THE STANDARD BANGKOK - SEE YOU ON THE FLIPSIDE!
Have you ever been so excited about a hotel that you can’t wait for them to open? We sure did!
After months of emailing, calling, texting, WhatsApps, LINE, all with only one burning question: “do you guys know anything yet?”, we finally got the liberating answer with. “We open on July 29th, we are welcoming you on Friday, August 12th, 2022 at The Standard Bangkok“. Followed by; “by the way, we also reserved a table in the Mexican Restaurant Ojo for you”.
Not only fantastic news due to the fact that The Standard was finally going to open the Asian flagship hotel in Bangkok, but also because for us a logistical problem was solved. Now we could set the alarm clock an hour late on August 13th… Why? You’ll read about that later, first we’ll take you to the coolest and hottest hotel available in Bangkok. We slept, ate, drank, chilled and most of all celebrated life at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon!
Where is The Standard Bangkok located?
After months of delay, The Standard Bangkok finally opened its doors late July 2022. An opening that was awaited by many fans of this extraordinary hospitality brand. The Standard Bangkok was opened in one of Bangkok’s most famous and crowded landmarks, the Mahanakhon tower. Also known as that pixelated Bangkok building, the Mahanakhon is most likely the city’s most unusual eye-catcher because of its pixel like construction that can be recognized from far, far away.
The hotel is a 40-minute drive from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport and is located opposite to the Chong Nonsi BTS sky train station. You only have to take a few steps across the main square and you are standing in front of The Standard’s entrance. When you look up, you can really see how imposing the Mahanakhon skyscraper is. From the urban setting of the Tetris Tower to the gate of the famous green Lumpini Park in Bangkok it’s about a twenty-minute walk, a world of difference.
The Standard Bangkok is located right in the Silom district, a business area of Bangkok. In this neighborhood you will find well-known hotspots such as the restaurant and cooking school Blue Elephant by world-renowned Thai chef Nooror Somany Steppe. The extraordinary massage parlor Perception Blind, where visually impaired people massage you, is also around the corner.
Would you like to eat at a classy restaurant awarded a Michelin star? Then reserve a table at Sühring, run by German twin brothers. Or choose Le Du, one of Asia’s finest restaurants and also awarded a Michelin star. Speaking of high class, shopping luxuriously to your heart’s content is just a ten-minute ride on the sky train. You will then be dropped off in the Siam area, at the doorstep of Siam Paragon and other shopping malls such as Central World. Not far from Siam Paragon is the world-famous Jim Thompson House, a cultural hotspot of Bangkok.
King Power Mahanakhon
A visit to the 78-story Mahanakhon building is, as far as we are concerned, something that you 100% MUST DO when visiting Bangkok. We have visited the King Power Mahanakhon several times and we still keep coming back like magnets. This building and especially the roof is out of the ordinary! Our recent visit to the Mahanakhon Sky Beach on 13-08-2022 is one we will never forget. Nevertheless, we also remember our very first visit in 2018 to King Power Mahanakhon like yesterday. The entrance, the insanely cool elevator with video images all around, the phenomenal 360-degree views and especially the SkyWalk, is truly WOW!
German architect Ole Scheeren and his team have designed a distinctive landmark that has changed Bangkok’s skyline forever. Besides the 314-meter-high Mahanakhon, there is a smaller building called the Mahanakhon CUBE. In the CUBE, visitors can enjoy delicious food at numerous Eastern and Western restaurants. There are even a number of Thai restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide of Thailand. You can shop to your heart’s content at the King Power Mahanakhon Tower. Shop, eat, drink, sleep and party all in one place. Spending time at The Standard Bangkok is like living inside a hip lifestyle magazine!
The Standard
Globetrotters with class, art and culture connaisseurs, luxury travelers and just people with the right eye for quality most likely already know The Standard. For others a little introduction to that anything but standard hotel brand is fitting. In ’99, the very first The Standard Hotel opened on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Only years later more hotels were opened in places like Miami Beach, New York and London. Today, The Standard can even be found on the famous party island of Ibiza.
