Hotel Review: Rosewood Bangkok returns

This stunning addition to the high-end hotel scene in Bangkok originally opened, to much acclaim, in March of 2019, only to shut down a year later. But, after several false starts during the pandemic, it reopened in September 2022 and is finally set for its moment in the sun.

The 30-story building is a standout in its own right, shaped like two hands pressed together in renowned Thai greeting gesture, the wai – and the same generous spirit of hospitality extends throughout. With a new managing director in charge – Sandra Watermann, who previously oversaw their sister property in Phuket – it’s in very capable hands, and ready to go toe to toe with the very best accommodation in the city.

The surrounding Phloenchit neighborhood might be commercial rather than cool, but it’s ideally located for exploring most parts of the city (not least because the hotel has its own SkyTrain entrance on the third floor). It’s close to many of the city’s biggest malls too, though step off the main roads and you’re rewarded with leafy, residential side streets.

Wake up to glossy views of Bangkok’s skyscrapers from the Premier Room Rosewood Bangkok

The Arrival

Lifts whisk you to reception on the 7th floor and a lobby showcasing contemporary Thai artists. Check-in is fast and, as becomes apparent throughout your stay, the whole experience is light-touch. Staff are there when you need them, but otherwise it’s all very discrete. Across the 158 rooms they’re aiming for a “home away from home” feel – if “home” just happens to be a contemporary, elegantly-furnished residence. Beyond the standard rooms, there are 17 ultra-luxury lodgings, including a two-bedroom Sky Pool Suite and three “Houses” with their own plunge pools and terraces. Even the entry-level “Deluxe” rooms (starting from THB 10,800) are next-level, with Frette linens and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chinese meals feel like a posh and refined affair at Nan Bei

The Food

Take your pick from two in-house restaurants. Beside the lobby is modern Euro brasserie, Lakorn. It’s a fantastic breakfast spot (choose from Continental, European, Wellness or Thai), that doubles up as a meeting and afternoon tea space during the day. The signature dining experience, though, is modern Chinese, in a stunning space at Nan Bei (literally, South-North). The kitchen is overseen by Beijing-born Chef Matthew Geng, offering up the likes of lobster mapo tofu (which features Kurobuta minced pork and Sichuan pepper) along with a full dim sum menu.

A visit to Lennon’s is a must for record heads. Rosewood Bangkok

The Drinks

Speakeasy-styled Lennon’s Bar, up on the 30^th floor, might just be our favorite spot in the whole building. Entered through an ante-room stacked with vinyl (at 6,000 pieces, it’s among the largest collections in Southeast Asia) and other memorabilia, the musical nostalgia theme continues in the mid-century studio styled bar (think dark corners, dim lights and lavish fittings). Cocktails take their names from classic songs – Fly Me to The Moon, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go – and their cues from long-lost recipes from the 1940s. There’s also a seriously impressive whiskey list.

A dip in the pool comes with views of the city Rosewood Bangkok

The Spa

Inhouse spa Sense takes traditional Thai massage to new heights, with treatments drawn from around the country and across Thai history. The Lanka-Suga, for example, is a 90-minute treatment inspired by techniques introduced by the Persians in the Ayutthaya period (THB 5,200). For all that though, it was the indoor-outdoor, heated salt-water lap pool that kept drawing us back. We particularly enjoyed looking out over the city whilst relaxing in the hydrotherapy jets (who wouldn’t?).

Breakfast at Lakorn with its lush yet understated décor Rosewood Bangkok

The Little Things

Where to start with our favorite touches? From the bottled cocktails in the minibar (courtesy of Everleigh Bottling Co) to the Dyson hairdryer beside the double vanity, no expense has been spared to deliver a truly bespoke and luxurious experience. Rosewood’s Partners in Provenance program really stands out though – a commitment to sourcing food locally and seasonally as much as possible. In the case of breakfast at Lakorn, that means eggs from Tan Khun Organic Farm (an hour outside Bangkok) and pork from artisanal Thai butcher Sloane’s.

The Let-downs

It’s truly hard to find fault here. Fumbling to access the 40-page menu at Lennon’s via a QR code somewhat diminished the experience, but hopefully that’s a pandemic hangover that’ll soon be gone. In fact, they recently launched a range of “ecoCOCKTAILS” to reduce reliance on single-use glass bottles, with a menu printed on sustainable, compostable paper, embedded with flower seeds you can grow!