Thailand

It is a delight to find a landmark hotel like Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok still being independent and a proud as well as now a refurbished “institution” within the Thai capital’s vibrant hospitality scene. Discover this contemporary Thai gem (serving guests since all the way back in 1967) with Happy Hour Asia!

Let’s start with the location – which is really well-positioned, with access to expressways nearby and with a shortcut to the most recent transportation addition in Bangkok, the subway Samyan station, which is really close to the hotel. This MRT subway also connects to the airport link for those travelling by air. The Sala Daeng BTS station is also only a short walk from the hotel so getting around in the city is easy! And for a stroll or run in the park, Lumphini Park is also really close by the hotel. There is also a night market and a supermarket nearby. And Montien Surawong houses – in a Thai pavilion – a Burger King. There is also a Starbucks and many other outlets within its shopping centre ‘Montien Mall’, situated right next to the hotel and promoted as part of the facilities. Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok also promotes things in its surroundings such as Chinatown, the book hub Neilson Hays Library and Sam Yan Mitrtown – a mall with a retail zone that houses top Thai and international brands, a roof top terrace, a 24-hour food court with 10 reputable restaurants from the surrounding neighbourhoods etc. As a five star hotel, nearby attractions are sought after by in particular its foreign leisure guests.

Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok – The Revival of the Original

The hotel itself boasts a quite intriguing past, which is now part of its history as it has undergone a transformation the new Montien, presented as ‘The Revival of the Original’. The story tells that in “it quickly became one of Thailand’s most-loved institutions, and a landmark destination adored by royalty, film stars, and discerning travellers from across the globe. They flocked to The Montien to enjoy its renowned hospitality and unique style – unlike any other hotel in Bangkok. In the decades that followed, Montien Hotel on Surawong Road, with its distinctive architectural style and interior design rich in Thai art, was one of the go-to destinations in Bangkok for international business travellers, Hollywood actors, rock stars, and a host of other notable visitors. The hotel was among the top choices for accommodation, dining, social gatherings, and entertainment. Many leading Thai actors made their mark at Montienthong Theatre, while legendary musicians and singers performed in the Cocktail Lounge Montiehong and Casablanca Nightclub. Many celebrities danced the night away in AN AN Flair Dancing Oasis”.

Following these heydays, today, the hotel certainly serves cocktails but the nightclub activities with ballroom dancing have given up their space to other very brisk MICE activities, such as private parties, wedding, seminars and conferences.

And what does this new revived Montien have in store for us travellers? Entering a new era, the Montien Hotel has been brought up-to-date using innovative designs and technology, turning this artistic heritage into a lifestyle hotel that captures the true essence of Thai hospitality. With this formula the hotel can appeal also to those among the Millennials and Generation Z seeking a more unique experience.

Meanwhile, the hotel will for sure also appeal to guests seeking tradition, given how Montien Hotel places importance on its heritage, mixing new design with original features.

Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok can provide these guest types with a combination of hi-tech – including ultra high speed internet – and contemporary Thai top-quality accommodation with the finest Thai traditional hospitality, including a strong element of personalisation.

The guest welcome card in the room highlights the ‘Homely embrace of Montieness’, to discover new experiences which respect the rich history of the past.

Discerning art at Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok

Looking at the façade, to begin with, it has been kept in its original form that clearly stems from another decade (in this case the 1960s). On each level the windows are placed in different columns, giving the building character. The hotel is also placed in juxtaposition next to the Thai pavilion.

Entering the South Wing into the refurbished main lobby and the Garden Lounge now feels a bit like a saloon with a very discerning art collection, and where a large mural immediately ends up in the spotlight. Made by a master painter it is distinctly oriental, depicting life around Ayutthaya Palace during old Siam’s glorious era. A curved marble staircase with brass baluster railing leads up to the mezzanine meetings floor.

It is an elegant setting with book shelves and floor-to-ceiling shelves in vintage style displaying artefacts. Furniture mainly consist of grey-blue sofas, classic style and upholstered lounge chairs in orange or blue high-back armchairs made with silk. It also boasts more modern like marble counters with stools where guests can conduct laptop work, or chat over drinks for that matter.

