Bangkok is a huge sprawling city of different districts and neighbourhoods, without one real downtown or centre. But one of its major areas is Silom, the business district, which is home to several major hotels and skyscrapers, and is located fairly centrally in its relation to other areas you might want to explore. It also benefits from metro and SkyTrain links so it therefore makes an excellent base to explore the city from.
One of our favourite hotels in Silom is the COMO Metropolitan, a name you might recognise from its London location on Park Lane. The Bangkok edition is situated just off the main road that cuts through Silom and is set far enough back and shaded by lots of palm trees that it provides a nice, quiet setting despite actually being located right in the thick of it. The low rise white building is fairly unremarkable from the outside but step inside and you’re greeted by a sleek modern aesthetic, with slatted dark wood panels, soft lighting, and a large pebbled water feature by reception.
The modern, minimalist design is continued in the rooms, with whitewashed walls and dark woods complimented by the odd splash of colour – a yellow rug or bright flower arrangement. There’s a few different room types to choose from, ranging from cosy double rooms to the terrace rooms which have a private patio and outdoor shower. We’d suggest going somewhere in the middle for one of the ‘Metropolitan Rooms’ which have lots of space, including a separate living room area and big bathroom with rainforest shower and a bathtub that boasts great views of the skyline. All mod cons are in place too, including USB charging sockets, Bose music player, and the hotel’s own COMO Shambhala products.
Back down on the ground floor, the COMO Metropolitan has a beautiful outdoor pool, surrounded by wooden decking and sun loungers – although the area only actually catches a bit of sun in the morning so sunbathers will have to look elsewhere in the afternoon! The pool is very peaceful and a great place to unwind after a day out on the humid, hectic streets of Bangkok.
The thing that really sets the COMO Metropolitan apart from other hotels in the area however is its restaurant, the legendary Nahm by David Thompson. This hugely influential Michelin-starred Thai restaurant has played a big part in the development of Thai food all around the world inspiring and training countless chefs to create Thai restaurants of their own (Som Saa and The Begging Bowl just being two examples in London). Nahm is still going strong and it’s well worth having lunch or dinner here to experience the fusion of classic Thai flavours with modern techniques. Standout dishes from our meal included the southern yellow curry of blue swimmer crab with betel leaves and calamansi; tom yum soup of river prawn, wild mushrooms, and chilli jam; and relish of wild prawns from songkhla with chumpon shrimp paste and green peppercorn.
With a top location, modern design and an absolutely killer world class restaurant, COMO Metropolitan has something for everyone and is a fantastic all-rounder for a stay in Bangkok.
27 S Sathorn Rd, Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
comohotels.com