Maduzi Hotel

This small, family-owned boutique property feels like a posh home thanks to the discreet walled courtyard and the hotel’s closed-door policy of not accepting walk-ins. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the lobby with light, which along with the adjoining lounge, are filled with the owners’ collections of ornaments. There’s a lovely white-stone bar, while the restaurant has simple blond wood-topped tables. Open bookshelves here creates divided dining nooks without sacrificing airiness, and there’s a sheltered patio deck surrounded by trees. The lounge has chic dark-red leather armchairs, a beautiful long blond wood 12-seater table for meetings, and large Buddha statues gifted by the owners’ friends. The separate front-desk area has a moody, romantic vibe, and rather than a number each of the hotel’s floors is named for a letter of the word “Maduzi.” Sleek hallways have dark tiled flooring, and vaulted lights sport etchings that represent the spirits Thais believe guard the property.

A short walk from the happening Sukhumvit area, the Maduzi is a three-minute walk from the busy Asok junction that sees some of Bangkok’s worst traffic -- though the hotel’s closed courtyard blocks out most of the noise from the street. Both the Skytrain and subway are easily accessed on foot through the nearby Exchange Tower office block, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shopping malls in the vicinity.- Two-minute walk to Benjakiti Park

• Five-minute walk to Asok Skytrain and Sukhumvit subway stations
• Six-minute walk to Soi Cowboy red-light district
• Seven-minute walk to Terminal 21 shopping mall
• 12-minute walk to Sukhumvit Soi 11 nightlife
• 14-minute walk to Benjasiri Park
• 16-minute walk to Emporium and EmQuartier shopping malls (eight-minute drive)
• 18 minutes to Siam shopping malls by public transportation (12-minute drive)
• 25-minute drive to the Grand Palace (57 minutes by public transportation)
• 27-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (35 minutes by public transportation)
• 27-minute drive to Don Muang International Airport (close to two hours by public transportation)

Rooms at the Maduzi are spacious, stylish, and peaceful right across the board. Entry-level Classic Rooms measure 527 square feet (49 square meters) and have king-size beds, but all other pricier room categories come with huge super-king-size beds that comfortably sleep three. Tall brown headboards with built-in reading spotlights rest against chic wood-paneled accent walls, while large, attractive lamps are suspended over bedside tables. Elegant Oriental rugs break up the pale wood-paneled flooring, while off-white walls are adorned with attractive paintings. In 570-square-foot (53-square-meter) Deluxe Rooms, elegant glass desks and stylish office chairs are tucked into space-saving corners behind structural pillars, and come complete with homey shelves and a small collection of books. Corner Suites feel enormous at 678 square feet (63 square meters) and have attractive curved walls opposite the beds, double desks, and black leather lounge chairs. The 850-square-foot (68-square-meter) Maduzi Suites add separate living areas with desks and built-in olive green sofas.Open-plan bathrooms are connected to the bedrooms -- though this and their sliding-glass doors to the toilets might pose privacy issues for some. They have gorgeous blond wood vanities with huge mirrors and chic white ceramic sinks. White wall tiling is paired with pale wood-paneled flooring, and walk-in rainfall showers sit beside luxurious overflowing infinity whirlpool bathtubs, with water impressively cascading from the ceiling. There are chic blond wood walk-in closets too, and bathrooms in Corner Suites and Maduzi Suites add elegant daybeds.Standard amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable, DVD players, and Bose sound systems (full surround sound is in pricier rooms), phones, safes, and free Wi-Fi, plus espresso machines, free minibars replenished daily (a small selection of soft drinks only -- alcohol available for a charge), free miniature toiletries, robes, and hairdryers. All rooms have great views from large floor-to-ceiling windows that let in plenty of natural light.

Though it's on a smaller scale, the Maduzi Hotel has a solid range of features -- the only things that are missing are a pool and a spa, though in-room massages are available on request (for a fee). The small gym is open 24/7 and has a basic selection of cardio and weight-lifting machines as well as free weights, though the hotel admits few guests use it. The excellent restaurant with a French-trained Japanese chef is open for lunch and dinner, and has a smoker-friendly terrace where private BBQs can be arranged on request. The exciting and varied a la carte breakfast menu (re-launched in 2016) is available until mid-afternoon (can be delivered in-room), though it’s not included in all rates. The bar is open 24/7 and has all-day happy hour deals, plus guests can take advantage of the free alcoholic welcome drink at any point during their stay, and free tea and coffee is available all day and night. Housekeeping and room service are both available around the clock, too. The hotel offers free flexible check-in and checkout times subject to availability, and there’s free Wi-Fi throughout. Ample free private parking can be found in the hotel's courtyard. Guests get free private use of the lounge for meetings, and it’s available for outside hire, too. The one significant drawback is the inconsistent front desk service reported by a number of guests.