This stylish lobby lounge, ideal for informal meetings, social gatherings, evening drinks, and live entertainment, serves a selection of beverages, wines, and light fare.

The lobby is also filled with natural light via its glass ceiling, while the new appealing check-in desk has a golden wall as backdrop with temple-style arch formations that form nods to Thai Buddhism.

There also touches from the colonial era, such as the black-white shining new floor tiles inside the glass doors.

The second, ‘North’, wing is reached via a walkway or the second entrance, where one walks onto a symmetric inlaid black and white marble floor resembling a carpet, with a round, wooden table for floral decor at its centre. And behind it is a curved marble staircase worthy of a palace, with a rose-hued wall, wall lamps, golden baluster railing. And hanging down at the centre of the staircase, from the ceiling of the floor above: a chandelier-like lamp art piece with hundreds of glass leaves – some in neutral glass, some in autumn yellow. You will be drawn towards this wonderful hotel feature.

Then, when one comes up to the accommodation floors, each one has teak wood and custom-made wall paintings on canvas with interesting objects from the world of animals (elephants, white horses etc.) and nature as well as temple details. The artworks from legendary Thai artist Paiboon Suwannakudt are also a core part also of the interior in the rooms, as printed paintings cover wall areas – along with floor-to-ceiling mirrors – by the window also next to the bed.

Thai Khomapastr fabric also accent the room, including on the headboard (Thai textile padding), which also has gently curved corners.

The Junior Suite California King (there are also Deluxe and Premier rooms) has an impressive size of 56 square meters, starting with a foyer with an open wardrobe, beige faux-wood tiles bedroom floor and all-white walls.

The white-tiled bathroom (brick size tiles and with two black separation markers) has a colonial-retro feel in keeping with the former Straits colony), furnished with a self-cleaning toilet, a tub, a brass-framed mirror with curved corners, and a vanity with a second huge mirror.

Aside equipped with an espresso machine whisky and gin bottles are on on display on a shelf while the mini bar is hidden in a cabinet, with geometric-style pattern in metal blue on the front of the door.

A large flat screen TV mounted on the wall that can be turned at an angle.

The bed with its very thick mattress (flanked by vintage style bed lamps), and beige silk bedroom bench are surrounded by a grey floor carpet. In the corner is a vase lamp, a grey sofa, a wine red chair with bespoke wood carving and a round coffee table with black-tinted glass top (n another room type there is a vivid carpet with a both floral and abstract design, flanked by a bright lounge sofa).

It’s a bright and pleasant suite, with nicely balanced Thainess and modernity.

An interesting choice for families is also the Junior Suite Double-Double featuring two extra-large beds.

Afternoon tea served in the room is nice to enjoy upon an early afternoon arrival – with cake, home-made jam, whipped cream, pastries, sandwiches, croissants with filling, served on a classic style two-tier high tea tray – while overlooking the pulsating traffic outside, through the window.

Ruenton’s famous chicken and rice

When it comes to the dining the focus in this review falls on the retro -modern eatery Ruenton, which takes authentic Thai/Chinese street food to delicious new heights.

Newly arrived guests will soon find out that there is a chicken and rice and luncheon frenzy going on at this hotel, with lots of outside guests coming in for lunch. And after all it is recognized by the Thai Michelin guide as one of the best of its kind!

This hotel is also known as the ‘chicken and rice’ hotel, since it is famous for its chicken and rice – a very common street-side meal in Southeast Asia. Any foodies with knowledge about Asia will know that something as simple as a staple food dish should not be taken lightly. People are even willing to travel across borders in order to enjoy a certain dish cooked in a special way by a restaurant or hawker stall – oftentimes based on a recipe by family that has kept servicing it for many generations!

When it comes to Thailand everyone will have their favourite kitchen for the chicken and rice dish, where the broth alone can be amazing!

