It has been a long, long wait for The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, but the whimsical luxury brand today finally opens its doors.
The rooms: Boasting 155 rooms from 40 to 144sqm, visitors can look forward to modern but stylish vintage orange tones and low-to-mid-level city views throughout — as well as a hanging mid-room TV and a smart toilet. Expect soaking tubs, rain showers, and a convenient bedside light control system that a lot of hotels could learn from.
The vibe: The ’60s retro color scheme smacks you in the face as soon as you step on the elevator. This theme continues through the hallways and dining venues — but always in different ways. The lobby and main hall is very bold and bright like a mix of The Jetsons and Soul Train, but the hallways to the rooms go a bit more moody and heavy, like a cruise ship.
With design from the inimitable Jaime Hayon, expect original high-end art and sculptures here; artwork will rotate through the space as time goes on. Also, (it’ll take you a while to really take this in), but the music throughout is exceptionally curated for the retro space.
The food and drink: This is where things get properly interesting. Sure, it’s nice to have a capricious The Standard hotel in Bangkok’s coolest building, but, for us, the food was always going to be the star of the opening. First of all, we’ve already taken a look at Ojo, but there’s also the Standard Grill, Mott 32, and Parlor.
At The Standard Grill l, you can look forward to American fare with fine dining flair — charcoal grill, carrots, greens, tableside cocktails, the whole shebang. The fresh flavors come hearty and filling — proper comfort food like the main course of John Dory, lamb cutlets, and Copper Tree farm tenderloin on one plate.
The Cantonese restaurant Mott 32, named after the 32 Mott Street in New York, is still unknown to us dish-wise, but the design, complete with hidden doors (and what place isn’t these days), is dark, sexy, and sharp. Their private dining rooms would be a great place to threaten James Bond — Connery, not Craig. Peking ducks hang at the entrance, so there is a lot to be excited about.
There’s also the Tease tea room. Though small, it’s got a real Tim Burton vibe and will be hot with those who travel for their Instagram.
The amenities: Gym rats will find Peloton bikes and a whole wall of Clmbr gear in a space filled with natural light. The pool — hemmed in by white and yellow brollies — overlooks the city and there is a nearby bar on hand for light dishes and craft cocktails
The crowd: The Standard is geared toward the fashionable and design-forward. There’s also a party vibe in the Parlor — the self-styled social center of the venue. On our visit they had Not Your Average Bingo, which was hosted along with a drag performance and Happy New Year kitsch decking out every table.
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‘The Standard’ will finally open at Mahanakhon – this month
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