Located in one of Bangkok’s busiest tourist areas, the Mercure Sukhumvit holds its own by providing a beautifully crafted oasis of space amid the madding crowd.

The Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is located on Bangkok’s popular and bustling Soi (street) 11, a stone’s throw from the BTS station Nana and, therefore, with easy access to all the city’s popular attractions.

Since the hotel is in a crowded, bustling area, finding a rather roomy lobby with funky seating is a pleasant surprise. The space is designed to be a homage to Thailand’s silk-weaving heritage. So, one is welcomed by seeing a ceiling with yarns stretched across it to resemble a weaver’s loom. At the same time, bales of exquisite silk fabric in striking hues lined against the walls lead to the Reception area, much as one would find in any Indian fabric store – quite apt, this, as the hotel largely welcomes Indian clientele.

The Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 has 232 keys and offers all modern comforts. It is categorised as follows: Deluxe Room (34 sqm); Deluxe Room with Bathtub (40 sqm); Privilege Room (43 sqm); Family Room (43 sqm); Suites (87 sqm), and a penthouse. All rooms, except those on the 2nd and 8th floors, are non-smoking.

The hallways leading to the rooms are adorned with superb wall-mounted Thai art curios. Two Deluxe Rooms are suitably equipped for the physically challenged, with lower bed frames and bedside alarms, and one in the bathroom is designed to accommodate wheelchair access.

I stayed in a Privilege Room, which is quite spacious. A red art panel forms the backdrop to the headboard, complemented by a couple of armchairs in deep mustard with red silk cushions.

The drapes are a lovely thick cotton in Gainsboro grey, shot through with small red diamonds and a red frilled bottom, which lends a touch of understated elegance to the room.

The Family Rooms have a king-sized bed, bunk beds, and a comfy beanbag with a teddy friend in its own cosy corner—a sight to gladden any child’s heart! Best of all, there are two large-screen TVs, one for each bed/bunker.

The Suites are furnished in traditional Thai style and are located on the upper floors, affording a grand view of Bangkok’s city skyline.

The Deluxe category, with no bathtubs, is very well-appointed. A two-seater grey settee complementing the drapes creates a cosy touch. All other amenities are the same as the rest of the accommodation.

All rooms are provided with a tea/coffee maker; two complimentary bottles of drinking water (all minibar items are also complimentary for Privilege and Suite categories); a large-screen, 55-inch television; an electronic safe; a hair dryer; a magnifying mirror; bath robes and an iron/ironing board. Most notably, the toiletries (shampoo and body wash) are vegan, according to the Italian brand Elemental Herbology. Needless to say, the bathrooms have jet sprays!

Apart from the bathtubs, there’s a separate shower cubicle with a rain shower and the usual one. However, a design flaw means that the water does seep out into the rest of the bathroom. As the shower floor can get quite slippery, rubber slip mats and a hook for hanging a towel or bathrobe should be provided. Another light near the magnifying mirror wouldn’t go amiss, particularly for the ladies.

F&B options include El Gaucho, an Argentinian-style steakhouse offering grilled specialties paired with Argentinian, Chilean, and French wines. One of Bangkok’s most popular pubs, it’s a discreetly lit space featuring modern decor, a show kitchen, and a terrace area.

Lily Fu is a Pan Asian restaurant with 200 covers (it also serves as the breakfast venue). It has an outdoor dining area open to the street and rather spacious indoor seating, with a circular beverage counter taking pride of place. Delightful hanging bunches of colourful Chinese lanterns and pulsating music lend a party atmosphere to Lily Fu, in contrast to the more sober colour chart at El Gaucho. Keeping with the Pan Asian theme, the menu covers spring rolls from Hanoi, Chinese shu mai, Indonesian nasi goreng and traditional Thai favourites. The food is well-cooked, and an impressive wine cellar is here.

It doesn’t end here; a smaller, more intimate dining room is flanked intriguingly by canisters of cookies and confectionery. This leads to an open kitchen and a ten-seater private dining room.

The Pooltop Bar serves juices and finger food, while the Privilege Club is for guests in the Privilege rooms and Suites. It’s a remarkably colourful, cheerful space that serves complimentary high tea and evening Happy Hours.

Recreational options include a surprisingly large swimming pool (and kids’ pool), greenery surrounding colourful cabanas and sun lounges, and a compact, well-equipped fitness centre. The Kids Club is small and cute, with toys, a floor mat and a mini tent, all to be used under parental supervision. While the Mercure can arrange private, in-room massage sessions (outsourced to a local operator), for a more luxurious experience, guests can utilise the facilities at the sister hotel, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit.

No convention halls exist at this outlet; however, a ten-seater boardroom ensconced within the Privilege Club can be used for meetings. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Furthermore, two ATMs (SCB and Kasikorn banks) are on the premises.

Most of the Front Office and F&B staff speak English; it must be said they look very smart in their uniforms of lavender shirts paired with grey pants. The check-in procedure is smooth and efficient. Housekeeping service is unobtrusive and provided by smiling ladies.

The boiler and AC systems are very effective. The hotel’s location on a busy street causes some noise disturbance, but it’s not unbearable.

As mentioned earlier, the Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 is a 5-6 minute walk from the Skytrain BTS Nana, exit 3 (although the hotel also provides a free shuttle service to the BTS). Nana is one of Bangkok’s party spots, and it is popular with tourists. So you have a plethora of pubs and restaurants outside the hotel, including a veganerie for vegans and the well-known Bawarchi for Indians.

One BTS stop (or a short walk) away takes you to Asoke, the business district with the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre, but also home to the trendy Terminal 21 mall and the sprawling Benjakitti Park. Phrom Pong is a couple of stops away, with luxury malls such as EMQuartier, Emporium and EMSphere, and the serene Benjasri Park, or Thonglor, with upmarket pubs and eateries. A few stops in the opposite direction will get you to Siam, which has more malls, restaurants, and roadside shopping; the popular MBK mall is also within this area.

Apart from this, there is plenty to do in Bangkok; you can take a day tour of the Grand Palace, visit Wats (temples) such as Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, Wat Sam Phran (Dragon Temple); do a ferry cruise down the Chao Phraya river, stopping at China Town, Little India, or Khaosarn along the way; visit a Floating Market, the Flower Market and countless Night Markets. The Chatuchak Market is open only on the weekends, 6 am-6 pm. You can also do day trips to Ayutthaya, Sukhothai (both erstwhile capital cities of Thailand), Kanchanaburi and the Bridge over the River Kwai, Khao Yai with some Thai vineyards, or Pattaya and Koh Samet.

All major airlines fly into Bangkok, many of which are low-cost. From Suvarnabhumi Airport to the Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11, a taxi should cost approximately THB 300 (plus the airport surcharge of THB 50). Alternatively, you can reserve a hotel car. You can also reach the hotel via the BTS if you’re feeling adventurous and don’t have much luggage; take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai station on the Sukhumvit line (THB 45), and from Phaya Thai, switch to the BTS to Nana station.

Mercure Bangkok Sukhumvit 11

Tel: +66 (0) 2 120 8888
Fax:+ 66 (0) 120 8889
Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mercurebangkoksukhumvit11.com/

 

 

By Punam Bakshi Mohandas

 

 

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