Oriental Residence Bangkok

Not every hotel has to stage a doomed, lonely revolution against the prevailing standards of hospitality. Sometimes it’s enough simply to be very, very tasteful — taste being second on the list, behind those revolutionary new ideas, of what’s lacking in the hotel world today. (Even first, actually, if you’re of a more traditional temperament.) And taste is what the Oriental Residence Bangkok has going for it in spades.

It’s also got more than a little bit of comfort; the Grand Deluxe rooms could pass for suites in a lesser hotel, and the proper suites could practically pass as luxury apartments, complete with full kitchens. And for all that, the style is light, simple, spare, contemporary — a far cry from the heavy ostentatiousness of many a Bangkok luxury hotel.

And while it may not be a proper grand palace hotel, it’s got enough in the way of conveniences for most of us. Along with a fitness center and a bit of meeting space, it’s got two French-inspired restaurants, the casual Café Claire and the fine-dining Savelberg Thailand. Meanwhile its location in the embassy district means the surrounding neighborhood can easily carry some of the weight — you’re close by to some of Bangkok’s best restaurants and shops.