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This is my second stay at the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, and I definitely hope to be back again! The first impression one receives here is quiet, understated luxury, with an overriding emphasis on guest comfort. Located in the much-coveted Sukhumvit 24 area, it’s cheek-by-jowl with luxury malls in the EM district, as well as a plethora of restaurants and massage parlours.

But … I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s first speak of the blooming romance between the Italian Jay and Daisy, the American love of his life; sculptures of the two are placed all across the hotel; indeed, the chef even puts together chocolate miniatures! Visiting the hotel again after a couple of years, I see there are more statues dedicated to them in glass showcases scattered across the lobby.

Hilton’s rooftop romance makes Bangkok luxury look effortless.

Aww, did that little romance tug at your heartstrings? It’s all clever imagination, but it’s fascinating how the Hilton Sukhumvit has constructed its own, quite unique character through this work of fiction! However, this love affair does reflect between the hotel and its clientele, where several (like me) are repeat guests.

One enters the hotel into a stylish lobby with a profusion of fresh orchids offset by wooden sculptures and plentiful lounge seating as though in a comfortable home space. The Reception desk is placed discreetly off to the side, with a complimentary roselle juice and water station for guest use. A thoughtful, recent touch from management is the installation of an SCB ATM near the concierge desk.

Lemongrass fragrance permeates the atmosphere and wide corridors with plush carpeting that muffle the sound of footsteps, leading to the rooms. With an inventory of 280-keys, the Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok offers categories such as: King Deluxe; Twin Deluxe; King Premium Deluxe; King Accessible Deluxe (three rooms for physically challenged guests); King Executive Room; Twin Executive Room; King Executive Premium (all at 36sqm); King Junior Suite; Twin Junior Suite (51sqm); King Executive Suite; Twin Executive Suite (60sqm) and the King Presidential Suite (138sqm). Keeping not just comfort but security in mind, your room key card gives access only to your own floor or else the public spaces.

Breakfast in bed, with Bangkok serving the view.

The King Executive Premium category has been newly renovated and has black-and-grey checked carpeting. The Junior Suite is cosily comfortable, with an L-shaped sofa at the foot of the bed, facing the large-screen TV, as well as a plush armchair with footstool. The Presidential Suite has dark chocolate and fawn furnishings, with an eight-seater dining table, work desk, kitchenette and walk-in closet. The bathroom here has an oval bathtub overlooking the city skyline (of course, with discreet blinds for privacy), while the master bedroom, black and chocolate-hued, is styled in 1920’s American fashion.

The Hilton knows how to pamper its guests, and so a thick, dark chocolate brownie resting temptingly on a platter is the first thing my eye alights on as I enter my room (it was surprising to find, though, that it had been left uncovered; quite unexpected by Hilton standards). I stayed in a King Premium Deluxe; spacious indeed for a city hotel, where the emphasis is on guest comfort rather than luxury fitments that are seldom of utility; the bed and pillows deserve a separate word of praise, being so soft that one can sink into them. Furthermore, the room has carpeting and stone flooring in a light biscuit shade, with adequate lighting, including angled bed lamps (the bathroom could do with better lighting though, particularly needed for ladies and their make-up). It may sound odd to wax lyrical about the luggage rack, but I must point out that it’s wide enough to open out the entire suitcase, which is something most hotels overlook when it comes to interior design.

Suite sophistication, where Bangkok comfort walks elegantly home.

This room category offers a large bathroom, with the bathtub and rain shower both in the same cubicle and which can be cordoned off from the bed space by roller blinds. In a very sensible engineering move, the shower door opens inwards, which means one isn’t dripping water all over the place.

The Hilton Sukhumvit provides the uber luxurious Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries across its room categories. Other amenities include two complimentary bottles of drinking water; a tea/coffee maker; a minibar; an electronic safe; a large-screen TV (albeit with limited channels on offer); a weighing scale; bathrobes; and an iron and ironing board.

