Narai Hotel

The hotel, which was founded in 1968, has become a landmark on Silom Road, with its flashy, cream-and-gold facade extending 12 stories above the fairly busy streets below. Inside, the hotel retains a distinctly retro flair to the common areas, with nubby brown carpeting, wood-paneled interior architecture, and wide hallways with low ceilings. The enormous lobby is a lot to take in, with massive columns, graphic-patterned rugs and marble floors, and a wide staircase sweeping up and around the room. Clusters of dated gray armchairs and couches are arranged around granite-topped tables, and the elevator bank has somewhat gaudy glass paneling. Yet, while the hotel lacks modern style, there's something welcoming and appealing about its uninhibited, over-the-top flair. Lunch at the buffet restaurant is packed and mostly popular with local office workers, and the hotel experiences the constant hum of a highly trafficked tourist location. Guests include a mix of business travelers, couples, and families. 

Situated directly on busy, multi-lane Silom Road, the hotel is near the center of the financial district, home to the headquarters of many financial offices. Sitting amongst jewelry stores, old merchandise shops, and convenience stores like 7-11, the hotel is within a 10-minute walk of a local fresh market and less than five minutes on foot from Mariamman (Wat Khaek), a Hindu temple. It's also 15 minutes' walk from Patpong, the red light district, which is teeming with neon lights and bustles around the clock. The Silom Night Market is also 15 minutes away on foot. Chong Nonsi BTS station is a 10-minute walk. However, sights such as the Grand Palace and National Museum are about 40 minutes by bus, or 20 minutes by taxi. 

Some floors of the hotel were renovated in 2014, but others have yet to be updated. Non-renovated rooms may have carpeting, mismatched furniture, and scuffed floors, though they're dependably clean. Renovated rooms stick to a consistent, slightly retro (and plain) decor scheme of laminate wood floors, some wood-panel built-ins (including a desk), rolling vinyl and chrome desk chairs, platform beds with white bedding, and blank walls. Each room has a safe, air-conditioning, a magnifying mirror, and a flat-screen TV with cable. Rooms above the Standard level have mini-fridges (or minibars with bottled water and soda), coffee/tea facilities, slippers, and robes. Bathrooms in the newer rooms have glass walk-in showers with white tile, and black marble vanities with white ceramic sinks. Older rooms have plainer bathrooms, with standard granite sinks and plastic shower/tub combos. Hairdryers are available on request. Suites have sitting areas furnished with cozy settees, as well as large soaking tubs. 

Three restaurants sit within the hotel: a tapas bar, an Italian eatery with pizza and pasta, and a large buffet. The latter is a popular local joint for area workers and draws large crowds at lunch. There's also the Scenery Lounge, which serves drinks and light meals. There's a linoleum-floored fitness center with a couple of types of exercise machines, in addition to some weights. The outdoor pool is large enough for moderate laps, and it's surrounded by a deck lined with numerous padded loungers, as well as tables and chairs. Beside the deck is an attractive grassy area with loungers and parasols. There are a number of meeting rooms at the hotel, as well, suited to corporate events and various other functions. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and babysitting is available.