In the past whenever I have been traveling my priority has always been restaurants and experiencing a city, but hotels were more less indifferent as long as the location was good. In recent years that has changed. I more and more appreciate the nice services that luxury hotels offer, the quality of the bed and the kindness of the people.
So when I recently visited Bangkok for vacation staying at Four Seasons was something I had to try.
The hotel is quite new as it opened in 2020. However it has already made a name for them selves being ranked 3th on the inaugural list of World 50 Best hotels while their bar BKK Social Club has been rated 13th on the similar list for bars.
It’s a hotel that impresses you from the moment you enter. Even the lobby is breathtaking. Walking to the reception I thought to myself that the lobby might as well have been part of a museum. It’s a great mix of minimalistic design but beyond that the “common area” holds a a series of smaller cosy spaces to enjoy lunch, a coffee break or even taking a Thai class.
One of these places is the coffee bar. I am almost just a big coffee snob as I am a food snob so to be able to enjoy great quality coffee from V60 where the beans are handgrinded when you order is a very big plus for me. As it is many of the social areas can be found outside overlooking the Chao Phraya River whether being the swimming pool or one of the 3 restaurants making it so you don’t want to leave the hotel.
For that reason the hotel naturally has a restaurant that caters to every need of the visitor whether it being a French brasserie, classic Italian, fine-dining restaurant or a proper pastry shop. So regardless of you are a traveling foodie such as my self, a single business traveler or a family with kids you have some great options.
Social Club is based on color-full Argentinian cocktail traditions and history. A fitting concept for a cocktail bar is that it is grand with its high ceilings, cosy booths and retro design. Naturally they also serve a simple food menu based on classic stables such as sliders, lobster “tacos” and chicken wings. Simple, luxurious and delicious. Being ranked 13th in the world your expectations towards service, design and not least the creativity and flavor of the cocktails are high.
I got quite excited and happy with the cocktails so it’s fair to say that I ordered more than expected. Especially the pistachio margarita was exceptional. In fact probably the best cocktail I have ever had this combined with the impressive design it lives up to the ranking on W50B and makes for an impressive addition to the hotel and a destination on its own right.
The same can be said for Yu Ting Yuan. In a classic fine-dining setting chef Tommy Cheung and his team serves a menu of authentic Cantonese dishes from Peking duck to dim sum and Chinese barbecue. The best thing would be to go in a group so you can order the peking duck. Entering the restaurant and watching it being carved got my mouth running and impressive with their skills. Naturally you have the option of a la carte or tasting menu. My favorite on the tasting menu was an extremely rich and gelatins mushroom soup. A strong recommendation is also to pair your meal with some of their wonderful teas. After all the richness of Cantonese cooking
The actual hotel room is naturally also a big part of any hotel experience. We would spend two days in an impressive junior suite. A perfect big soft bed overlooking the river is naturally the center of the room. Like the rest of the hotel the rooms are very nicely designed. Classic, sophisticated simplicity, and cosy are the first words that comes to mind. A design that put a smile on my face and made me want to spend time relaxing and enjoying the hotel rather than walking the streets of Bangkok.
At the end of the day luxurious hotels for me they are less about the actual space and more about the service. It’s a strange and wonderful feeling being spoiled for such a long periods of time. It doesn’t compare to restaurants as those are over in a few hours where hotels you stay for days. The prolonged luxurious experience sits with you. This experience certainly did. It is simply impressive from start to finish. Next time I just want to stay longer and explore more of the hotel: Get spoiled with a massage, have lunch overlooking the river, read a book with a glass of wine in the bathtub and generally just relax and enjoy it.
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