In most hotel write-ups we share the hotel name in the title… but on this occasion we’re being sneaky. With many International Brands, like the Holiday Inn, there comes a preconception “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, right?”. In reality, this couldn’t be further from truth. I felt the same with the Ibis’ and Novotels, more familiar to my part of the world, but the Holiday Inn is new to me and I was excited for my first Holiday Inn experience. Living in Bangkok it does take increased effort to coax me from my condo comforts as I often look for something new and something exciting to get my bite. The Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit achieves this with unexpected uniqueness and individuality which, when matched with the safety of international reputation, makes for a win, win scenario. Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit has an iconic name and 60 plus years of loyal following which no doubt makes it hard to push contemporary innovation while preserving long-held expectations, but at the Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit they do this to a tee. The clean-cut cantilevered architecture and stylish onsite restaurant (Maya) are proof of this. It was in fact Maya Indian Restaurant which first piqued my interest in the hotel as it alone helped to revive a somewhat stale reputation in Indian food experiences with the Sukhumvit area. On our visit we decide to make the most of the experience with a night of relaxation, wine, romance and top-notch eating.
Our Urban Escape
So there are three things I look for in an urban hotel experience; “Is it near public transport?”, “Does the design excite me?” and “Do we have big city views?”. The Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit ticks all three boxes, a convenient location sat over the Skytrain (between Asoke and Phrom Pong stations), a slick executive styled interior, and some of the area’s best skyline views from the upper levels of the hotel. We stay on the 20th floor with corner views and watch over the human-ants as they scurry on city streets below. It is also rainy season which, while not ideal for tourists, is perfect for us. We have no plans on leaving the hotel whatsoever. Storms rumble and lightning streaks through surrounding skies. Heavy rains swirl past our corner window. There’s no better place to be during these weathers, comfortable, cosy, with a bottle of wine, a bit of romance and the knowledge that we’re not on the streets being drenched.
Maya Rooftop Restaurant and Bar (full review)
Located on the 29th cantilevered rooftop floor is Maya Indian Restaurant, alone worth the visit. Big city views a slick, elegant interior and progressive ambiance. Throw in the top-notch Indian dishes, some serious cocktails and it is an Indian food experience hard-to-beat. From the moment we step from the elevator, we are graced with style, from a clean-cut open kitchen with metallic tandoor ovens, to the floor-to-ceiling glass walls showcasing a shimmering Sukhumvit skyline. If you don’t go for a meal the bar option offers Indian inspired cocktails and some of the Chef’s inspired nibbles. For more info and reservation at Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit check here.
