Experience the joy of CBD living by checking in at ibis Styles Bangkok Silom, which opened its doors in July. The hotel is artfully decorated with a vibrant colour palette that takes inspiration from the local culture. With easy access to BTS Sala Daeng and MRT Silom, the hotel is designed for savvy travellers looking for a leisurely stay with city conveniences.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I was slightly surprised by the serenity when walking along the alley entrance of ibis Styles Bangkok Silom, which contrasted against the hustle and bustle of Silom. Finding the hotel is quite tricky as it is tucked away between two office buildings, so look for the vivid mural art on the wall of the hotel's entrance. The mural was created in collaboration with the Thai artist Tikkywow, depicting his fresh take on the neighbourhood. The atrium lobby looks picturesque with its brown structure that evokes a glimpse of a rustic wooden warehouse, with a flair of Thainess hidden in its funky interior design.
STAYING IN
Ibis Styles Bangkok Silom offers 264 guestrooms across five different room configurations, ranging from 18m² standard rooms and 38m² family suites. Each guestroom embraces bold colours, with playful interior designs and furnishings. I checked into a standard room on the 4th floor that comes with a "Sweet Bed By ibis" in king size. Each room number on the doors features a symbol of a carnival, whether a Ferris wheel or a carousel -- which had me check every single one of them before heading to mine. The room comes with a navy blue sink and a mustard yellow minibar cart, with an eye-catching cherry-red rotary dial telephone. Contrasting yet complementing, the contemporary vibe is the furnishings that take inspiration from local culture -- the striking bedhead had a "pakaoma" pattern. The open-plan bathroom with a glass shower makes the room a tad less cramped. The floor-to-ceiling window brings plenty of light into the room, but you cannot count on the view and privacy as you are facing office buildings.
As soon as you set foot in the lobby, what will tickle your nose is a whiff of freshly-brewed coffee drifting from the cafe/bar Pop Up. It ticks all the boxes for a quiet setting to work from anywhere, with plenty of sockets and free high-speed Wi-Fi. The atrium-styled lobby gives the room enough daylight from a skylight roof. From day to night, the cafe has social hours covered with a wide selection of drinks; think refreshing juices to a pint of cold beer. Pizza lovers should look out for the 25% discount from noon-4pm. Get your caffeine fix with the coffee roaster/cafe from Singapore, Sarnies, the hotel's partner. The food features international favourites, like the Pop Up burger and Chef salad. Another dining spot is Prung Rod, curated by Apipong "Oak" Detsupha, who has competed in cooking shows, such as Masterchef and Top Chef. The restaurant serves Thai street food favourites, highlighting freshly-made Thai-style noodles and soup.
Adjacent to the reception is stepped seating where you can kick back and relax. The extensive wooden staircase draws all guests to strike a few poses after checking in and before leaving. It looks as impressive as the lobby's interior, as the stair seating showcases the iconic Thai triangle cushions and cushioned seats with a Thai patterned cover. The grassy green carpet flooring boosts a down-to-earth ambience, with natural touches from decorative plants. If you get thirsty, a drinking cart serves (complimentary) infused waters.
The R floor gives you a 180-degree view of downtown Bangkok via large floor-to-ceiling windows. On the right-hand side is the fully-equipped indoor gym. The rooftop has more stepped seating, made of concrete and furnished with colourful seats. The vibe is not as breezy as I expected because my view was surrounded and blocked by taller buildings. However, the long-stretching live-plant wall and the rooftop pool did their job fairly well in providing a relaxing ambience. Tucked away by the green wall is the Bohemian-style rooftop bar, Boho, featuring rum-based cocktails as its signature. Take advantage of the "Sunset Sip Happy Hour", priced at B899 net per person from 6-9pm.
GOING OUT
Being this close to Lumphini Park allows for early morning walks, a breath of fresh air and respite from the concrete jungle. There are plenty of food stalls along your way to the park from which you can grab a quick bite. Silom is famous for its vibrant nightlife and has a plethora of nightclubs and bars. You can get in touch with the roots of this neighbourhood at the Patpong Museum, where B350 gives you a guided tour of the history of Bangkok's most notorious red light district through interactive exhibitions.
FINAL VERDICT
Until January 2023, the hotel is offering up to 15% off with their "Book With Confidence" package rate and each booking offers the Accor Life limitless reward points. Ibis Styles Bangkok Silom is an urban city living at its best. Book via ibisstylesbangkoksilom.com.
