Amara Bangkok

Despite the lobby's psychedelic rainbow backlighting and abundant wood paneling, this hotel is anything but outdated. The Singaporean-owned proeprty was built in 2015 and is decked out in warm, earthy tones that are given a modern twist. A minimalist combination of wood, pleather, glass, metal, and original Thai art make for a polished, upscale atmosphere with a touch of local flair. Decor aside, though, it's all about the views throughout the hotel -- indeed, that's part of the reason this property remains so well-liked by previous guests. Fantastic city vistas can be seen from most vantages in the hotel thanks to the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, including in the four meeting rooms and the several dining and drinking options on-site. Even the sleek rooftop pool has an infinity edge, enhancing the sweeping vista across the cityscape. The features and style here seems business-ready -- and the hotel does see some corporate travelers -- but most guests are couples on vacation or small groups of friends. 

Amara Bangkok is located on Surawong Road in the Bangrak/Silom neighborhood, one of the most important financial districts in the city. There are many bank headquarters and offices in the area, but two blocks south is Silom Road, a popular area for shopping, eating, and partying. This area is also home to the Patpong Night Market, which is a five-minute walk from the hotel and is home to all manner of vendors, street food, and -- of course -- some of Bangkok's more notorious go-go bars and sex shows. The seedier side is easily avoidable, though, and trendy, upmarket dining spots line Convent Road, a 10-minute walk from the hotel. 

It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to walk to the closest skytrain and metro stations, making the Amara a good home base for exploring Bangkok as well. It's no more than 15 minutes via public transportation to Chinatown or the Chao Phraya River, and Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is 30 minutes away by public transit. To simplify transportation even further, Amara Bangkok offers a shuttle service to the stations via air-conditioned tuk-tuk. However, the historic sights like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho will require a long cab ride -- at least 25 minutes at peak times. The city's two major airports will require some extra time to reach -- traffic in Bangkok is notorious -- and guests should budget at least an hour to either by taxi.

The rooms at the Amara Bangkok are clean, fresh, and modern. White sheets cover the beds, framed only by minimalistic leather headboards and wallpaper in patterned taupes, slate grays, or creamy whites. Floating shelves and furniture in dark wood-veneer finishes draw attention to the 48-inch flat-screen TVs. Earthy carpets, glossy tiles, metal accents, and neutral-toned leather armchairs bring the rest of the bedroom together for a warm and stylish look. 

All rooms at the Amara Bangkok have full-wall windows that let in plenty of natural light and provide an impressive bird's eye view of the city no matter which direction the room faces. They also include coffee and tea facilities and air-conditioning, plus IP phones with voicemail, free Wi-Fi and high-speed LAN, and electric safes. Mini-fridges are empty, though the hotel's minibar boutique downstairs offers reasonably priced options for stocking them. 

Every bathroom is spacious and features both a rainfall showerhead and a standard handheld showerhead. Higher category rooms like the Club Rooms also come with swanky bathtubs in addition to the standard all-glass walk-in showers. Club Rooms also feature several in-hotel perks detailed below.

The Amara Bangkok's most outstanding feature is its rooftop pool. Located on the 26th floor, the SkyPool is smaller than it looks, but is still worth the experience of a quick dip or selfie off of its infinity edge. Other hotels in the area have pools that are much larger and more kid-friendly than the one here, but quite frankly it's hard to beat the views of Bangkok as the sun sets in the evening. There's a lack of shade, although the AkaAza Rooftop Lounge offers some protection from the sun while guests wine and dine to the live DJ's beats. Unfortunately, there's no spa here, which is a bit surprising for a hotel of this caliber in Bangkok.

As a Singaporean-owned hotel, the hotel has staffed its main restaurant, Element, with a chef who specializes in Singaporean cuisine, though Chinese and Thai dishes are available as well. Indoor and outdoor dining is available alongside displays of fancy wines, or on the bamboo-forested alfresco terrace. The hotel also has a lobby bar and cafe, and snacks and bottles of wine or water are readily available for purchase from the lobby minibar boutique as well. Rates are competitive with nearby corner stores, making this an extra-nice wallet-friendly perk when compared to other competing hotels.

Club Room guests have access to the exclusive Club Lounge, where there are free breakfasts, afternoon tea breaks, and evening cocktails and canapes. Other perks for this category include a free daily minibar and a free limited laundry pressing. Similarly, Cabana Rooms offer exclusive access to the Cabana on Level 9, where there are two hot tubs that overlook the city streets and make for a more intimate experience than the rooftop pool.

All guests have unlimited access to the 24-hour fitness center, which is narrow and a bit cramped, but offers great city views and a decent selection of modern cardio and weight equipment, plus a set of free weights. Wi-Fi is free, and the business center is available for guest's printing and copying needs. Parking is also free, and the hotel runs an air-conditioned tuk-tuk to the nearest metro stations for those relying on public transit.