Review: The St. Regis Bangkok

To close off our Asia trip we stopped in Bangkok for a three-night stay at the St. Regis Bangkok. As my first time staying at a St. Regis branded hotel, I was interested to see what one of the most premium Marriott brands had to offer. Read on for my review.

Booking & Check-in

I booked the St. Regis Bangkok at an industry rate discount, but the regular rate was around 10,000 Thai Baht (around $400 CAD at the time of writing). The hotel can also be booked on points for around 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy.

About 1 month before our stay I emailed the St. Regis and requested an upgrade. They obliged us with a modest upgrade to a higher floor with a view of the golf course, which was appreciated.

Also prior to arrival, on request, the concierge provided a nice package of documents over email which included 

• Things to Do in Bangkok
• Tours
• Restaurant Recommendations

Upon arriving at the hotel we were escorted in by two St. Regis valets who took our luggage. I noticed they both checked the taxi for any forgotten items, which I continued to notice them do throughout our stay and appreciated as a high level of service.

One St. Regis valet escorted us through the hotel, taking care to point out notable restaurants and services. He then took us to the 12th-floor reception in the elevator, while continuing to explain features of the property.

We received a welcome drink at reception while we were checked in, a ginger tea. It was delicious. 

Check-in went smoothly. We were given the choice of complimentary breakfast as a welcome amenity for Bonvoy Elite members and then escorted up the next set of elevators to our room on the 22nd floor.

The decor was very regal and fitting for the St. Regis brand.

Location

The St. Regis Bangkok is situated in the heart of the city, specifically at 159 Ratchadamri Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. This prime location offers stunning views of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and is close to several key attractions, including shopping districts like Siam and Lumpini Park. 

The hotel is conveniently accessible via the BTS Skytrain, so exploring other parts of Bangkok is easy. Its upscale setting is ideal for both business and leisure travelers.

Parking

Parking on-site is available and is complimentary for hotel guests.

Room – Guest Room, 1 King, Golf Course View

Our room, the Grande Deluxe Golf Course View on the High Floor, had a long narrow hallway opening into the bedroom area. The bathroom was on the right side, while the left side had two closets and a nook with plenty of storage space.

Our ‘butler’ visited us in the room immediately on arrival, bringing with him a tray of macaroons, chocolates, and a basket of fruit, while he introduced himself and explained the ‘butler service’ to us. 

The king bed was centered in the room and had two bedside tables, and to my excitement, a large end-of-bed bench.

The electronics were not quite as modern compared to what we’d experienced elsewhere in Asia. For example, there were no USB outlets, on the side table or anywhere else. The TV was also not a ‘smart’ TV.

The bedroom area had a loveseat couch and table, along with a lengthy office desk with two chairs. This was a great workspace to have throughout the stay. The TV and credenza, which housed the coffee machine and mini bar, were directly in front of the bed.

On the office desk, there was a directory for the hotel and an information sheet addressed with my name. It summarized the Marriott Bonvoy entitlements as well as notable hotel restaurants and amenities.

The mini bar had a nice selection of items, including chips, candy, and chocolate, pop, beer, champagne, and wine. 

The coffee machine was a trademark Nespresso Pixie that I’ve seen in numerous Marriott hotels. 

The bathroom in the room was exquisite and pristine. It was continuous with the entryway/hallway and the bedroom with sliding doors for privacy.

The waterfall shower was massive along with a large bathtub and double vanity sink. 

The bathroom amenities including shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were provided by Clinique La Prairie. There was an intimidating message on a card next to them letting us know we’d be charged if they ‘went missing’.

Last but not least was the toilet and toilet room. The toilet was a fairly generic Toto. It was just a manual bidet, no washlet, to my disappointment. 

On the whole, the room was impeccable and the decor really gave a feeling of royalty, despite perhaps having slightly less modern amenities. And three of our hotel stays on this trip were at brand new or recently refurbished hotels, so my definition of modern may have been relatively skewed as a result. 

I also have to note the room’s great views from the high floor. Not only did we have the promised view of the golf course and surrounding cityscape, but of the swimming pool down below. This made it easy to strategically plan for a visit when the pool was less populated.

Restaurants & Bars

The St. Regis has a plethora of fantastic restaurant and bar options on-site to choose from, including: 

Level 1 (Ground Floor):

• The Lounge: a ground floor lobby bar serving drinks, desserts, and light snacks from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Zuma:  An “elegant yet informal” dining experience inspired by the traditional Japanese Izakaya style. Hours and menus can be viewed on the restaurant’s website.
• IGNIV Bangkok: A fine dining sharing experience, IGNIV is founded by a Swiss chef and earned a Michelin Star in 2022. It is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. View more on the IGNIV website.

Level 12 (Reception Floor):

• VIU: Mediterranean cuisine and panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline. Open everyday from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Marriott Bonvoy Elite breakfast is served here. 
• The St. Regis Bar: The St. Regis Bar is a New York-inspired lobby bar offering a selection of premier and unique spirits, classic cocktails, champagne and caviar. It is open from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM. 
• The Drawing Room: Adjacent to the St Regis bar is the Drawing Room, where you can have St Regis afternoon tea with European-style pastries and sandwiches. Open from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
• Sushi Kishin: A Japanese restaurant serving omakase style (“I’ll leave it up to you”). View their website for hours and to book a reservation. 

