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The Skyview Bangkok has a most enviable location, surrounded as it is by prime luxury malls such as Emporium, EM Quartier, and EMSphere, and a stone’s throw from BTS Phrom Pong station.

The tastefully done-up lobby, with black and grey overtones, is functional and well-lit, with ample scattered seating. (One wishes, though, that the staff would prohibit guests from sprawling across the settees in deep slumber.) A towering floral centrepiece adds an attractive splash of colour to the space. The management has also added a complimentary chilled water station, which surely offers a welcome respite from Bangkok’s humidity.

The Skyview offers 285 keys across 35 floors, categorised as follows: Premier (30 sqm); Grand Premier (32 sqm); Grand Executive (35 sqm); Skyview Grand Suite (48 sqm) and Skyview Executive Suite (62 sqm). The hotel also caters to guests with physical disabilities, offering three rooms in the Grand Premier category with wider doors, grab bars, and larger bathrooms.

Skyview Bangkok Lobby

All the rooms are easy on the eye in a restful beige and come equipped with two complimentary bottles of water; an electric kettle; a minibar; an electronic safe; slippers; a bathrobe; an iron and ironing board; an umbrella; and a magnifying mirror. The Skyview is mindful of guest security, and access to the accommodation is only by tapping the room key card against an elevator panel.

The Grand Executive Suite is spacious and well-appointed. One enters a small foyer with a flowering orchid and is immediately met by a huge bathroom with an oval bathtub and large French windows through which the city skyline is visible. There’s also a shower cubicle with a rain shower. I liked the attention to detail here; there’s a ledge cut off the floor through which the water goes neatly into the drain, and thus, the floor doesn’t have any soapy residue left. The sleeping space is also well laid out, with an armchair and footstool beside the bed, facing the large-screen television, and a long workstation. As a corner room, it has plenty of tall windows, good views, and abundant natural light.

On the other hand, the Skyview Grand Suite is mainly preferred by long-staying guests. This room category is kitted out with a washing machine, a two-plate electric hob, a full-size fridge, a microwave, a coffee machine, an electric kettle, cutlery, and cooking pans and skillets. The bedroom is a much larger and brighter space, offering a view out over the adjacent Benjasri Park. There’s another TV here and a long, functional work desk, while the extremely spacious bathroom has both a shower cubicle and a bathtub. The WC is one of those fancy Japanese ones, with push buttons and all, even to heat the potty seat. Neat! Gaily patterned bathrobes and slippers (orange for ladies; black for men) are rather endearing; makes a nice change from the usual, sterile white, as do the quirky slogans on the toiletries. However, as I’ve had occasion to point out on my last stay too, the magnifying mirror in the bathroom is quite useless, unless one is six feet tall!

Skyview Bangkok – Prime Restaurant

The Skyview Executive Suite (in which I was fortunate to be housed) has amenities similar to those in the above category, except, of course, that it is much larger, with a larger L-shaped settee in the living room and a long marble slab that serves as the dining table. It must be said this is one of the most comfortable, self-contained, relaxing suites I’ve ever stayed in.

F&B outlets include the all-day dining Prime (100-covers) serving buffet spreads as well as an à la carte menu. This restaurant is divided into three distinct spaces, with black-streaked marble flooring that’s complemented by clusters of overhanging verdant plants. However, the breakfast spread could use a makeover, and the seating isn’t enough to handle the breakfast rush, especially on weekends.

The Liquid Pool Bar by the swimming pool (80 covers) is a relaxing, spacious area with lazily whirring ceiling fans that serves drinks and minimal snacks (the jarring disco music could be toned down here).

Madura is the new 200-seater Latino dining outlet at the Skyview, popular among Bangkok locals for drinks as well as dinner. There’s also The Ledger Room on the 32nd floor, a hushed space with plush seating and a rather staggering selection of whiskies and cigars from Cuba, Nicaragua, Brazil and Colombia. The Vanilla Skybar on the 35th floor has comfortable lounge seating in shades of aqua as well as high chairs, offering an encompassing view of Bangkok’s incomparable skyline. Apart from this, there are the Japanese Yankii and Ten-Show (the latter has a live kitchen) on the lobby level, both of which are managed by external operators. Room service is available 24-hours.

Recreation facilities include the brightly-lit 24-hour Skyfit Fitness Centre and a small outdoor infinity swimming pool (one wishes they wouldn’t play discordant disco music, though). Although the Skyview does not have an in-house spa, the Reception staff can organise in-room massages by prior reservation.

Skyview Bangkok – Executive Suite

Convention options include the Sky Ballroom, which can accommodate 300 pax cocktail-style and can be partitioned into Sky I & II. There is ample pre-function space on either side of the room, with plentiful seating, while the coffee-and-canapé area just in front of the hall is extremely spacious, with sofa and bar stool seating. Silver Lining can host 70 pax cocktail style; Sky III can take about 12 pax boardroom style, while Sky V can accommodate 50 pax theatre style and Sky VI can take 30 pax theatre style. There is free wifi across the hotel.

The Front Office team is alert and on its toes, but comes across as slightly brusque, particularly when they ask for deposits or credit card guarantees in an uncompromising tone. Housekeeping staff are shy and friendly, leaving endearing touches in the room, such as animals fashioned from towels. They’re also very vigilant about replenishing amenities. F&B is eager to please, with unobtrusive yet attentive service. The air-conditioning and boiler systems are extremely efficient, and pest control is effective. Something eminently sensible the management has done is to have Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, and Kasikorn ATMs on the premises, giving guests a wide range of cash withdrawal options, as well as a currency exchange counter.

As mentioned, the Skyview Hotel is in close proximity to luxury brands and upmarket eateries. The Japanese Naraya store, famous for its cloth handbags, is down the road, and there are many massage places around the hotel, including the superb Asia Herb Association near Benjasri Park; the latter, weather permitting, is a green oasis of relaxation in the city.

Phrom Pong is on the Sukhumvit line, close to Asoke, Bangkok’s central business district (CBD). 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, visit a Floating Market, the Flower Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market and countless Night Markets.