Somerset Park Suanplu

Somerset Park Suanplu is one of the more impressive properties in the neighborhood, both inside and out. It's lone high-rise towers above the area's other low-rise buildings, and is fronted by lush gardens with several carp ponds and benches plus a spacious lawn. It's an elegant welcome to a hotel that's a sophisticated twist on the apartment-hotel scheme. The lobby has patterned marble floors and two adjoining rooms: the room where guests check in is decorated with a cushioned teak banquette attached to the ceiling by ropes, while the other room features earth-tone details like contemporary couches and wooden window shutters. Between the diners at the adjoining Panwa restaurant and guests waiting for the tuk-tuk shuttle, the atmosphere in the lobby is busy. Set in the midst of Bangkok's financial district -- with all of its traffic, office workers milling about, and street stalls -- the Somerset Park still manages to feel like a private retreat for the families, couples, and business travelers that stay here.

Somerset Park Suanplu is located along Suan Plu Road, south of the major Sathorn Road artery, which is the center of Bangkok's financial district. Suan Plu itself is busy and bustling, full of fantastic street-food stalls by day and now home to an emerging bar and restaurant scene by night. Smalls, a bohemian jazz hole-in-the wall run by the former Q Bar owner, is across the street from the hotel, and there's a French bistro next door; several convenience stores and shops are within walking distance of the hotel. Sathorn Road is also home to lots of fine-dining options tucked inside of upscale hotels, which are also nearby. It's a 15-minute walk to the nearest skytrain stations at Sala Daeng or Chong Nonsi, and although the Somerset provides free tuk-tuk shuttle service to the skytrain, rush-hour traffic means near perpetual gridlock in the late afternoon and early evening. It can take 30 minutes to an hour to reach either Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang Airport depending on traffic. 

Somerset Park Suanplu has 235 apartments, which range from one to three bedrooms -- along with three much larger penthouses. Long-term stays are the norm here -- many guests are business travelers working in the financial district -- and all units come with kitchens. These include electric countertop ranges in the one-bedroom units and full ovens in larger rooms plus toasters, microwaves, cutlery, pots and pans, electric kettles for tea and coffee, washer/dryers, and full-size refrigerators. The look in all rooms is contemporary and minimalist, with light wood laminate floors, attractive earth tone seating, dark wood furniture with clean lines, pops of color in textiles, and an abundance of space. Rooms are large, and start at 70 square meters (753 square feet). Other features include flat-screen TVs with cable channels in both the living room and bedrooms, DVD/CD players with speaker systems, small safes, desks, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are spacious and include with hairdryers, bathrobes and slippers. One-Bedroom Deluxe Rooms have walk-in showers, but not tubs, while larger units have shower/tub combos. Large windows offer excellent views of the Bangkok skyline in and of a beautiful old church in many rooms. Rooms have balconies of varying sizes, but guests must sign waivers if they want the hotel to unlock them. 

Somerset Park Suanplu is a large well-serviced residence geared to long stays. There's a sheltered swimming pool upstairs -- it's open-air, but under an overhang -- which has a kids' section. Adjacent to the pool is a tennis court with fabulous views of the Bangkok skyline. The hotel also has a large fitness center with a wide range of cardio and weight machines. Other facilities include a kids' club, a residents' lounge, and a small spa. Panwa, an elegant Thai restaurant off the lobby, serves buffet breakfasts plus a la carte lunches and dinners with Thai specialties and a large selection of Western dishes as well. A lush, pleasant garden fronts the hotel, with tables and chairs in a shaded area, and several carp ponds. The hotel offers a free tuk-tuk shuttle to the skytrain station, Silom Road and the Patpong Night Market. Basic Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.