Hotel Review: The Sukhothai Bangkok – Club Balcony Room

Situated right smack in the CBD of Bangkok, The Sukhothai Bangkok seems like a world away from the hustle and bustle of the frenetic city with its long, leafy entryway and low-rise setup. This resort-like setting immediately sets it apart from its competitors (in which there are many) and is probably one reason why the property is still going strong despite turning 31 years old this year. 

The hotel is popular among foreigners and locals alike. Bangkok residents come here for their famed chocolate buffet near the lobby and the occasional staycation. The palpable namesake inspiration – that of the Sukhothai ruins – is evident throughout the property including the pillared lobby and even in the choice of decor in all guestrooms. As such, The Sukhothai Bangkok attracts locals looking to connect with their ancient culture as well as foreigners looking for an exotic touch to their hotel stay.

I had previously stayed at The Sukhothai Bangkok in 2014 in their main wing. Since then, the hotel had undergone a refurbishment including the inclusion of club rooms in an annex just opposite. I was invited to stay in the property during a 2022 visit to Bangkok to check out their club offerings.

For guests staying in club rooms, check-in is done at the club lounge. My stay for this particular occasion was at the Club Balcony Room and I was escorted immediately next door when I approached the main lobby after reaching the hotel from the airport.

Club Balcony Room

The Club Balcony Room measures a good 66 square meters – of which 45 square meters is dedicated to the room while 21 square meters is for the balcony itself. The room’s layout is a bit different with the bed facing the window/balcony rather being parallel to it. 

As with the overall theme of the property, the room is mostly decked with wooden elements – few carpets except for a non-furry one in front of the bed which is good for folks who get allergic easily. Traditional Thai elements are evident through carved wall ornaments as well as local flowers and even in the choice of fruits in the fruit basket (replenished daily). 

The room supposedly houses up to two guests but I could easily imagine more people occupying especially with the spacious day bed which doubles as a sofa. 

The minibar includes a Nespresso machine and 4 capsules. Teas include their signature Sukhothai Tea by Saro and there’s even a bottle of chargeable Sukhothai house wine for guests looking for a late night libation.

The highlight of the Club Balcony Room is the spacious balcony which can double as a room in itself. The balcony has its own squarish day bed that can fit at least 3 people plus lounge chairs and a coffee table. Notably, the balcony also has a retractable roof allowing for full usage of the space during rainy days. 

One of the aesthetic elements that stuck with me from my previous stay at The Sukhothai Bangkok were the mirrored surfaces in the bathroom. This is still the case with the newer club rooms. The hotel’s usage of glass is evident with the mirrored walls and tub. The bathroom was also notable with its wooden floors. This is especially helpful when one walks barefooted during odd hours of the day. The surface doesn’t feel as cold as those with marbled / tiled floors. 

The open wardrobe is situated in the same enclosure as the bathroom. Perpendicular to it is the luggage storage section which I found relatively wide – definitely enough to put at least 5 to 6 pieces of medium-sized pieces of baggage. I like how the hotel had thoughtfully placed its luggage storage here to allow guests to quickly retrieve things from their bags after a shower or a wash. I don’t have the habit of hanging all my clothes in hotel rooms since my stays are usually quite short so this was definitely a more convenient setup for me.

As a luxury property, The Sukhothai Bangkok provides for housekeeping services twice a day. The first is the usual daily housekeeping and the second one is the turndown service. I was quite amazed by the impeccable timing – each time, I found my room cleaned after returning from breakfast. 

Club Lounge

The club lounge is a relatively newer addition to The Sukhothai Bangkok, having been built only a few years ago. Since the property does not belong to a major chain, the only way to get access is by booking a club room or through the hotel’s discretionary upgrade to such a room. As such, the club lounge remained relatively quiet during my entire stay – even during afternoon tea and evening cocktails service. 

For everyone’s reference, here is a summary of benefits at the club lounge:

• A la carte breakfast from 6:30AM to 11AM
• Afternoon tea from 2PM to 4PM
• Evening cocktails from 5:30PM to 7:30PM
• Complimentary laundry or pressing of 2 garments or 1 suit per stay
• Complimentary usage of meeting room for 2 hours per stay

The afternoon tea is set up as a buffet with your usual scones and cakes. Staff members go around every table to take drink orders with the drink selection comprising various types of teas including the Sukhothai tea I earlier found in the guestroom as well as coffee.

For evening cocktails, the set up is more elaborate with finger food and Thai savory items. It might be an appropriate substitute for a light dinner for those not wishing to head out. One can also order The Sukhothai Bangkok’s signature cocktail here for drinks.

Breakfast

Guests staying in club rooms have the option of having their breakfast at the club lounge or at Colonnade in the main wing. I still have fond memories of the breakfast service here from my stay 8 years ago so I was curious to see how things have changed. 

Breakfast service is still as classy as I remember, with an elaborate table setup and a space bathed in natural light. While the buffet stations are pretty much concentrated to a particular area, I found the dishes to be of quality. For instance, they offered Jamon Iberico for breakfast which I do not typically see elsewhere. While the honeycombs were not as conspicuous as before, guests can still find jars consisting of various types of honey. Juices are still served fresh as I remembered from my previous stay. Notably, Thai Milk Tea is not readily available here. I had to order it as a customized item. 

In terms of cuisine, guests can expect traditional Thai dishes as well as dedicated Japanese, Western, Chinese and Indian sections. 

Verdict

The Sukhothai Bangkok remains to be a gem in the middle of Bangkok’s hustle and bustle with its unique proposition of offering a quiet low-rise, resort-like environment while remaining firmly within the city’s CBD. Service staff are highly responsive without being intrusive in any way. The hotel’s location in Sathorn may also prove to be a blessing for those who are in Bangkok over the weekend as it’s easier for cabs to avoid the jam here versus staying in Sukhumvit. For those looking at an alternative to stuffy and sometimes soul-less “cloned” chain hotels, The Sukhothai Bangkok offers something more traditional while remaining understated and classy. 

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