Skyview Bangkok EM District – A Review By Punam Mohandas
The tagline of the Skyview Bangkok is, ‘The Sky is the Limit’ and I must say that the team leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that guests can experience this to the fullest.
This hotel has a truly enviable location, situated as it is on the prestigious Sukhumvit soi 24. It’s barely two minutes walking from BTS station Phrom Pong and therefore, in the proximity of luxury malls such as EM Quartier and Emporium. No doubt that’s one of the prime reasons it’s extremely favoured by guests from Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East.
The tastefully done up lobby in black and grey overtones is functional and well-lit, with a lot of scattered seating. A centrepiece of startling fuchsia pink orchids, Thailand’s national flower, adds an attractive splash of colour to the space. Off to one side is a display of Art on easels that’s on sale and the collection is changed every three months.
The Skyview Bangkok offers 285-keys across 35-floors, categorized as follows: Premier (30-sqm); Grand Premier (32-sqm); Grand Executive (35-sqm); Skyview Grand Suite (48-sqm) and Skyview Executive Suite (62-sqm). The hotel also caters to the physically challenged with three rooms in the Grand Premier category that have wider doors, support rails and bigger bathrooms.
All the rooms are done up in a neutral beige tone. The Grand Premier rooms are functional and adequate for a comfortable stay. These rooms are equipped with shower cubicles.
I stayed in a Grand Executive room, which is really spacious and well appointed. One enters into a small foyer with a flowering orchid plant and is immediately faced with a huge bathroom with an oval bathtub and huge French windows through which the city skyline can be seen. There’s also a shower cubicle with a rain shower. I liked the attention to detail here; there’s a ledge cut off the floor through which the water goes neatly into the drain and thus, the floor doesn’t have any soapy residue left. The sleeping space is also well laid out, with an armchair and footstool beside the bed facing the large screen television, and a long work station. Furthermore, there are thoughtfully placed vegan snacks such as banana chips, tamarind and Tom Yum peanuts with cute notes that say, ‘feel free to take me home’. Being a corner room, there are plenty of tall windows with good views and a lot of natural light flooding the room.
The Skyview Grand Suite is mainly preferred by long-staying guests. The front room is rather squashed, with a TV, small sofa and large table to one side of the room, while the other has an equally large dining table right in front of the washing machine. This room category is kitted out with a two-plate electric cooking hob, full-size fridge, microwave, coffee machine, electric kettle, cutlery, cooking pans and skillets. The bedroom is a much larger and brighter space, offering a view out over the adjacent Benjasri Park. There’s another TV here and a long, functional work desk, while the bathroom has both shower cubicle as well as bathtub.
The Skyview Executive Suite has similar amenities as the above category, except, of course, that it is much larger in size. There’s a bigger L-shaped settee in the living room and a long, marble slab that serves as the dining table, while the bathtub is oval-shaped.
All the rooms provide two complimentary bottles of water; electric kettle; minibar; electronic safe; slippers; bath robe; iron and ironing board; umbrella and magnifying mirror. Something that I really appreciated is the security factor, where access to the accommodation is only by tapping the room key card against a panel in the elevator.
F&B outlets include the all-day dining Prime & Prime restaurant (100-covers) serving buffet spreads as well as an ala carte menu. This restaurant is segregated into three distinct spaces, with a black streaked marble flooring that’s complemented by clusters of overhanging verdant plants. The Liquid Pool Bar by the swimming pool (80-covers) is a relaxing space that serves drinks and minimal snacks, while the Latin-inspired Mojjo Rooftop Bar (150-covers) has a striking black-and-white flooring and red barstools facing out over the horizon. There’s also the Character Cigar Bar on the 32nd floor, with a rather staggering selection of whiskies, and cigars from Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. It’s a discreet, hushed space, with plush leather seating. The Vanilla Skybar on the 35th floor has comfortable lounge seating in shades of aqua as well as high chairs, offering an encompassing view of Bangkok’s glittering Sukhumvit skyline (from different angles, compared to Mojjo). Apart from this, there are two Japanese outlets – Ten-Show and Yankii – on the lobby level, that are operated by outside management. Room service is available 24-hours.
