Tower Club at Lebua

The five-pearl Tower Club at Lebua is a very happening place. The lobby and entrance to the hotel are a bit hidden away, as the hotel sits in the Lebua at State Tower building, which resembles an office building more than a luxury hotel. The lobby entrance is not apparent when one walks into the building, but once inside it has a bit of a speakeasy feel, with plush brown armchairs and small tables next to brown shuttered doors. There are also a couple of couches set in an open room for those awaiting check-in. As most of the luxury facilities here are found upstairs, guests don't linger too long in the lobby, except for the crowds around the elevators, which can be hopelessly packed at sunset, and take forever to go up and down to the 64th floor. The hotel is not nearly as swank or elegant as the Mandarin Oriental or Shangri La, but it attracts plenty of high rollers. It's also atop many tourist hit lists when visiting Bangkok, all of whom want to have a cocktail or splurge for a romantic dinner at the rooftop restaurants and bars, which are undoubtedly the hotel's highlight. Guests run the gamut from couples to families and business travelers. 

The Tower Club at Lebua is located on Silom Road at its intersection with Charoenkrung, which is packed with restaurants, shops, and lots of vibrant street life. Additionally, one can walk to the sky train station at Saphan Taksin in about 10 minutes, as well as the adjacent Saphan Taksin pier, the main terminus for the Chao Phraya River ferry. It's an extremely convenient base for accessing tourist sights and the rest of Bangkok. There are plenty of taxis and tuk tuks to be found outside the hotel at all times, and there is also access to the tollway from here for faster trips to the airport (about a 60 to 90-minute drive, depending on traffic). The Patpong Night Market and all the restaurants and nightlife of Silom Road are a 10-minute drive away, and overall, it's a great location for visiting Bangkok.

The Tower Club at Lebua offers 221 suites, all of which are quite palatial and embody a bright, minimalistic design scheme. Even the standard City View suites have 710 square feet (66 square meters) of living space, and like all other suites, are equipped with large flat-screen TVs, DVD players, full kitchens with tall refrigerators and stove top ranges, along with Nespresso coffee machines. The suites come with free Wi-Fi, and additional amenities include irons and ironing boards, safes, large work desks, and luxury bedding. The larger two- and three-bedroom suites have washing machines and dryers, plus pillow selection menus, and the bathrooms have walk-in showers, separate baths, and high-end toiletries. Color schemes are neutral throughout, with contemporary armchairs and couches, light wood floors and light taupe carpeted areas, plus light cabinets and white marble counters in the kitchenettes. Dark wood furniture is simple and modern, with clean lines, and wall art is limited to tasteful graphic abstract prints or local landmarks. While the minimal room furnishings are not nearly as elaborate as other five-pearl properties in the area, the top reason to stay here is the dizzying city view from all guest rooms, which are located between the 51st and 59th floors. The best views are arguably from the suites on the river side, as they take in the entire sweep of the Chao Phraya River far below. It would be remiss not to mention on of this hotel's other claims to fame: It served as a set for the film "The Hangover Part II." The suite where that film was shot is located in the hotel and the views from its four marble balconies are a sight worth taking in for those who can afford it.

The Tower Club at Lebua is home to some of Bangkok's most swank bars and restaurants. With the exception of the fancy breakfast buffet restaurant downstairs, all are located up, near, or on the roof, with panoramas of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. Breeze, on the 52nd floor, serves cutting--edge Asian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh seafood -- Maine lobster, Chilean sea bass, and Wagyu beef are the norm. Further up, Sirocco, on the 63rd floor, juts out over the city and serves Mediterranean fare in a romantic environment. Another two flights up, Mezzaluna is the hotel's most elegant restaurant, with chef's tasting menus and wine pairings served to the city's elite -- it has won numerous awards for its nouvelle cuisine. For drinking, Ocean 52 on the 52nd floor, is a popular spot for business meetings over wines and cocktails, while the Sky Bar on the 63rd floor is laid out on a precipice that is almost 1000 feet above the city. It has a great set of bartenders, and is famed for its Hangovertini, created when the Hollywood film "The Hangover Part II" was filmed here. Another flight up is the indoor bar Distil, which has a full cheese cellar to complement its wines and cocktails. Note that all of the Tower Club's restaurants and bars have a dress code, and those that come in shorts, singlets, or flip flop sandals will be turned away.In addition to all these high-end options, the Tower Club at Lebua has a state-of-the-art fitness center with sauna and steam room, along with a first class spa. There is also an open-air swimming pool downstairs, a business center on the fifth floor, and an exclusive Tower Lounge for all guests staying in the Tower Club, which serves free alcohol and snacks throughout the day, along with private breakfasts and plenty of other perks and amenities. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Private car and limousine services can be arranged, as can airport transfers. Valet parking is free.