Level 15: 

• Pool Bar: Offers fruit smoothies, salads, and other Asian dishes, along with drinks. Open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day.

Only VIU and the St. Regis bar are managed by St. Regis, while the rest are operated by third parties.

With limited time and a busy itinerary, we only had a chance to check out the St. Regis Bar for some evening drinks, and VIU for breakfast each morning. We also stopped by The Lounge one afternoon for a quick smoothie and snack.

VIU – Marriott Bonvoy Elite Complimentary Breakfast

As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member, complimentary breakfast was served at the VIU restaurant on the 12th floor, from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM every morning. Seating from the nearby Drawing Room was also incorporated into the breakfast area.

The breakfast was structured as an a-la-carte menu in addition to multiple massive buffet spreads. It was comprehensive and consistent from day to day. 

The made-to-order items were also of fantastic quality. The ramen was amazing. The pancakes and french toast were of top-tier restaurant-like quality.

We had many great breakfasts at various hotels throughout this trip, and this one stood out amongst the best of them. 

However, I will say the service in the restaurant, particularly on one of the mornings, was lacking. We had to hunt down a server to get coffee and our a la carte order took exceedingly long. Of course with a buffet option available this was only a minor inconvenience. 

On the other hand, we had an excellent service experience on the final morning of our trip when we ordered “breakfast-to-go”. We had an early morning flight out of Bangkok departing at 8:00 AM, so we had to leave before VIU was even open. Speaking to the hotel concierge, the kitchen was able to prepare us a nice to-go spread of assorted breakfast items. 

This was a really nice touch of service and set us up for success on our return trip. The food included in the box: smoked salmon in a soft roll, mixed pastries, seasonal fruit, juice, tea, and coffee.

The St. Regis Bar

The St. Regis Bar is a New York-inspired lobby bar located on the property’s reception floor. There was also an attached balcony where the signature St. Regis champagne ‘saboring’ tradition was done each day.

From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM each day, we were entitled to complimentary cocktails from the Elite Signature menu. 

We tried several different ones on each day, including an expresso martini and the Ambassador’s choice. The drinks were of decent quality.

We also received a complimentary appetizer on each visit, which was a pleasant surprise.

The food was tasty and did leave me a bit curious about some of the other items on the food menu. 

Ultimately we didn’t get a chance to have any food here and in fact didn’t eat any meals at the St. Regis other than breakfast. We had a busy two days in Bangkok and opted to eat while we were out and about instead. 

The Lounge

We stopped at the main floor Lounge one afternoon of our stay for a quick snack. They had quite a selection of coffee drinks, smoothies, salads and sandwiches, and burgers.  

We enjoyed a couple of smoothies and shared a sandwich. Everything was delicious and just what we needed to recharge for the rest of the day.

Facilities

The St Regis has a host of facilities, namely the Exercise Room, Outdoor Swimming Pool, and spa called the Longevity Hub, all located on the 15th floor.

Exercise Room

The St. Regis fitness center is called the ‘Exercise Room’ and is open 24/7. I made use of the space several times during my stay and really enjoyed the layout. A great view and abundance of natural lighting are always a highlight of any gym facility.

During one of my workouts, there was a trainer I chatted with who was very adamant that I needed to take boxing lessons with him. Unfortunately, I had already done my workout and would be checking out the next morning. Otherwise, I might have taken him up on the offer.

Not shown, there was an assisted squat rack and bench press which is another hallmark of a well-equipped hotel gym. 

Outdoor Swimming Pool

The outdoor pool at the St. Regis Bangkok was a highlight of the property, which is saying a lot. It is definitely one of the nicest pools I’ve experienced at a hotel.

The outdoor pool is open Monday to Sunday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It also has a whirlpool and relaxation zone. 

We visited the pool and whirlpool several times during our stay, including in the evening. Also, inside there was a pool bar which had drinks and snacks, open quite late (8:00 PM).  

Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prarie

The spa at the St. Regis Bangkok hotel was called the Longevity Hub.  As described on their website,  the hub offers “offers transformative journeys for looking & feeling well and living fuller lives.”

The spa is open every day from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Appointments are required. Services, treatments, and amenities include:

• Body Wrap
• Couples Massages
• Eye Treatment
• Facials
• Massages
• Men’s Services
• Separate Men & Women’s Lounges
• Steam Room
• Therapy Bath

I took a peak through the spa menu and noticed a plethora of pseudoscientific treatments such as cryoplipolysis, a “cooling” treatment to reduce fat. The spa has a relatively low Google rating and looked overpriced, especially for Thailand. I think one could find some better local options such as Thai massage, if willing to do the research.

Business Center

The St. Regis Bangkok had a 24-hour full-service business centre available, which had a host of computers, workstations, and a printer available for use.

Conclusion

Our three-night stay at the St. Regis Bangkok made for an impressive and memorable end to our Asia trip. From the warm welcome and seamless check-in to the breathtaking views and thoughtful room amenities, this luxury hotel embodied royalty and the elevated service expected from the St. Regis brand. 

The convenient location provided easy access to Bangkok’s attractions. The stunning pool and well-equipped fitness center added to our experience. The dining options at the St. Regis are diverse and the “breakfast-to-go” on our final morning, showcased the hotel’s commitment to hospitality. 

Should we return to Bangkok, we look forward to a return visit to further explore all this property has to offer.