We haven’t been able to decode the secret formula (yet). In our humble opinion, the formula for The Standard’s success must be a mix of the unconventional way of operating, the perfect staff, a carefully chosen location, the magic of marketing, special branding, very hard work and some things even more secret than the Coca Cola formula. All of that (and more) ensures that The Standard is unique and not standard. In fact, their logo says it all.
Image: Minnaert (Wikimedia)
By now, The Standard is such a strong brand that many guests are all too happy to spend their time at these accommodations. One thing is for sure, since we slept at The Standard in Bangkok we want more, much more! The Standard is addictive, The Standard Hua Hin here we come!
More Standards will open in the coming years, in 2023 Singapore, followed by global cities like Brussels, Lisbon and Melbourne. When will it be our almost home town Amsterdam’s turn? By the way, a Peri Hotel will open in Bangkok in 2025. Peri is from the same hospitality company as The Standard, one for our wishlist.
Image: The Standard
The Standard Bangkok
The Standard Bangkok is appointed to be The Standard’s flagship hotel in Asia. Not surprising with a location in a world-famous skyscraper like the Mahanakhon! The designer five-star hotel occupies a whopping 18 of its 78 floors including a total of 155 rooms across eight different room types. Add to that six restaurants, two bars, an outdoor pool, a fitness center including a steam room and the roof of the Mahanakhon and you get a not-so-standard hotel right in central Bangkok. Are you looking for a unique hotel in Bangkok? Congratulations, you have now found it, The Standard Bangkok it is!
Look & Feel
The (interior) design of The Standard Bangkok is so incredibly cool that we have the urge to say a little more about it. First of all, kudos to The Standard’s “Chef Design” Verena Haller and her amazing team of designers. Also, a very deep bow to Jamie Hayon and his super team at Hayon Studio from Spain. Honestly, we know nothing about architecture, design and decor, but we do know what we think something is ****** cool. After all, we think The Standard is SUPER ******* COOL!
We have slept in many wonderful accommodations in Thailand, but the extraordinary interior design, use of color, art and that something magical that The Standard Bangkok involves is disproportionate from what we have seen.
Every room has a special design, with variegated pantone colors or soothing pastel hues. There is no shortage of round corners, and the hundreds of diverse pieces of furniture fit perfectly with the rooms and public spaces we visited. In terms of art, there is so much to discover at The Standard Bangkok, it’s like a museum.
To get a better idea, we showcase a small selection of some beautiful photos that reflect the hotel’s design well.
Welcome to The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon!
As soon as you step through the sliding doors of the spacious first floor entrance, you immediately notice The Standard’s unique style. The beautiful coloring, playful curves and many, many (hidden) works of art and other trinkets. For instance the giant bright red lips in the planter in the back. The set of hanging rattan lamps complete the first impression. “If this is just the entrance, what must the rest of this crazy hotel look like?”, I wondered.
Meanwhile, we were kindly greeted by two employees of The Standard. “For check-in at the front desk, you can take the elevator to the fourth floor, down the hallway to the left. We will take care of your luggage, it will be brought to your room in advance”. In the minimalist green elevator, like almost everyone else (I guess), we took some pictures of the trippy effect thanks to the mirrors and lamps that are placed.
Front desk and lobby at The Standard Bangkok
The team behind the front desk is so different = not standard from what we are used to when checking in. The Standard gives a totally new meaning to hospitality. Not stiff, very personable and you can have a great laugh with them (sanuk). They show genuine interest and remember conversations, what you talked to them about days ago. The communication just feels different and this is hard to explain, at least we would have a good and pleasant conversation with anyone in a bar or club.
Image: Thailand Magazine
Behind the reception desk there is (again) a special piece of art, typical of what makes The Standard that not so standard hotel. Hanging there is a video artwork by Marco Brambilla. “Heaven’s Gate” changes constantly and is a real eye catcher that I spent a few minutes staring at. The lobby in itself is a huge eye-catcher anyway. You really spend some time taking in the curves, materials and details on display. A matter of taste will certainly play a role, but we think style is very cool, what do you think?!
