Banyan Tree Bangkok

The Banyan Tree is an elegant hotel housed in a gray and white building. Decor and design are a mix of traditional Thai aesthetics with contemporary elements. The lobby is chic in an understated sort of way and features large windows looking out onto a green garden filled with tropical plants and a piano. On the walls are photos taken by guests in various Banyan Tree hotels around the world. Seating areas are limited to a few clusters of sofas and chairs in leather and off-white fabric, and the marble floors have large black, gray, and off-white rugs featuring the property's signature leaf logo. A set of elevators leads up to halls of rooms that feature gold, black, and yellow decor and swirly patterned carpets. Some floors have traditional images of bodhisattvas on their exterior doors, and Thai Buddhist imagery appears throughout common areas.

The location near Bangkok's central business district and the huge variety of amenities here make the Banyan Tree a popular choice among business travelers and tourists alike, although there aren't many amenities geared specifically toward families. 

The hotel sits just off the busy Sathorn Road, one of Bangkok's main arteries, but is located down a small drive, which keeps rooms insulated from the noise and chaos outside. The location is convenient for business travelers as it's within a 10-minute drive of Bangkok's Central Business District. The nearest metro station is a six-minute walk away, while getting to the bustling Khao San Road or the beautiful Wat Pho temple require a taxi or tuk-tuk ride. Don Mueang International Airport is about a 35- to 40-minute drive north. 

The Banyan Tree offers a range of rooms and suites, all outfitted with sleek, contemporary decor. Spaces have stark white beds, soft carpets with spiral designs, work desks, and lots of dark wood. Deluxe Rooms are the base category and have either city views to the north or river views to the south. All come with two flat-screen TVs, aromatherapy burners, in-room safes, free fruit, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and separate living areas from bedrooms. One- and Two-Bedroom Suites with city views are available and feature kitchenettes with stoves and espresso machines.

The hotel also has three Spa Suites with separate spa areas; these come with a free 90-minute massage for up to two people, a limited amount of free laundry or pressing, a special bath menu, and free minibar products. Guests in Club Suites and higher get free access to the Club Lounge. 

Bathrooms are gorgeous with cream-colored marble floors, lots of black granite counter space, separate tubs, and huge walk-in showers with glass walls and rainfall showerheads. Wi-Fi is available for a fee, although some rates include freebies such as Wi-Fi and breakfast. 

The beautiful Banyan Ballroom features dark wood and cream-colored decor that's common throughout the hotel, and it provides an elegant spot for weddings and corporate events. A business center is available with a library and secretarial services, along with 12 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 450 people. The Club Lounge, accessible to guests of higher-category rooms and suites, is much like a spacious airport lounge, with tables, chairs, drinks, and snacks as well as a morning breakfast service. 

On the 21st floor, an outdoor swimming pool with massage features opens early and stays open late. The pool sits on a patio and has a few sets of parasol-shaded lounge chairs. It's flanked with topiaries and potted plants, providing a tropical feel that contrasts sharply with the surrounding skyline of gray office buildings. Still, the pool is on the small side and can get crowded. The hotel's fitness center is in a carpeted room with modern equipment that includes ellipticals and rowing machines with their own personal TVs. 

The Banyan Tree Spa is one of the hotel's finest amenities and offers a large menu of holistic health and massage treatments. Guests wanting to shop and who don't mind paying a premium for high-quality handicrafts can purchase souvenirs, teas, home decor items, and spa products at the Banyan Tree Gallery. 

The Banyan Tree offers a wide range of restaurants and bars. Aspara is located on a cruising riverboat and features seafood dishes and Thai specialties at dinnertime in a casual environment. Guests looking for more familiar cuisine, rather than Thai or pan-Asian fare, may want to check out Romsai on the lower-lobby level, which serves international cuisine buffet-style and from a la carte menus. Saffron, on the 52nd floor, is more formal and has a menu of Thai-fusion cuisine, as well as gorgeous city views. The 53rd and 54th floors have a Japanese restaurant, Taihei, which features sashimi, teppan-yaki, sake, and shochu. On the 59th floor, Pier59 is a sleek, modern lounge restaurant with blue-lit crystal partitions and aquariums that collectively give the space an oceanic look. Bai Yun has high ceilings and stunning city views from a glass wall and serves Cantonese food at lunch and dinner. The aptly named Vertigo and Moon Bar on the rooftop is an open-air grill restaurant and bar serving steak and seafood as well as tropical cocktails. 

On the 21st floor is a juice bar that also serves snacks, salads, sandwiches, and milkshakes by the gym. Other options include the Latitude Lounge & Bar, a casual cocktail establishment with city views, or the contemporary Lobby Lounge, which also offers an afternoon tea service with a Thai twist.