F&B options include the 45-cover, all-day dining Mondo, which means ‘world’ in Italian – and in keeping with this theme, there are plenty of stacked suitcases around this space. Mondo has had several changes; now catering to a substantial Japanese clientele, it has lower seating and serves a typical Japanese-style afternoon tea. The bar is now a separate space to the side at the entrance to Mondo, serving uniquely Hilton-created cocktails.

Then there is the Italian outlet Scalini, which means ‘spiral staircase’ in Italian and so, fittingly, there is indeed a staircase leading up past Mondo and thence to Scalini, with its open kitchen concept. The décor here is of the early 1900’s, during the Prohibition period. Once again, this restaurant too offers comfortable seating complemented by beautifully carved wooden dining cabinets, although there is the usual table-chair placement in the centre of the room, near the wine racks.

Bangkok sunsets pour golden luxury across Hilton’s skyline.

Breakfast options are myriad – one can either avail of a Japanese breakfast at Mondo, or else a vast and varied spread at Scalini. On a smaller scale, although by no means meagre, is the breakfast at the Executive Lounge. Indeed, the latter offers finger food pretty much through the day, with a high tea followed by ‘Happy Hour’ cocktails. This is really a most pleasantly done-up space, with a separate wine cellar that is also the enclosed smoking zone, overlooking the Bangkok skyline. Scalini serves only an Italian menu for dinner, although the chef was amenable enough to rustle up some prawns in garlic and chilli for me; a bit odd to find my main course arrived before I was done with my starter; some staff training required here.

The Hilton Sukhumvit has quite a small rooftop swimming pool, with quaint statues of Jay and Daisy reading a book whilst paddling their feet in the water. There is a small bar here as well, playing peppy, piped Latino music. This space is known as ‘Lapse’ and also has a small Fitness Centre overlooking the pool that is open 24 hours (please note trainers are not available 24 hours).

Breakfast gets Hilton’s full treatment: naturally, lavishly, deliciously.

The convention facilities cover an entire floor that’s fashioned as a New York-style penthouse, with the kitchen and pantry exactly as one would find in an apartment. Done up in elegant grey and black, the foyer leads to a luxuriously appointed sitting room, on either side of which are the halls. Summit I is a boardroom that can accommodate 12 pax, while Summit II and Summit III on the facing side can accommodate 50 pax each, theatre style. Rather than a slider on wheels, these halls have a door in between and hence are better suited to events than conventions. Usually, this entire floor is rented out for weddings or magazine photo shoots.

The Study Room on a lower floor can take 60 pax theatre style, while the Grand Ballroom can accommodate 300 pax theatre style, with a short L-shaped pre-function area, one end of which is a smaller boardroom for 10 pax. It was recently kitted out with a 10-metre-wide LED screen.

Despite being on such a busy road, there is little-to-no noise disturbance from traffic. There is free wifi across the hotel.

Hilton sets the stage for Bangkok business brilliance.

F&B service is friendly, and Housekeeping staff are attentive. A shout-out to Engineering for efficient air conditioning. The Front Office staff are smiling and helpful, but could perhaps do with more co-ordination across departments; I was taken aback to receive a call asking if all is well, as my DND had been on for two days (according to them), whereas I’d switched it off in the morning and Housekeeping had had a go at my room too.

As mentioned, the Hilton Sukhumvit is on Sukhumvit soi 24, which comes under the BTS (skytrain) Phrom Pong zone. A taxi from the airport costs approximately THB400.

The next BTS station is Asoke, Bangkok’s prime business district. A few stops more get you to Siam, with more malls, restaurants, fun roadside shopping and the MBK mall within the area. Heading away from Phrom Pong, the next station is Thonglor, full of exclusive and upbeat pubs and bars.

Apart from this, there is plenty to do in Bangkok; you can take in a day tour of the Grand Palace; visit Wats (temples) such as Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun and others; 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.