Ruenton serves its signature Hainanese Chicken Rice or ‘Montien Chicken Rice’ – in big quantities dialy; especially at lunch time – as a legendary dish on the menu for over 40 years, and that was also recognized by the Micheline BIB Gourmand Guide 2019-2020.

The chicken rice set comes with a bowl of rice, chicken, soup, and four different sauces. Its rice is out of this world, cooked, and seasoned in a custom-made oven to preserve the aroma. The chicken meat is poached for an hour and served cold to prevent it from being overcooked; the meat is topped with sesame oil for a unique aroma. The sauces are: 1) Original soy sauce mixed with garlic, ginger and chilli; 2) Sweet- dark soy sauce: 3) Sesame oil with shredded ginger; and 4) The formula 2 sauce was adjusted from the original soy sauce for a mild taste. And here the soup is winter melon soup, served in a large bowl. The whole meal is quite filling and the taste of it all superb!

Other recommended dishes are the Stir-fried turnip (a root vegetable) cakes with prawn, chives and egg (also picked by the Michelin Guide); Roasted duck and the very sumptuous Thai favourite dish Organic pomelo salad with grilled white prawns (salad mixed with shrimp paste, dried shrimp, and dried coconut). In Thailand the pomelo fruit is really hard to beat as a fruit ingredient, especially when combined with seafood!

Dim sum fanatics also get their fair share with the top-notch choices Xiao Long Bao, Chinese soup dumpling; and Pork Shu Mai, steamed pork dumpling.

For dessert the Sesame dumpling in ginger tea is rather unique, consisting in roasted sesame mixed with sugar and flour, served in hot sweetened ginger soup.

Ruenton also presents a monthly specialty menu, including for instance Egg noodles in Northern style chicken curry, or Fried chicken wings with chilli red wine sauce

Another dish creates curiosity: Stir-fried Chinese olives with minced pork. Yes, indeed the olives are from China – from Guangdong in south China.

Ruenton perfectly reflects the revival of the original and has two sections, one with modern new interior materials and daylight flooding in from floor-to-ceiling windows, while the other section further inside more represents the old design dominated by a natural green interior: the distinct colour used for wall tiles and leather padding on sofas attached to the walls.

This section also has particular frosted glass partition walls, while the ceiling is rustic with the air condition system exposed and with interesting tilted metal screens and lamps that could fit a workshop well, along with chairs made by metal and wood.

The restaurant now has an open kitchen with cooking stations and counters, so the entire Chicken rice cooking process can for instance be observed by guests. There are also objets d’art from the hotel owner’s private collection.

The brighter section comes with a modern black-and-white tiled floor consisting in small hexagon shapes that form a classic-inspired pattern. And one white wall panel has mounted bright blue tiles with tilted sides, forming something of a brick wall.

The furniture is elegant and timeless: chocolate brown sofas and armchairs with mustard-hued padding and bespoke pillows, and wooden black tables. Frames with pictures from the hotel’s historic moments are hung on one wooden wall panel.

Retro feel at Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok

Elsewhere, Phar-Ram IV Bistro (named after the road outside, Rama 4) also has a discerning classic-retro feel, including colonial style wall lamps, rattan-wooden armchairs, arched metal frames etc. It is furnished with a wide, white marble bar counter and bar stools at the centre, with bakery and pastries on display trays, beer taps and a large coffee machine.

Stylish shelves have various crystal glasses, bowls and vases on display. And on another one: spirits! This bistro serves snacks, soups and salads, sandwiches, main courses and desserts and is perfect for a coffee and a bit to eat during the day. Come evening this eatery transforms seamlessly into a lively little wine bar offering tapas, a wine-friendly bistro menu, and great company.

And finally a must to mention is the outdoor pool on top of a roof, which is flanked by a quite large Thai pavilion housing a pool bar. The blue pool is in decent size, oval and with day beds along its sides. There is also wall by its side that has a unique, antique clay brick material with nods to ancient Thailand. Left without refurbishment it remains intact in the revived original – Montien Hotel Surawong Bangkok.