A look inside the very first Southeast Asian outpost of IHG’s design-led Kimpton brand.
Contemporary artworks grace the lobby of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. (All photos courtesy of IHG)
Asia-based fans of San Francisco–born Kimpton Hotels have a reason to celebrate this month—the other week saw the double openings of its debut properties in Japan and Thailand, namely the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. The brand prides itself on creating stylish, fun, and individually designed hotels, all of which are pet-friendly and plugged into their respective locales. Centrally placed in the Langsuan neighborhood, and just a 10-minute stroll from Lumpini Park, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok bills itself as a home not just for travelers but also Bangkok’s creative set, with spaces for hosting pop-up exhibitions, seminars, and intimate gigs.
The hotel’s contemporary interior, conceived as “a blend of tropical hideout and artist’s loft,” has been layered with fabrics and different textures—its lobby is styled like an art gallery. Upstairs, 231 guest rooms and 131 residences showcase locally made artworks and come stocked with amenities by organic skincare brand Harnn. An entry-level Deluxe room measures in at a generous 48 square meters, while the top-of-the-line Celebrity Suite is more than six times the size (320 square meters, to be exact). All rooms feature Yoga mats, and travelers have the option to book in-room spa treatments. Of course, those in search of a bit more Zen can head downstairs to Amaranth Spa by Harnn for facials or muscle-melting massages. Staying in shape is easy too, thanks to an on-site gym and complimentary rental bikes ideal for exploring the surrounding soi and alleyways.
Another perspective on the hotel lobby.
A drone shot of the Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok’s private garden.
Outdoor seating in the garden.
Inside an entry-level Deluxe room.
The living room of the 320-square-meter Celebrity Suite.
Floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of views from the Celebrity Suite.
The main bedroom of the Celebrity Suite.
An armchair in the hotel’s Maa-Lai Lounge.
Within the hotel, four restaurants and bars await hungry travelers. Craft is an ode to Thailand’s booming coffee scene; Kimpton has worked with local boutique suppliers such as Royal Project to offer a variety of single-origin brews and blends sourced from across the country. The venue also serves local and international beers, cocktails, and light bites. Meanwhile, fifth-floor restaurant Stock.Room doesn’t just offer elevated takes on street food and farm-to-table dishes utilizing local ingredients: it brings together a Thai “pop-up” kitchen, a grocery store, bakery, butcher and grill, and pasta kitchen all under one roof. There are even learning studios where visitors and Bangkok residents alike can join classes led by a chef or mixologist.
On the ground floor, Ms. Jigger is an elegant lounge (think marble tabletops and stark white seating against wood-veneer walls) that specializes in curated cocktails based on the travels of its fictional titular character. One signature drink combining Russian vodka, Japanese whisky, and house-brined vermouth is aptly named “Trans-Siberian.” These tipples are best paired with Italian fare, with options ranging from Venetian-style cicchetti or more substantial items like rack of lamb in a mustard and herb crust. Don’t miss Bar.yard, a rooftop drinking spot and garden on the 40th floor that’s home to live DJ sessions and monthly parties. Its menu leans toward barbecued meats and other kinds of comfort food (tacos, for instance), and Bar.yard’s terrace is just the place to sip on tiki-influenced cocktails while taking in views of the Bangkok skyline.
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Craft, the ground-floor coffee bar and social hub.
Counter-side seating at the pasta kitchen in Stock.Room.
A cozy seating area inside Stock.Room.
Ground-floor cocktail bar and Italian restaurant Ms. Jigger.
Floral murals adorn the tiled walls at rooftop venue Bar.Yard.
Bar.Yard’s outdoor seating area after dark.