Just before we finished checking in, a friendly American lady appeared behind the counter. “On behalf of The Standard Bangkok crew, congratulations on your wedding on Koh Samui, we are happy to salute you with your first Bangkok accommodation as a married couple!”. “We are informed by e-mail that you lovebirds will make some incredibly special pictures tomorrow early morning. You want us to steam and press your suit”? I replied by asking if this was possible before 04:00. And yes, after we returned that evening from our dinner at Ojo and drinks at Sky Beach, my suit hung wrinkle-free and as clean as a whistle in the ultra hip closet of our Standard King room.
The Standard King, our room
During the explanation at check-in, we were told that we were sleeping in room 1205. Via a second elevator in red, we reached the twelfth floor. After a long day of traveling, from Koh Samui on a Bangkok Airways plane to Bangkok, we finally stood in front of our room. High anticipation crept up on us. “Sooooo exciting…” we said to each other as we tapped the key card against our 1205 room door.
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Within ten seconds the anticipation had turned into a euphoric feeling of ecstasy. You know that feeling, being so damn excited about something (or at that feeling you had at a rave). What an amazing room, “Have you seen who is greeting us outside on the street? Look outside?” I asked Ilonka while pointing to the Robot Building. “Right above us is the SkyWalk, what an insane room and view! “Babe, do you realize that we are sleeping in the pixel building of Bangkok!”. There came the realization that we had landed in a very special location in krung thep maha nakhon, the big mango or just Bangkok. That evening and especially the next morning would make our stay even more special.
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Below we give you a small view of our Standard King room. Pictures and text do not say enough, therefore our advice to you, yes YOU, just book that room and go enjoy yourself in The Standard Bangkok. It’s CRAZY GOOD and you will not, never regret it > YOLO!
Hereby we would like to thank the team of The Standard BKK not only for the super service, but also for the nice gifts left for us in the room. So creative and sweet! Our stay at your hotel we will remember forever, SEMPRE!
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Here are some more pictures of our bathroom.
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
The other not so standard type of rooms
Apart from the Standard King Room, there are seven other types of rooms at The Standard Mahanakhon to choose from. The Standard King of 40 m2 is the smallest room in the hotel and still feels spacious. The gigantic Bigger Penthouse of 144 m2 is the very largest. In between are the Corner King, Corner Double, Suite Spot (great name), Balcony Suite (we’ll go for that next time) and the Penthouse.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Standard Bangkok is wheelchair accessible. There are several wheelchair-friendly rooms to book and all catering establishments are easily accessible.
All Standard Bangkok rooms are unique with no two rooms being the same. Nevertheless, they all have that super cool “Hayon” look. Some of the rooms overlook the Standard Pool and there are even others with living rooms and balconies. The flagship of The Standard clearly manages to stand out from the thousands of accommodations in Bangkok.
Good eats and drinks at The Standard Bangkok
It won’t surprise you that unfortunately we didn’t have time to visit all six restaurants. We briefly described some of these wonderful catering establishments, but we wrote a separate Ojo Bangkok review about that spectacular place. In this exclusive Mexican restaurant we had an incredibly delicious meal, it was truly fantastiscojo! Whether you sleep at The Standard Bangkok or not, a visit to Sky Beach with the SkyWalk is something you have to do anyway if you are in Bangkok.
Let’s shake things up a notch and first take you to a height of 300 meters. Then we’ll descend from place to place until we reach the second floor where Mott 32 is located. Will you join us?