Recreation facilities at the Skyview Bangkok include the brightly-lit 24-hour Skyfit Fitness Centre with plenty of equipment available and a glass-enclosed outdoor infinity swimming pool with a jacuzzi. There is free wifi across the hotel. Although the Skyview does not have an in-house spa, the Reception staff can organize massages in the room by prior reservation.
Convention options include the Sky Ballroom that can accommodate 300-pax cocktail style and can be partitioned into Sky I & II. There is ample pre-function space on either side of the room, with plentiful seating, while the coffee-and-canape area just in front of the hall is extremely spacious, with sofa as well as bar stool seating. Silver Lining can host 70-pax cocktail style; Sky III can take about 12-pax boardroom style, while Sky V can accommodate 50-pax theatre style and Sky VI can take 30-pax theatre style.
The Front Office team is bright, alert and on its toes. Check in is a really smooth process and done in the blink of an eye. I would be remiss if I did not make a special mention of the Concierge team who are so helpful; I had a really heavy suitcase and they immediately sent someone to my room with a baggage weighing scale so I could check the weight. Housekeeping staff are shy and friendly and leave these endearing touches to the room, such as an elephant fashioned out of a towel, or the good night chocolates on the pillow. They’re also very vigilant when it comes to replenishing amenities. It also must be said the bedding is very comfortable. F&B is eager to please, with unobtrusive, attentive service. The air conditioning and boiler systems are extremely efficient and pest control is good. I have seldom found an owner-driven property that trusts its team to carry out their tasks professionally without undue interference, and kudos go to the owner, Vik Sachdev as well as the General Manager, Hesse Makus.
An area that in my opinion definitely needs some improvement is the food, both in terms of quality as well as menu variety. Also, the music is too loud in the outlets/elevators and can be toned down a notch.
As mentioned, the Skyview Bangkok Hotel is in the vicinity of BTS Phrom Pong and upscale malls such as Emporium and EM Quartier, with their luxury brands and upmarket eateries. The Naraya store, famous for its cloth handbags, is down the road and there are many massage places around the hotel, including the well-run Asia Herb Association near Benjasri Park; the latter, weather permitting, is a green oasis of relaxation in the city. Being so close to the BTS as well as the main Sukhumvit road, there is bound to be some traffic noise, but it isn’t very intrusive, more like a steady thrum.
Phrom Pong is on the Sukhumvit line; the next station is Asoke, prime business district and also home to malls such as Terminal 21. A few more stops get you to Siam, with more malls, restaurants and roadside shopping and the MBK mall within the area. Heading away from Phrom Pong, the next station is Thonglor, full of exclusive and upbeat pubs and bars.
Apart from this, there is plenty to do in Bangkok; you can take in a day tour of the Grand Palace; visit Wats (temples) such as Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun and others; do a ferry cruise down the Chao Phraya river, stopping at China Town, Little India, or Khaosarn along the way; visit a Floating Market, the Flower Market and countless Night Markets. The Chatuchak Market is open only on the weekends, 6am-6pm. You can also do day trips to Ayutthaya; Suko Thai (both erstwhile capital cities of Thailand) Kanchanaburi and the Bridge over the River Kwai; Khao Yai with some Thai vineyards; or Pattaya and Koh Samet.
All major airlines fly into Bangkok and many low-cost ones. From Suvarnabhumi airport to the Skyview Hotel Bangkok, a taxi should cost approximately THB 400 (plus the airport surcharge of THB 50.) Alternatively, you can reserve a hotel car. You can also reach the hotel via the BTS if you’re feeling adventurous and don’t have much luggage; take the Airport Rail Link till Phaya Thai station on the Sukhumvit line (THB 45) and from Phaya Thai, switch to the BTS to Phrom Pong station.
SKYVIEW BANGKOK EM DISTRICT
Tel: +66 (0) 2011 1111
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.skyviewhotel.com
Punam Mohandas asserts her right to be identified as the author of this work. Any views or opinions expressed in this review is that of the author.