SPIRAL IN THE SKY
After much anticipation, the
The top 27 floors of Central Embassy will soon have a new host — the Park Hyatt Bangkok. Among the slate of new hotels to open in the city this year, this luxury property by the Hyatt brand is one of the most exciting, its reputation preceding its arrival by miles. Set for a May 12 opening, the hotel has had reservations coming in since January and has already landed a spot in Monocle’s Most Anticipated Hotel Openings.
The finishing touches are rounding off a long preparation. From the outside, the twisted-coil structure is immediately attention-grabbing, an asymmetrical beauty on the Ploenchit skyline. Inside, the clean, sleek lines go for full urban sophistication, with a light and elegant mood. The central spiral staircase is sure to be a talking point, especially the ephemeral, confetti-like sculpture that also speaks of a subtle Thai flavour.
In fact, elements of Thai aesthetics course through the decor of what seems to be a purely modern facility — not in an intrusive, Orientalist way, but more tasteful and inspirational. For instance, the aforementioned hanging installation, the paintings in some of the guest rooms, and the overhead black decoration inspired by the great Naga in one of the restaurants. London-based Amanda Levete and Bangkok-based Pi Design have worked on the space and imbued it with their respective signatures.
Bangkok is the latest among the 30 Park Hyatt hotels in the world, joining Siem Riep, Saigon, Goa, Maldives, Shanghai, Seoul, Vienna and Zanzibar.
Recently a group of journalists were invited to spend a night at Park Hyatt Seoul. Located right in the Gangnam district, the hotel is compact in size but a comprehensive embodiment of the boutique luxury the brand has been known for. Rather understated in mood, the place has an urban, contemporary vibe that will please business travellers also looking for style, while luxury-loving guests will find nothing amiss.
The Bangkok property is more spacious, with a brighter, livelier feel, fitting for a hotel located right in the most vibrant neighbourhood of the city. There are 222 guest rooms, including 32 premier suites, all featuring panoramic views of Bangkok.
On the dining scene, Park Hyatt Bangkok will have Franck Detrait as executive chef to look after its several dining and drinking venues. The Embassy Room and Living Room are the main dining outlets, with Detrait planning to fuse Western and Asian culinary influences. (In Seoul, he showed his creativity and flair with many stylish dishes.) The Bar, meanwhile, specialises in whiskey and Champagne, and the highlight is on the top three floors crowning the building. This is the Penthouse Bar and Grill, the hotel’s signature entertainment complex, complete with International Grill Restaurant, Cocktail Bar with DJs, VIP Lounge, Speakeasy and Sky Bar. Several Bangkok hotels, of course, feature top-floor or rooftop venues, and the Penthouse Bar and Grill will doubtless make for a distinctive addition.
In a month’s time, the Park Hyatt will be ready; in the meantime, Bangkok has something exciting to look forward to.