Sky Beach + SkyWalk
Before The Standard took on the roof of the Mahanakhon, we had visited the 76th and 77th floors of one of Bangkok’s tallest skyscrapers many times before. After all, Sky Beach is like not other than all Sky Bars in Bangkok! Sky Beach is not only the tallest sky bar in Thailand, but it also holds a special trump card: the glass SkyWalk suspended above Bangkok. We have said it before and will say it again, If you visit Bangkok then we think you really MUST have done the SkyWalk. At least if you dare (“making chicken noise while writing this”). The SkyWalk is a glass platform 300 meters above the streets of Bangkok. Our advice, look ahead and take that step, you can do it!
Even if you don’t spend the night at The Standard Bangkok, a visit to Sky Beach is still something you won’t regret. This sky bar offers visitors an unparalleled 360-degree view of the city from Thailand’s highest observation deck. You stand a whopping 314 meters above street level! Along the stairs to the observation deck, cushions have been placed or you can take a seat at the many tables placed here and there.
Sky Beach Bangkok is an awesome place to sip a cocktail or other drink while enjoying the beautiful view. On clear days, it is even possible to see as far as the Tanaosri Mountains on the Myanmar border. On those days, you can also see the area around Pattaya and Koh Larn. At Sky Beach, you’ll feel as free as a bird!
Sky Beach is open daily from 10:00 am to 00:00 am, with Skywalk open until 7:00 pm. Lucky The Standard hotel guests get value for money as they get free access to Sky Beach and SkyWalk. If you don’t sleep at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, a ticket to Sky Beach (and SkyWalk) then costs 880 THB per person. You do get a voucher for a free drink, such as a cocktail, score! What kind of beverages (and snacks) do they have? Check out the Sky Beach menu.
At the very bottom of this review, we share our special moment on the roof of the Mahanakhon Bangkok. A moment to never forget! Want to know more about the Mahanakhon and the SkyWalk? We wrote an extensive article about it.
Ojo Bangkok
One floor below Sky Beach, on the 76th floor, lies the magisterial Ojo. Ojo Bangkok is an outstanding Mexican restaurant which since opening in mid-2022, continues to be the “talk of the town.”
At Ojo, Chef Francisco Paco Ruano and his team make sure you get to taste unique Mexican dishes you’ve never tasted before. A total experience that we also got to taste, it was so appetizing and that’s why we wrote a separate review about it. Read and watch about Ojo here.
After our Ojo adventure was over, we went back to Sky Beach for a nightcap. Once again we toasted to our special trip and first day as husband and wife in Bangkok. Around one o’clock or so we finally dove into our super soft bed and I asked. “Honey, what time should we set the alarm?” To which half asleep replied, “three o’clock, no no, do 3:30 a.m.” – to be continued….
The Standard Grill
The Standard Grill in Bangkok has come over like smoke from The Standard New York. You will find The Standard Grill on the fifth floor where guests can eat inside and al fresco outside. At Standard Grill you can go for lunch or dinner, what am I writing? They have an all day dining concept, so eat well whenever you want as long as it’s before 10:30 pm.
The crazy styled restaurant consists of two parts. There is the Grill Zone where lunch and dinner is served. At the Café Zone guests can enjoy a breakfast or the all day dining concept.
The morning of our after wedding photoshoot, we had a great breakfast with our friends Dima and Ploy outdoors. Among the things we enjoyed there were crispy croissants and other amazing pastries, a healthy bowl of bircher granola and fresh fruit. There was so much more we wanted to check off on the paper we were given upon entry.
By the way, I don’t know if it was because of the after Covid-19 period, but ticking off our breakfast wishes on a piece of paper made me feel like a kid working on his birthday wish list. Maybe this is standard at The Standard, we’ll most likely find out during our next visit. Because one thing is for sure, we’ll be back!
A lunch or dinner at The Standard Grill we unfortunately did not manage to have. Our visit to The Standard Bangkok was simply too short, way too short. Perhaps this is the only downside we can think of to our ThailandMagazine.com voyage. We have to do too much in too little time. Always fun, certainly adventurous and occasionally challenging. In this case extremely painful, because when you are a guest in an accommodation like The Standard Bangkok, you want to enjoy every second of it and never leave.
