls, sprawling outdoor weekend bazaars, and delectable food places—both right on the streets and expensive restaurants—but  besides these, Bangkok is also known for its multitude of luxury hotels dotting its skyline.

But without character, luxury is nothing but just that. What makes a stay in Bangkok really exceptional, besides lavishness, is the uniqueness an accommodation can offer—be it on its one of a kind architecture, a specific theme, or even its history. During my previous visits to Bangkok, I have stayed on more than a such hotels where uniqueness comes first, and luxury, a close second. These are the places you’d rather actually stay in all day than go out and visit the city sights; they are that enticing. Below is a list of some the most unique luxury hotels in Bangkok.

THE SIAM HOTEL BANGKOK

  ADDRESS: 3/2 THANON KHAO, VACHIRAPAYABAL, DUSIT, BANGKOK, THAILAND ● CONTACT NUMBER: (+66) 2 206 6999 ●  BOOK ONLINE

THE SIAM HOTEL BANGKOK COMBINES LUXURY AND HISTORY INTO ITS DESIGN

Located right beside what used to be the city’s super highway during olden times, the mighty Chao Phraya River, at the opulent Dusit District in Bangkok, is The Siam Hotel. Steeped in history, the 1800’s inspired boutique hotel sports a very Thai mansion colonial look. The ground floor has an actual museum housing age old relics and the garden has a hundred-year old teakwood house that was once host to the likes of Jackie Onassis and Roger Moore.

Rated as a five-star hotel, The Siam Hotel houses thirty nine rooms, divided into six different types including villas and lavish suites—and those suites are filled with nothing but extravagant colonial luxury. For dining options, it has four in-house restaurants serving traditional Thai dishes.

 

SOFITEL SO BANGKOK

  ADDRESS: 2 NORTH SATHORN ROAD, BANGRAK, BANGKOK, THAILAND ● CONTACT NUMBER: (+66) 2 624 0000 ● BOOK ONLINE

AT SOFITEL SO, IT’S HARD TO DISTINGUISH IF YOU’RE A VERY MODERN MUSEUM OR IN A HOTEL

The five-star Sofitel So in Bangkok is set in nothing but uniqueness. The hotel is located right beside the sprawling Lumphini Park and is designed by none other than the French fashion mogul, Christian Lacroix—they even have his signature imprinted on a wall along the lobby.

Sofitel So features themed rooms patterned after earthly elements—water, earth, metal, wood, and fire. The public areas look more like post-modern galleries with its sculptures and play of light than actual hotel hallways and common rooms. The rooms themselves are painterly with its choice of colors, materials, and textures, and very sculptural with its architecture. Sofitel So is so stylish that even their staff are dressed in designer clothes.

The hotel has a total of 237 rooms and suites, divided into five different elements. Their dining options includes six in-house restaurants, including a rooftop bar, serving Thai and Western cuisines.

 

SIAM@SIAM DESIGN HOTEL BANGKOK

  ADDRESS: 865 RAMA 1 ROAD, WANG MAI, PATUMWAN, BANGKOK, THAILAND ● CONTACT NUMBER: +66 2 217 3000 ● BOOK ONLINE

FUNK AND STRONG VISUALS USING A VARIETY OF MATERIALS DEFINE SIAM@SIAM’S DESIGN

Blending funky colors, modernism, and industrial design, Siam@Siam is one of the most truly unique hotels in Bangkok when it comes to architecture. The theme, which at times may be jarring due to the clash of colors and materials, spreads all the way from the lobby, the restaurants, the one-of-a-kind pool area, the room, and even to the rooftop bar overlooking the city.

Siam@Siam is located along Rama I Road, near one of the biggest shopping districts in Bangkok. Rated as a four star hotel, it makes up for with that one less star with its creativity in design.

The hotel has a total of 221 rooms, divided into eight different types, and four restaurants—including a rooftop restobar—serving Thai and International fares.

 

HILTON SUKHUMVIT BANGKOK

  ADDRESS: 11 SUKHUMVIT SOI 24, KHLONG TON, KHLONG TOEI, SUKHUMVIT, BANGKOK ● CONTACT NUMBER +66 2 620 666 ● BOOK ONLINE

HILTON SURPRISES WITH CHARACTER SCULPTURES & A STRONG LEANINGS TOWARDS 20’S THEME

Hilton isn’t really the first hotel you’d think of when it comes to being unique but the Hilton in Sukhumvit Bangkok breaks the mold with its sleek American 1920’s theme. Its design revolves around the prohibition era in the US, a time of gangsters, sleek well-oiled looks, dark wood, and leather. Besides the motif, Hilton also has two sculptural characters, Jay and Daisy, prominently taking spaces around the public areas of the hotel depicting their love affair. You’d find bigger than life statues of the two lovers on the lobby, by the restaurant, the roof deck infinity pool swimming pool overlooking the city, and even a miniaturized piece in your own room as an everyday souvenir gift for staying.

Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok has a total of 280 deluxe rooms, divided into three different types, and twenty five suites. For dining options, it has three in-house restaurants serving Italian, Western, and Thai dishes, including a bar on its roofdeck infinity pool.

There are tons of hotels in Bangkok and I’m sure there are a lot more unique luxury hotels in the city that I haven’t stayed on yet, maybe you can share yours?