Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada – at the heart of Bangkok’s expanding downtown

Swissotel’s address in Bangkok on Rathadapisek is not new. However, its name, Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada, is (recently changed). And what is brand new in the hotel is its refurbished, street-facing Deli Swiss. What is also relatively recent is the extensive city development in the area, so much so that this hotel now finds itself to be nearby Bangkok’s “mid-town” central business district (as the mega city’s density keeps on growing).

Overall, Ratchadapisek road – a major artery in Bangkok’s congested road network – has a lot of traffic, and with lots of office- and residential buildings along it, especially around Rama 9, it very much feels like part of downtown these days. Since the arrival of the MRT subway the development in the area has been relentless. Bangkok has also developed multiple downtowns somehow; this being one of them, merging with Asok road towards Sukhumvit road. Skyscrapers and shopping centres have mushroomed at Rama 9 station (where Fortune Town can also be found – a Mecca for IT and electronics).

And one station away from the hotel the slightly smaller shopping mall Esplanade and nearby Huai Kwang nightmarket is situated – one of these hotspots for inexpensive street clothes design, silks, cosmetics, bars and food stalls.

Huai Khwang MRT station is also conveniently located just 200 metres from the hotel – a fabulous means of transportation to quickly reach other parts of the city (via this subway, the airport link and the skytrain network).

Consequently, Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada is very much part of the pulse of this precinct, and most probably constitutes this road’s most fancy address. The hotel is a draw for both business (domestic, regional and international) and leisure; including the luxurious Spa De Concorde designed as contemporary Thai, a large outdoor swimming pool and a large, state-of-the-art fitness centre with steam rooms. The hotel also includes large meeting and convention facilities.

If the arrival to the hotel takes place in the evening the illuminated entrance has already come to life, looking even more majestic: high-rising black pillars both outdoors and inside a soaring glass frontage, with a white contrasting ceiling. And at the centre of a very impressive lobby: a high-vaulting ceiling stretching up to the meeting floors (to which there are also curved staircases), featuring a stately chandelier and a European-style ceiling mural. Underneath it is a large table with an art piece and floral decoration positioned on a round bespoke carpet, flanked by seating, including curved semi-circle sofas. To the left a long sandy marble check-in counter is found.

It is all a timeless grandeur that this lobby exploits to the fullest. After all, this is Swissotel, which is a manifestation of the brand’s Swiss heritage and hospitality, with an exclusive selection of hotels worldwide since 1980, with “cutting-edge amenities & luxuriously designed accommodation accentuated by unique local character”. Their quality in service is partly demonstrated through ensuring that individual guest needs are anticipated and exceeded – which was indeed the experience during this stay.

From hectic days out in the city it will be a nice escape to return to Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada, with its warm and welcoming look and feel – something of a hidden gem in Bangkok. And for guests with more time to spare it is easy to while away an entire day without leaving the hotel.

Both lunch and dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel’s three adjacent restaurants 204 BISTRO (international dining, normally also serving weekend brunches), Loong Foong Chinese Restaurant or Takumi for authentic Japanese cuisine.

Deli Swiss also serves lunch, and right after that follows the highlight for those who love to sup on scones and sip artisan teas: Afternoon tea during three long hours. This package comes with a choice of different flavours of tea, coffees and a “mini buffet” that includes such classics like scones with cream and jam; fruit tart; egg tart, bagels with shrimp salad bagels, macarons etc.

One seating feels like a VIP area, which is inside a cage-like area, resembling an oversized basket food cover. There are also creamy brown leather armchairs, round coffee tables and one wooden long table with pin chairs.

The interior design comes with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the street, and black-white marble on walls and mini-pillars. There are built-in book shelves along one wall, flanked by blue high-back vintage style, velvet upholstered purple chairs; combined with beige sofas, turned in opposite directions.

This laidback and stylish cafe also offers fabulous pastries and mouth-watering cakes such as Strawberry yoghurt cheese cake, Chocolate cupcape, Bundner nut cake (traditional sweet, caramelised nut-filled pastry from Switzerland), Carrot cake and Swiss chocolate muffin. It also serves a selection of wines!

With ample seating Deli Swiss is something of a best-kept secret in Bangkok when it comes to finding top-notch bakery and cakes combined with coffee and tea, offering real value for money too. So this is a splendid spot for social meetings, business chats or working discreetly on one’s laptop. It will from now on be our go-to spot for such needs when visiting this part of Bangkok!

Going up to the accommodation (407 rooms and suites), the lifts have stylish interiors with blonde wood mirrors and floors of inlaid marble. The corridors to the rooms have a mood of darker hues and deluxe modern environs.

Oozing a perfect blend of classic style and contemporary comfort, the Deluxe King Club room is spacious; looking on to the pool below and the street beyond it. It’s a sanctum of soft lighting and muted colours – a subtle palette of beige and grey. The headboard is in padded leather, with blonde wood and accented by bright yellow bed lamps, while a velvet lounge chair and a round table stands beside the bed, with a fruit basket with the compliments of the hotel. A wall mirror produces further visual space perception.

By the window there is a dark timber regal work desk with a comfy upholstered armchair in gray velvet. Among the amenities is an espresso machine.

The bathroom is decked out in discerning, sandy wavy-veined marble and as toiletries the hotel uses Purovel – Swiss-made bath products, whose ingredients grow in an Alpine garden (there are also Purovel signature massages to try at the spa).

The well-equipped gym ‘Studiofit’ comes with Star Trac machines, while the lap pool also offers the opportunity for a good exercise session combined with relaxation and sunbathing on daybeds. The pool also has a shallow children’s zone.

A solid workout deserves reward! Back to the ground floor, where 204 BAR (only steps away from the restaurants) provides the perfect spot for a discreet tipple, as well as the ideal setting for a post-dinner drink from the bar’s mixology expert.

But Swiss Executive Club Lounge access is otherwise highly recommended. Upon this visit the club lounge and its evening cocktails is temporarily moved to the cosy setting of Deli Swiss, with its subtle evening lighting and perfect lounge vibe.

And what a surprise: Sparkling wine to start with, together with plates (as many as one can eat) of antipasti, including bruschetta with mozzarella and cherry tomato, chorizo, cheese, ham, grapes, biscuits, olives and also some Thai canapés. A nice Chardonnay wine is served as well as red wine, mocktails and cocktails with playful titles: Fast Check-in: (Whiskey, club soda), Late Check-out (Forest Berry Infused Gin, Schweppes), Upgrade (Havanna rum 3Y, Pepsi cola, lime), Feel Welcome (Lime Juice, Mint, Soda Water) and VIP Sunrise (Orange juice, grenadine).

At breakfast there are even more Swiss surprises, including a vegetarian dish as well as Swiss Rösti (a traditional dish of fried grated potatoes). There is excellent home made bircher muesli, bread pudding, blueberry yoghurt, homemade blueberry jam, cold cuts, wafels with cream and syrup, excellent bakery and a number of hot dishes ubiquitous in a breakfast buffet etc.

It is all to satisfaction, just as the overall experience is at this five-star Bangkok hotel!