65 Sukhumvit Soi 1, Khlong Toei Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand | (888) 962-8097
In an authentic Thai villa from the early '40s, with traditional decor and modern amenities
Close to plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops
Lovely stone-tile bathrooms with separate bathtubs and rainfall showers
Stylish rooms with polished wood floors and elegant Thai decor, flat-screen TVs, and mini-fridges
Small fitness center and spa with whirlpool and Thai massage, and a meditation hall
Library with a computer station
Excellent Thai restaurant on-site, focusing on vegetables and seafood
Peaceful garden swimming pool
Breakfast included in room rate
Free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and on-site parking
A 10-minute walk to the closest skytrain station
Vegetarian menu is a Con for some
The 24-room Ariyasomvilla is an upscale boutique hotel, hidden away at the end of a dead-end street off busy Sukhumvit Road, with its hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops. The family-run Ariyasomvilla is quiet, snuggled against a canal on one side, and set off from the street by a garden on the other. Rooms in this early-1940s villa have polished teak floors, Thai decor with colorful cushions and textiles, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and elegant beige-stone bathrooms with separate bathtubs and rainfall showers. There's a lovely blue-tiled garden swimming pool, a small spa, fitness area with cardio and weight-training equipment, a meditation hall, and the Na Aroon restaurant, which prepares seafood and vegetables in the Thai style (no meat served). Prices are sometimes lower here than at the large Sukhumvit hotels nearby, such as the Westin Grande and Sheraton Grande. Ariyasomvilla, with its lush gardens and authentic Thai ambience, offers a respite from the roiling city.
Scene
Early-1940s traditional Thai villa set amid a lush garden
Ariyasomvilla is housed in an early 1940s Thai villa that was built by the current owners' grandparents. It's a charming, colonial-style structure, with long hallways and polished teak floors, hidden away inside a small, well-tended garden. The small lobby features crafted wooden settees, colorful carpets and cushions, and plenty of reading material in its library, along with views of the garden. The small scale of the house, plus the surrounding trees and foliage, make it feel like a country retreat, while super-bustling Sukhumvit, one of Bangkok's busiest areas, is right outside the property. The garden pool, spa, small fitness area, and meditation hall make the Ariyasomvilla a good choice for travelers seeking tranquility in the midst of roiling Bangkok.
Location
On a quiet dead-end street within a 10-minute walk of restaurants, bars, and public transportation
The Ariyasomvilla is located in the heart of the city, yet it's hidden down a dead-end street, set against a canal on one side and shielded by a garden on the other -- meaning that guests can count on peace and quiet despite the hotel's central location. It's a 10-minute walk up the soi (alley) to the skytrain and Sukhumvit Road, with its hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops. While this can be a long walk in the tropical heat, there are plenty of motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks nearby ready to give guests a lift. The alley that fronts the hotel has a number of restaurants and shops, so guests don't need to voyage too far for food or goods.
Rooms
Polished teak floors, silk drapes, lovely stone-filed bathrooms with separate tubs and rainfall showers
The 24 rooms include Studios, Deluxe Rooms, Executive Deluxe Rooms, and Executive Suites. All feature beautiful polished teak floors, large windows, and Thai decor with silk drapes and colorful cushions and textiles. Rooms come with large flat-screen TVs, safes, mini-fridges, electric hot -water kettles for making coffee or tea, and free Wi-Fi. The lovely beige stone-tiled bathrooms are large, and have separate bathtubs and rainfall showers, along with robes and slippers. Executive Rooms and Suites include living areas with couches and armchairs, four-poster beds, and terraces that overlook the pool and gardens. Room 110 has a whirlpool bathtub.
Features
Well-regarded vegetarian Thai restaurant on-site, pleasant garden pool, small spa, and fitness area
The Ariyasomvilla has a lovely garden swimming pool, with loungers set under large ferns and trees, a small spa (Som Sen), with private treatment rooms for massages, as well as an outdoor sala-covered area for massages. There's a small fitness area with a handful of cardio- and weight-training equipment, and a library with a computer station. Na Aroon restaurant, on the ground floor of the this charming villa, offers an intimate decor, with cozy tables and slow-moving ceiling fans, and excellent vegetable and seafood dishes prepared in Thai style, along with homemade desserts. Breakfast is included with the price of a room. The restaurant is well-known, and plenty of non-hotel guests eat here too. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the villa, as is free parking.