DID YOU KNOW?
On the day of publication of this review (22-12-2022), part of The Standard Grill is being renamed as a new bar of The Standard Bangkok. The Double Standard, which also occupies the rooftop terrace of The Standard Grill, will be open during the afternoon until (late) evening.
The Parlor
Located right next to the lobby of The Standard Bangkok, The Parlor is that hip spot ideal for a relaxed rendezvous or an incredible meeting with your future best friend. The Parlor is the beating heart of The Standard, this is where it happens. No one knows what, when and most importantly why.
You eat a snack here while chatting with each other about small talk. Or sip that drink you know won’t be your last. The Parlor is much more than that. So there’s also hard partying, massive socializing, cheating during the legendary bingo nights, as well as singing out of yune during a karaoke night. Ey nightingale we did see you secretly scratch that number on the bigo card! Next time we will be there too, we’ll keep an eye on you!
For if we have worked your interest. On Friday and Saturday you can go wild from 07:00 to 02:00 and on Sunday and Thursday you can do so until 01:00.
Tea…se
The first thing I thought of when I saw Tease was LSD during a black and white movie. The second, and thankfully a somewhat normal thought, was “hey what a fun name those folks at The Standard came up with for this high tea concept room.” Because, at Tease, guests of the hotel and beyond can enjoy highly recommended high tea.
Want to give a/your friend, wife/hubby, partner, (grand)mother/father, niece/nephew, (grand)child/ / sister/brother or business associate a nice gift? Then invite her or him (and yourself) for a high tea at Tease! You will get different kinds of tea with blissful sweet and delicious savory snacks. An incredible experience and a super nice gift (also for yourself) when you are in Bangkok. Afterwards, catch the SkyWalk together with grandma or-dad, okay?
You can order a high tea at Tease starting at THB 1,200 per person. A reservation is wise and desirable due to demand. Email stbkk@standardhotels.com for more information and reservations.
Mott 32
Suppose we get to choose from just one restaurant of The Standard Bangkok that we have not yet eaten at. Then, in my case, the choice falls on Mott 32! Not just because of all the good stories we’ve been hearing since The Standard Bangkok opening. No, at Mott 32, on the second floor of the hotel, it’s all about the authenticity of varied Chinese (Cantonese) cuisine. It seems to be that the recipes circulating in Mott 32’s kitchen are as old as the Chinese wall.
Seriously, I’m very curious about the dishes prepared in the kitchen of Mott 32. I would certainly go for a hefty portion of steaming dim sum, but then be sure to also order the Apple Wood Roasted Peking Duck and Barbecue Honey Glazed Iberico Pork. My mouth is watering already! Mott 32 is daily open from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm (lunch) and between 5:30pm – 10:30pm (dinner).
The Standard facilities
We’re almost to the end, but not quite yet, because The Standard Bangkok’s fabulous facilities have yet to be described. Namely, there is an extraordinary outdoor pool, a fitness room including a steam room, and no less than four meeting rooms. We’re not going to write anything at all about it, because we don’t want you thinking about work. Please don’t think about that deadline, rather think about a carefree vacay or stay in one of Bangkok’s best hotels. Do I have your attention again?
The Standard Bangkok Pool
When we heard about The Standard Bangkok well before it opened, we scoured the worldwide web to see if we could find some images of the pool. “Where did those crazy people at The Standard manage to put an outdoor pool?” we thought. They succeeded, though, and how!
We spent our last hours of our fine stay at this super-chill spot in Bangkok. We jumped into the large pool, took a few laps and bubbled away in the free-standing Jacuzzi. We enjoyed some cool drinks at the outdoor bar and took some vitamin D on the loungers with soft cushions.
For the last hour of our Standard adventure, we isolated ourselves in one of the large outdoor beds with thick two-person mattresses. We closed the curtains and pretended we weren’t home, in that case maybe we could stay longer. In vain, but being cut off from the outside world for a while did give us time for some reflection. Sigh, what an incredibly wonderful time we had at The Standard in Bangkok, this was (once again) one for the books.
