Built from the ground up in 2017, The Lancaster Bangkok is the newest member of the Landmark Lancaster Group which owns a handful of iconic hotels in London, including the Royal Lancaster, The Landmark London and the achingly trendy K-West Hotel & Spa.
Situated in Bangkok’s up-and-coming Makkasan district, the hotel’s location and modern design are already proving popular with business and leisure guests.
Walk into a statement lobby and admire the impressive 50-metre atrium with its gold accents; the grand staircase to the first floor is made out of one piece of marble. The décor throughout the hotel is light, airy and modern; the design extremely functional yet - in part - funky.
A glass lift whisks guests up to all 231 bedrooms, breaking through the roof after the 11th floor to offer incredible city views on all four sides – try this even if your room is on a lower floor.
On the ground floor, guests will find the contemporary Siam Brasserie where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, as well as the Lancaster Bar, perfect for an afternoon beer, pre-dinner drink or late-night cocktail.
The 11th floor Garden Terrace has a retractable canopy roof and can accommodate 200 guests for a cocktail party; the 12th and 14th floors (there is no 13th floor for superstitious reasons) are entirely dedicated to wellness. Here, guests will find a Viva Jiva Spa offering seven treatment rooms, a large gym (Viva Fit) with city views, a yoga studio, smart changing rooms with a steam room and Himalayan salt sauna, and – the ultimate wow factor - a 20-metre outdoor pool with unrestricted views of North Bangkok.
After swimming leisurely lengths, warm up in the raised Jacuzzi or pad to The High Bar for a drink or snack. Our afternoon spent sipping cold Singha beers between swims was the perfect antidote to a morning in steamy Bangkok.
Bedrooms are in nine categories including deluxe rooms, suites, family rooms and apartment rooms. Our Deluxe King room is spacious and well thought-out with floor-to-ceiling windows, a king-size bed, a large desk and a comfortable armchair. Separated by a wall of glass, bathrooms have large roll-tops, walk-in rain showers and iGlass technology to frost the glass at the touch of a button.
The Lancaster Bangkok also has nine meeting rooms, a large ballroom and the Club Lancaster, a lounge for executive guests to enjoy complimentary food and drinks.
We tried the Milky Floral Bath (30 minutes, £18), the Ultimate Aromatherapy Massage with Thai Herbal Compress (120 minutes, £72) and a relaxing foot massage (60 minutes, £29).
My therapist Pim began my spa journey by washing my feet in a bowl of warm water. She then led me to a dimly-lit bathroom and helped me into a floral bath filled with lavender, geranium and ylang ylang, and prettily decorated with red rose petals. Pim then turned off the lights so that I could wallow in the warm, fragrant water for 15 minutes.
Once dry, Pim invited me to lie face down on the treatment bed so that she could begin the Ultimate Aromatherapy Massage.
Using oil containing white tea and lemongrass, Pim began the massage on my neck and shoulders, climbing on the bed at times to work on my knots. She then used a herbal compress containing dried lemongrass, bergamot, chamomile and peppermint to warm and soothe my muscles. After 60 minutes of thorough attention on my back, shoulders, arms and legs, Pim asked me to turn over so that she could work on my front, using the same oil and hot herbal compress.
The treatment ended with a miraculous head massage followed by hot towels on my feet and back. I left the room feeling completely invigorated.
For the foot massage, my therapist, Ying, invited me to sit on a comfortable armchair and washed my feet in a bowl of warm water containing rose petals. She then spent 60 minutes massaging my feet and calves with an invigorating oil, using quick upward strokes to get the blood flowing. I don’t usually like having my feet massaged but Ying’s expert touch meant I could endure the long flight home without my ankles swelling up or my legs aching – the perfect pre-flight treat.
The Viva Jiva spa offers a range of treatments and rituals including Thai and aromatherapy massages, facials, foot massages and herb poultices. All therapists are required to study anatomy before joining the spa to ensure results.
Breakfast is a buffet served in the Siam Brasserie with eggs and omelettes cooked to order, as well as Thai dishes such as noodles with Tofu and curries. There’s also a large section of fruits, juices, meats and cheeses, and a hot bar serving pre-cooked eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms.
Lunch is a salad bar with a range of dressings and toppings including croutons and bacon bits (what’s not to love?); afterwards, take a menu and choose a main course and a dessert for a set price – our salmon with Thai vegetables was light and delicious. Sadly, we didn’t have room for dessert.
Come evening, the Siam Brasserie’s menu is a la carte: our five-course dinner of Thai starters to share – spicy beef salad with Thai vegetables and vegetarian spring rolls – followed by two main courses: freshly-made pasta with beef and asparagus, and lamb chops with root vegetables and cabbage puree (the head chef is Italian) was a triumph.
The open-air pool: Escape the humidity with a swim in the outdoor pool followed by a refreshing drink in the High Bar.
The views: Whether you’re in the lift, in the pool or in your room, you can’t escape the glorious city views (and, frankly, why would you want to?).
Having to leave…
Business guests: The conference and incentive facilities at The Lancaster Bangkok are impressive.
Fitness bunnies: With its huge gym, 20-metre pool and two-storey spa, visitors looking to keep fit - or be pampered - will not be disappointed.
Families: The hotel offers a babysitting service for parents wishing to enjoy dinner in the restaurant or a night on the town.
A visit to The Rib Room: Head to the nearby (and affiliated) Landmark Hotel and tuck into a succulent steak, cooked to your liking and served in front of a sparkling city skyline.
A tuck-tuck ride or boat tour: Bangkok’s traffic is the worst - shun those taxis and see the city the way the locals do.
The street food: For lunch on the run, you can’t beat Bangkok’s street food. Our dish of Thai noodles with tofu and vegetables was delicious (and cost around 50 pence).
One night in a Deluxe King room costs from £109 per person per night, based on two sharing, and includes breakfast, late check-in and a welcome drink.
Stylish Spy
3rd July 2019
Spy Likes:
Minimalist lines; organic products; facial massage; tranquillity; interesting people-watching.
Spy Dislikes:
Discarded towels on loungers; steam rooms that aren't steamy; mobile phones.
