With all the gentrification around Bangkok, it is sometimes a joy when the old is replaced with the new. Such is the case of Maison Hotel Bangkok on the infamous Sukhumvit 4.
Maison Hotel is what used to be the Rajah Hotel, but has been completely rebuilt and apart from being on the same plot bears zero resemblance to the old. Though the actual entrance is via Sukhumvit 2, it is also accessible via Sukhumvit 4 and the minute you enter the premises, it’s like an oasis in the soi. If you get my drift.
A black and white theme dominates the hotel, with the colonial architecture-inspired façade possessing a delicate sense of nostalgia. The poolside terrace front is just off the main restaurant and faces the hotel but at the same time seems private.
The rooms cater to all wallets but the Kiri Suite is where it’s at. The bathroom in the suite is large enough to hold a few parties, one being in the bathtub, which can easily fit four people. It also comes with a rain shower… what’s not to love?! The Japanese toilet is a huge plus in my book, as are the his and her sinks and the large vanity. The TV includes a few Indian channels and I even had my Bollywood fix.
Breakfast is served at Naa, which is the hotel’s all-day dining space. It’s a wholesome breakfast and offers a huge variety of Asian and Western dishes. It is perhaps the only hotel I’ve been to in Bangkok that offers the entire range of ChaTraMue, which pairs well with the Khao niao moo ping or Sticky rice with grilled pork, which is grilled fresh and brought to your table.
You are spoilt for choice at Maison Hotel when it comes to places to eat. The hotel has five outlets, including Naa, that caters to various appetites and diets. The Mani is perhaps the best place to eat in the evenings. Comfort food is given a new twist so expect dishes like Spaghetti with northern Thai sausage or sai oua. Though it is not the food that you go for — it’s the view. Since the restaurant and bar has wide windows and outdoor seating facing Sukhumvit 4, it is a good place to people watch and see the action without being part of it. The dinner menu is the same at Mani and at Naa.
Yardbird is a craft café nestled in a green corner at the front of the hotel. Enjoy a selection of coffee and other drinks with freshly-baked croissants and pastries. Super Bowl is the place for donburi, but also serves non-rice sets. It’s a combination of izakaya-style food and bar offering speciality sake and Japanese liquors.
The star of the culinary offerings at Maison Hotel is Saan Somtum Bar, which if the name isn’t a give-away, serves decent northeastern Thai fare. There are a variety of som tam to choose from, with heat level as authentic as it can get. The Tom sap was exactly how I like it, sour, tangy and spicy. The Fried fish with a raw mango herby salad hit the spot.
The hotel has a gym with the latest equipment but it’s at Bulann Moonlight Spa where you’ll feel relaxed the most, out of that bathtub, that is. Combining Thai traditional wisdom with modern sensibility, the spa is much like a Japanese onsen in its aesthetic. It offers a range of spa treatments, massage and body therapy packages that aims at restoring the balance in body and mind. I highly suggest the signature massage, which combines Thai and Swedish techniques along with a mini facial. The hotel also has a yoga studio, kid’s club and a lounge.
If you’re planning on staying local for the Thai New Year, Maison Hotel Bangkok is offering a Songkran package until March 31, with stays from April 12-16. Visit the hotel’s website.
