The high life

With a sensational pool and bar, this is a notable new addition to Bangkok’s hotel scene that offers a taste of the high life without the hefty price tag, writes Rob McFarland.

Finding genuine wow factor in Bangkok

The hotel

Innside by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit.

Check-in

This is Thailand’s first Innside hotel, a sub-brand of Spanish hospitality group Melia that aims to appeal to travellers with “curious minds and fluid lives” (whatever that means). Look past the marketing spiel, though, and you’ll find a swish high-rise with genuine wow factor.

Check-in takes place in the Open Living Lounge, a spacious reception area on level 32 with sweeping city views through floorto-ceiling windows.

You’ll find equally beguiling vistas in Kites Eatery, an all-day restaurant on the floor below, and in the flagship restaurant, Luz Bangkok Tapas Bar, on the floor above. The crowning showstopper? An Ibiza-cool rooftop pool with bar, daybeds and an Insta-ready giant swing.

The look

Sleek, stylish and contemporary with discreet nods to Bangkok’s heritage.

The Open Living Lounge has a striking wall-mounted golden artwork inspired by two of the city’s temples, while the twostorey Kites Eatery features soaring gold lamp posts and kite-shaped cut-outs in honour of those flown in Sanam Luang park.

But again, it’s the uppermost floors that really dazzle, particularly at night. After sundown, Luz Bangkok’s outdoor elliptical bar glows sapphire blue and basks in swirling projections from a giant wallmounted LCD.

The room

The property’s 208 rooms fall into two main categories – compact 20-squaremetre Innside rooms and more spacious 40sqm Townhouses with a separate bedroom and lounge. Both feature a largely all-white decor, which, although clean and bright, feels a little sterile, as if you’ve woken up in a fancy hospital suite.

You’ll find all the essentials, such as comfortable mattresses, 127cm flat screen TVs and international power sockets with USB ports. Premium touches include a small fridge with complimentary soft drinks, grey towelling bathrobes and – in the Townhouses – Marshall speakers and Dyson hair dryers.

Sustainability is front and centre, with refillable toiletries, glass water bottles and a ban on single-use plastics. One curious feature of the Innside rooms is an islandstyle sink in the centre of the room – a bewildering design decision which means you’re a metre away from the nearest mirror.

Food and drink

Guests looking for a quick snack can grab something from the cafe in the Open Living Lounge or from a menu of Western dishes and elevated Thai street food in the all-day Kites Eatery.

But the standout venue is Luz Bangkok Tapas Bar, both for its spectacular rooftop locale and excellent Spanish-influenced fare. Helmed by Laia Ferrer, a dynamic young chef from Barcelona who’s worked in several Michelin-starred kitchens, it offers a crowd-pleasing menu of Spanish classics (like Iberico ham croquetas, blistered Padron peppers and seafood paella), many of which feature a Thai twist.

Sit on the terrace and you’ll not only get to savour a mesmerising view of the twinkling city skyline but also the glassbottomed pool above.

Out and about

The property’s location to the east of the city in the residential On Nut neighbourhood means that – aside from a handful of shopping malls – there’s not a lot within walking distance.

Fortunately, there’s a BTS Skytrain station two minutes away, so it’s easy to get into the thick of it, and the hotel is only a 30-minute drive (Bangkok traffic permitting) from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The highlight

A delicious marianito cocktail featuring Caorunn gin in Luz Bangkok.

The lowlight

Having to navigate three sets of switches to turn off all the lights in my room.

The verdict

A notable new addition to Bangkok’s skyrise hotel scene that offers a taste of the high life without the hefty price tag.

The essentials

Rooms from $135. Three accessible rooms. 1472 Sukhumvit Road, Phrakanong, Klongtoey, Bangkok.

See: melia.com