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
Image: Thailand Magazine
The Standard Bangkok Gym
The Standard Gym offers 24/7 use of modern fitness equipment from renowned fitness brands such as TechnoGym CLMBR and Peloton. Need a helping hand? The professional team is there for you, from intense strength training to a light aerobics class. After that intense workout, you can blow off steam in the steam room with, how could it be otherwise, bright red walls and round curves, you know Standard Bangkok Style.
In conclusion
They say “Don’t judge the book on its cover” which apparently isn’t always true. At the first glimpse of The Standard Bangkok, we already had our judgment ready. Of course The Standard Bangkok is more than just the cover. It’s an entirely stylish book that you won’t find much in Bangkok. The Standard Bangkok takes hospitality to the next level. Something we only have experienced so far at Thailand’s (in our opinion) best resort, Rayavadee in Railay or at the The Okura Prestige Bangkok and in our own two (pre)wedding villas (Purana Residence and Villa Chi) on Koh Samui.
Still, The Standard Bangkok is different, the trendy colors, or the super cool design that surprises you in every room. Or is it the delicious food or the fact that you sleep in one of the tallest buildings in Thailand? It is the magical mix that is compressed into two telling words “The Standard”.
We want to thank all the not-so-standard members of The Standard Family, anywhere in the world. You guys create a unique experience! See you on the flip side!
Current rates and general information
Check-in at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon is available from 3:00 pm and check-out is allowed until as late as 12:00 pm. For current prices of this unique hotel in Bangkok, it is best to check Booking and/or Agoda. In addition, you support Thailand Magazine by booking through our partner links. We receive a small commission on your booking. This costs you nothing extra and this allows us to continue working hard on our great passion, sharing our deep-rooted love for Thailand and thus promoting the land of smiles.
Address: 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Address in Thai: 114 ถนน นราธิวาสราชนครินทร์ แขวง สีลม เขตบางรัก กรุงเทพมหานคร 10500
Phone: +66 (0)2085 8888
Website: https://www.standardhotels.com/bangkok
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestandardbangkok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestandardbangkok
“After Wedding Photo Shoot” @ Sky Beach + Sky Walk
As a bonus, we saved our best experience until the very end. Our incredibly awesome after-wedding-photo-shoot. We did have to set our alarm for it at 03:30 am and in the end we didn’t fall asleep until about noon. Would we do it again? Yeah, we would do it again in a heartbeat, it was all so incredibly worth it!
Below we have posted some of our photos shot early, very early on the roof of the Mahanakhon. As far as we know, we are the only (married) couple to have had a photo shoot on the Mahanakhon SkyWalk that early. Anyway, our wedding was something we will never forget
To be allowed to do a shoot at a location that is so meaningful to us, that is simply extraordinary and unfathomable. Indeed, the Mahanakhon is synonymous with the launch of Thailand Magazine. In 2016, the same year that the Mahanakhon opened, we toyed with the idea of starting an online platform about Thailand. Every time we saw this striking tower, we were reminded of that idea. Two years later, our first articles were online. Follow your dreams and make your life not so standard!
Would you also like a special photo shoot on the roof of the Mahanakhon? Mail to mahanakhon@thailandmagazine.com and who knows we can help you with a special shoot.
THANKS!
Once again we would like to thank everyone at The Standard Bangkok from the bottom of our hearts. There are so many other parties/people who helped us tremendously. Thank you to K. Tasara from Bangkok Airways who made sure our belongings including ourselves arrived back and forth in Bangkok. Thank you to Khun Tum who did my oh so beautiful wife’s hair and makeup. Thanks to Ploy and Dima who shot our pictures and of course big thanks to the entire (marketing) team of King Power Mahanakhon! Without you guys this would never have been possible anyway! Last but not least, we want to thank Khun Darika! Darika you have given us something that no one else has given us, a memory forever. SEMPRE!
Image: Thailand Magazine
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