Review: Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel brings its new fuss-free, hassle-free hospitality mantra to Bangkok. And, there, one can think of few places more central and accessible than the Asok intersection with its two Bangkok train networks – the subway as well as the skytrain – crossing their paths right at Asok. So, to be able to entice modern travellers with a trendy co-working style concept just 450 metres away from these stations, in addition to being steps away from one of Bangkok’s few parks – Benchakitti Park – is conducive to being a winning combination for this urban hotel. It also makes an interesting ”case” for Happy Hour Asia to explore further – always happy to explore the latest within hotel stays in Asia and beyond.
’Jono’ is a homegrown Thai brand, from Boutique Corporation PCL, which debuted in Phuket and is followed up with this Bangkok boutique property with just 65 rooms. Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel clearly has an explicit target group in the younger generation but – concluded through this stay – perfectly fits anyone who is young at heart and with an independent mindset.
Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel bedroom detail
Its USP mentions a “select-service lifestyle experience that encompasses everything nomadic travellers require to stay connected without the unnecessary frills of a quintessential hotel experience.” So let’s see what that entails.
Jono also arrives at an interesting juncture for hospitality in Southeast Asia: post-Covid 19, a number of long-lasting backpacker hotels in a key destination like Bangkok have actually come to the end of their life cycle – closed down for good! Combine that with the arrival of new low-cost hotel concepts such as capsule hotels, as well as residential rental options – and you have a scene paving the way for changing patterns within hotel stays. And this is being evolved further (worldwide) with the emergence of new hospitality concepts merging co-working/co-living with short- and long stays. It is in that “segment” where Jono best fits the evolving market needs – where the workspace is fluent and flexible and where many companies increasingly rent shared work spaces instead of own office spaces. So called digital nomads passing through will clearly find a ”home” here.
So, for travellers to Bangkok with needs to get some job done and to perhaps conduct some meetings downtown, but with less needs for the standard built-in services offered by four- and five-star hotels, Jono’s concept can be a great match!
It really fits independent leisure travellers, including couples, too, given the quality standard Jono’ compact hotel concept represents in terms of beds and essential amenities.
While the hotel does not serve breakfast it offers snacks and drinks for free throughout your stay, amd while the rooms are small luggage – thanks to smart configuration – can be stored under the bed! Maximizing the space is in focus for Jono’s layout of the accommodation choices that include ’Recharge’, ‘RechargeX’ and ‘Snooze Black-Out’. Smaller size benefits lower room prices.
Hotel corridor
Getting there from either of Bangkok’s two airports can be via public transportation, in the case of the Airport Link from Suvarnabhumi a station is only two stops away from the Asok MRT subway stop. From Don Muang there is also a train, that then changes to MRT or the skytrain – in order to get downtown. At Asok, the best way to cross busy Sukhumvit road is via the Skytrain station, instead of an often lengthy wait for green light.
The hotel sancturary is located down a side road, ’soi 16’, a road mostly with residential buildings and also some restaurants, bars and cafés to explore. The eye-catching hotel building best shines through in the evening, with the partly neon-lit lobby interior and the façade’s neon purple ”string” snaking along the wall from window to window – windows that thanks to their design (with some imaginaton) resemble picture frames!
For those who have not visited Thailand for a while this hotel stay can also become the first encounter with the country’s new abundance of cannabis shops and cafés. So Jono shares the lobby with KANA Pure Dispensary, which is hotel operator Boutique’s bespoke cannabis brand recently launched. Who would have thought to get to see that in Thailand! The hotel is still smoke-free mind you, while there is an outdoor smoking area available.
For this brand the lobby also plays a bit with cannabis-style graphic art as part of the interior design. Other than that there is a small counter for the casual check-in, while the rest of this space is dedicated to its co-working/co-sharing space, including a kitchenette filled with snacks and drinks that are complimentary for all guests. It is easy from all rooms to fast get to this self-service kitchenette for coffee, tea, noodle soup etc. and enjoy there or bring to the room.
The uniqueness of this Jono hotel concept, aside the co-working/social lobby, with its cannabis store, really is its special configuration – including basement rooms! To one’s surprise, hidden behind the street-front building is an indoor atrium, and with stairs to get to the room on the opposite side, the hotel’s second building (and even with some rooms between them on each far side). As it turns out the floor levels are at different height between the two, which gives the atrium a unique character, and where there is an indoor garden sitting area at the ground floor.
The backside building and its room configurations also entail basement rooms, but that have daylight via a sunken open space outside the room window. Staying in one of these rooms there is a typical Thai symbol with elephants painted on the opposite wall of this space facing the window
The interior design and décor include also a painting of Bangkok’s signature ‘tuktuk’ transportation vehicle; a dark mustard wall behind the bed; rust coloured cushions (in a addition to four white pillows for the robust and excellent double bed) and a stool by a small work desk; and diagonal, natural-looking, faux-wood flooring in a mix of three hues (greyish, blond and brown).
Atrium at Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel
In line with the compact concept, the indoor fridge is limited to a thin wall fridge, with space for four half litre drinking bottles behind a black tinted glass door. The accommodation is also equipped with branded robes. A white sink is placed in the room, while the bathroom includes a nice white-tiled shower offering a well-regulated water temperature. Air-con is modern, effective and of the quiet type and comes with an air-con control panel with differentiation! Then, there is also the Jono app, with which guests can use to control their rooms as a remote for the TVs and climate control, but also allows communication with the Jono Crew in their native language!
To get something done on the computer the dedicated social space in the cosy lobby is really the preferred (unless someone fancy doing it from the bed) place for good comfort. There are cushion seats on a sofa along a glass wall with round tables on rose gold foots, and electricity sockets spread out. In the middle is a brownish timber table with high stools, while by the street window is another long table and stools, so there are a fair number of seats.
Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel has a winning concept for a digital nomad sanctuary as a preferred sanctuary and offers rooms that will appeal to many modern independent travellers.
DCIM103MEDIADJI_0049.JPG
Atrium at Jono Bangkok Asok Hotel
