Inn A Day

Opened in 2013 and situated in the bustling Tha Tien area, Inn a Day is housed in a four-story pink building bordered by potted plants. The building was once a sugar factory, and interiors have an industrial-chic aesthetic, retaining some of the factory's architectural elements like exposed pipes, beams, and brickwork. The lobby shares space with the restaurant, and features dark wood furniture, Thai art and artifacts, exposed bricks, and industrial-style lighting suspended from the ceiling by chains. Large windows overlook the street and outdoor patio seating. A guest lounge features bean bag chairs and wood furniture, and a set of metal stairs leads to a sitting area with an unfinished low wood table and floor seating. The space opens to a deck overlooking the river and Wat Arun temple -- and that, precisely, is why this hotel is so popular among its past guests. The riverside location coupled with abundant style and easy walks to major historic sights make this hotel a gem in a city with no shortage of options. The inn draws leisure travelers, design aficionados, and younger couples with its cool and stylish atmosphere.

Inn a Day sits on the Chao Phraya River, directly across the water from Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). The inn is in the bustling Tha Tien area, home to old shophouses, restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and the Tha Tien Market, with its fresh fish and local produce. It's a two-minute walk to a bus stop and the Tha Tien Pier, the place to catch the Chao Phraya Express boat, the ferry to Tha Chang pier, and the cross-river ferry to Wat Arun. The inn is a five-minute walk to the majestic Wat Pho temple complex with its 150-foot reclining Buddha statue. A few minutes' walk north of Wat Pho is the Grand Palace, the official residence of the kings of Siam and Thailand since 1782 (about an eight-minute walk from the hotel). Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles is a little under 15 minutes away on foot, while the Bangkok National Museum is around a 20-minute walk. Khaosan Road nightlife is about 10 minutes away by tuk-tuk, as is Chinatown. There is no metro or skytrain station nearby, meaning reaching the bustling nightlife of the Silom and Sukhumvit areas, as well as Chatuchak Weekend Market, will require long cab rides in Bangkok's hideous traffic. Both Don Mueang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport can be reached in 40 minutes to an hour by car, depending on traffic conditions.

The inn's 11 stylish rooms are housed on three floors of a four-story building, with each floor divided into a time of day (Dawn, Day, and Dusk). Room names thus correspond to different times (7 AM to 5 PM). The color palettes in each vary, but include neutrals like beige, brown, white, and black, with Dawn rooms adding a dash of electric blue, Day rooms adding yellow, and Dusk rooms adding orange. Each room features an individual decorative concept based on a different part of the surrounding Tha Tien community, like the Fresh Market, Dried Market, Pier, Tailor, and School. 

Rooms have a rustic, unfinished, and funky industrial-chic aesthetic, like a loft in New York (back when lofts in New York were actually a thing). Details include exposed pipes and beams as well as industrial lamps and light fixtures. Colorful modern art appears in many rooms, while others have Thai art, artifacts, and furniture. Many rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and all but one have balconies. Some have views of the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun -- but note that some may encounter mild noise issues from boat traffic. A few have additional lofted areas.

Rooms range in size from 215 square feet to 430 square feet (20 to 40 square meters), so some are a bit small, but not unreasonably so by Bangkok standards. All rooms come with slippers, coffee/tea makers, free bottled water, mini-fridges, safes, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs with satellite and English channels. Bathrooms are stylish and clean, though the walk-in rainfall showers and the toilet stalls feature transparent colored plexiglas walls and doors, which can be a privacy issue for some guests (curtains that can be drawn for privacy, though the cubicles often don't reach the ceiling). Some bathrooms have industrial metal sinks with limited counter space. Only the 4 PM/Honeymoon Room has a bathtub. The inn has no elevator, and stairs to room floors are fairly steep. Staff can help with luggage upon request. 

While the style at this property goes above and beyond -- especially for a three-pearl hotel in central Bangkok -- there aren't too many features here. Inn a Day serves a free breakfast, which includes options like eggs, bacon, sausage, Thai fare, cereal, fruit, coffee, juice, and tea. The hip on-site restaurant serves good Thai cuisine for lunch and dinner, plus room service is available. There is no fitness center, pool, or other leisure facilities on-site. The inn offers a guest lounge, concierge service, a 24-hour front desk, free bicycle rentals, and numerous shelves of books and magazines. The inn has no on-site parking, and street and public parking are difficult to find in the area. Guests are advised not to drive to the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.