The Muse is an MGallery hotel in a late 19th-century building on Langsuan Road, an attractive boulevard and swanky residential area just a short walk from Bangkok’s smartest shopping streets. And it most definitely lives up to Accor’s promise of “plush urban-residential chic.” The entrance hall, unlike so many of today’s cavernous minimalist lobbies, is intimate and cozy with a low, vaulted ceiling, soft lighting and comfortable Davenport sofas. With the reception and concierge staff sitting behind small writing desks, we immediately got the feeling that we were going to be cared for and cossetted here. Of course, we were, with the smiling staff providing those superb levels of service that Asia does best.
The 174 guest rooms, divided into six different types, are named after the Buddhist cosmological levels of heaven. And appropriately the décor is a heavenly blend of European elegance and Asian motifs which is pretty standard throughout the rooms and suites, as are the wood paneling, claw-foot bathtubs, separate showers and custom-made amenities in the bathrooms.
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| Nimman Suite on the 17th and 18th floors are refined and have outdoor terraces and living rooms with study area. |
If you have clients who like oodles of space then skip the 88 Jatu Deluxe rooms and go for the Dowadueng Corner Deluxes, of which there are 32, all located in, of course, corners. Obviously the higher up you go the better the views over the city from the dual-aspect windows. Nine of these Deluxes connect to Jatu Deluxe rooms with twin beds, so they are a perfect solution for families. Patcharin Nahim ([email protected]), who is in charge of PR for the property, said her top choice are the six Dusit Duplexes which have the living room and the bedroom on two separate levels. Even more refined, we thought, are the four Nimman Suites. The two on the 17th floor—which would be our choice for honeymooners—have an outdoor terrace, while the two on the 18th struck us as being perfect for workaholics as the living room extends into a study area.
The highest Buddhist layer of perpetual pleasure is Paramin, which brings us to the Paramin Presidential Suite. This is a real stunner and will appeal to even the most demanding of VIPS with its contemporary Thai design and gleaming white marble floors. It has a massage room and a balcony with decking overlooking the American Embassy compound, a huge green lung tucked under Bangkok’s soaring skyscrapers. Like the suites it has Molton Brown amenities in the bathroom which has an XL Jacuzzi tub, and there is a king-size bed in the bedroom and a pantry for in-suite entertaining.
It cannot be booked over the GDS, so for availability contact Area General Manager Rod Munro through Mrs. Shanikan Siriprapa ([email protected]; 011-02-630-4005) or Executive Assistant Manager Joe Judia Tanjung ([email protected]; 011-02-630-4400;). Other room enquiries can go through Reservations ([email protected]; 011-02-630-4000;). Note: Booking at least 3 days in advance pretty much ensures securing the accommodation your guests require.
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| Su Tha Ros is the Muse’s Thai restaurant and serves up authentic and classy regional cuisine. |
Something luxury travel advisors need to know is that the hotel does not have a spa, although it does have an Art Déco swimming pool and a fitness center. But don’t let that put you off. The Muse has an arrangement with a nearby spa and guests can either walk there, or take the hotel’s tuk-tuk. They can even request treatments in their rooms.
Front Office Manager Ratchatat Julajinja ([email protected]; 011-02-630-440) can arrange limousine services, fast-track through immigration at Suvarnabhumi international airport and a personal shopper to help fashionistas navigate the dizzying maze of high-end shopping malls in the neighborhood.
Eating out in Bangkok, you can find every kind of regional Thai cuisine, but you can’t go wrong in the Su Tha Ros, the Muse’s Thai restaurant. We had the Massamam Thai lamb curry with potatoes and peanuts in a creamy coconut sauce, and the Snow Fish Pad Cha, a stir-fried white fish with Thai spices, which were amazing. There is also an Italian restaurant, the Medici Kitchen, in retro industrial style with an open kitchen. Italian Chef Francesco Lenzi turns out a Filetto alla Rossini fit for a king, and at the high-stool bar they serve tapas and wines by the glass. PR guru Patcharin told us they are working on a chef’s table and to check with the front desk if this is up and running.
For a nightcap it has to be the 24th and 25th-floor Speakeasy with its many intriguing watering holes, which also has a menu of gourmet dishes served in portions that are great for sharing. There is a regular long bar, a terrace featuring the building’s elegant rooftop domes, The Blind Pig cigar lounge, and a boardroom with its own terrace which is perfect for small get-togethers of up to 30 people. For information on using the rooftop for small weddings, contact Event Sales Executive Vinawan Manonai (011-02-630-4006).