Review: The Athenee Bangkok, a Luxury Collection Hotel

With just two nights to spend in Bangkok before I headed back to Tokyo, I wanted to check out two Marriott Bonvoy properties in the area.

After taking full advantage of late checkout at the W Bangkok, we hopped in a cab and made our way to The Athenee Bangkok, a Luxury Collection Hotel.

After a handful of very pleasant stays at Luxury Collection properties before, I was keen to check another one off my list, especially in one of Bangkok’s most prestigious locales.

The Athenee Bangkok – Booking

For this stay, I booked using an industry rate. When I’d booked the trip, it was just supposed to be me staying; however, my friends decided to join me at the last minute when one got injured on our ski trip in Japan.

Generally speaking, cash rates at The Athenee Bangkok tend to run around 5,800 THB ($170 USD, $220 CAD) at the low end and 15,000 THB ($430 USD, $570 CAD) at the high end. For the most part, you should be able to find a price of around 7,000 THB ($200 USD, $270 CAD).

When it comes to using Marriott Bonvoy points, expect to pay between 33,000–45,000 points per night.

Compared to our valuation of Bonvoy points at 0.6 cents per point (USD) / 0.8 cents per point (CAD), you’ll be more or less on target, depending on your specific redemption and the points-to-cash ratio.

This property could be somewhere where you apply a Free Night Award, which you can also top up with up to 15,000 points. On the other hand, if you’re able to find a date that costs 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’re effectively reducing the price to the annual fee of your credit card of $120–150 (CAD).

As a Luxury Collection property, The Athenee Bangkok participates in Marriott STARS, a preferred partner program.

If you’re booking a cash rate, it’s in your best interest to get in touch with an authorized travel advisor, who can confirm the booking on your behalf.

You’ll enjoy a number of extra perks throughout your stay, such as a $100 (USD) property credit, complimentary breakfast for two, and more, while paying the same price as the best-available flexible rate.

The Athenee Bangkok – Location

The Athenee Bangkok is located in the Lumpini neighbourhood, close to Lumpini Park. The area is home to many luxury condominium buildings and embassies, and is one of Bangkok’s swankier locales.

Depending on your itinerary in Bangkok, it may not be the most centrally located hotel for sightseeing. However,, The Athenee is still close to plenty of cocktail bars, fine dining venues, and embassies around the area, and it’s relatively easy to access the city by transit or taxi.

Just down the street from the hotel is the US Embassy, and during my stay, I noticed that there were many Americans staying at the hotel.

The Athenee is a fair distance from many of Bangkok’s main tourist attractions, such as Wat Benchamabophit Buddhist Temple, which is located 30 minutes away by transit. Likewise, The Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit Withayaram) is a 45-minute ride away from The Athenee, depending on traffic.

Luckily, the hotel is ideally situated for easy access to transit. A five-minute walk gets you to Phloen Chit BTS station, which is where you can board the Sukhumvit (Green) Line.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is located 40 minutes away by car, or longer if traffic is heavy.

The Athenee Bangkok – Check-in

We arrived at The Athenee Bangkok after a lazy afternoon spent poolside at the W Bangkok. The three of us were a bit worse for wear after a late night, but were excited to see how this hotel compared.

As we pulled up, we were met by the bellhops, who greeted us and swung open the doors to the hotel.

The lobby at The Athenee Bangkok is grandiose, with a gorgeous grand staircase set as the main attraction.

There are plush seats scattered around the lobby lounge, which were comfortable places to rest as we waited for friends to arrive later on that evening.

We made our way over to the check-in desks, which had a beautiful wooden sculpture hanging from the walls.

After looking at my reservation, the associate invited us to complete the check-in process in the Executive Lounge, on account of my Marriott Platinum Elite status.

We were escorted to the elevators and up to the lounge, and then were promptly offered a selection of welcome beverages. We opted for the Thai iced tea this time around, as memories from the night prior lead us away from the offer of sparkling wine.

As we chatted, another associate came to complete the formalities. While I’d booked into a base-level room, I confirmed an upgrade to The Athenee Suite using a Suite Night Award.

Since there were three of us, the associate informed me that we’d be levied an extra person fee. While this wasn’t a big deal, we didn’t receive the same charge at the W Bangkok, who gladly accommodated our entire party without question.

The butler in the lounge went over all of the services available to us at the hotel, and then we headed back to the elevators and down to our room on the 21st floor.

The Athenee Bangkok – Athenee Suite

We found our suite at the end of the hallway, tucked into the corner of the hotel.

Upon opening the door, we found a spacious foyer that plays host to a table on the right side, and a secondary bathroom on the left. In the bathroom is a toilet and a sink.

The foyer then opens up to the living room, which is marked by a large couch, a minibar, and a desk.

The living room is quite roomy, and was a perfect spot to host a few friends who also happened to be in Bangkok later that evening. This is also where the rollaway bed was set up.

I spent the following day working from the desk, and found it to be a comfortable and spacious area to sit for a few hours.

The living room leads into the bedroom, which has a long bench set against the window and a king bed as the focal point. At the foot of the bed is a plush red bench, which added a nice pop of colour to the room.

The bed was notably comfortable, and I had a very sound sleep that evening.

To the side of the bedroom is a small hallway that’s home to the room’s closet and a luggage rack. We also found extra bathrobes set in the closet.

The main bathroom in The Athenee Suite is quite spacious, although I found the décor to be a sign of another time.

Upon entering, there’s a bathtub to the right and a long marble dual vanity to the left.

A toilet with a bidet is nestled in the corner, across from the shower.

The view from our room looked out over a bustling city from two directions.

Overall, I found the room to be well-appointed and quite spacious; however, I wasn’t particularly enthused by the overall décor, which just simply isn’t my preferred style.

At the same time, having a confirmed upgrade in advance of our stay was much appreciated, especially since fitting three people in a base-level room would have been a bit of a stretch.

The Athenee Bangkok – Athenee King Room

The hotel was unable to extend us late checkout in the Athenee Suite the next day, but offered to move us to a base-level room instead.

The room, while smaller, is still very well-appointed, and the overall décor is consistent with the rest of the rooms and the hotel as a whole.

Upon entering, you’re greeted with dark brown panels accented with dark red oak trim and soft yellow lighting.

The bedroom features a king bed with two nightstands, a small desk and chair for getting some work done, and a couch that’s against the window.

The bathroom features a single vanity, a small bathtub, a toilet, and a walk-in shower.

The Athenee Bangkok – Ratanakosin Presidential Suite

I also had the opportunity to tour the hotel’s top-tier Ratanakosin Presidential Suite, which is just as opulent and extravagant as you might expect.

The room is massive, and spans a whopping 3,766 square feet.

Immediately upon entering, you arrive in an elegant foyer with two golden horses, and white marble floors with blue and gold accent walls on each side.

Turning to the right brings you to a gargantuan living room, embellished with a massive chandelier overhanging the room.

The rest of the room is populated by various seating options scattered throughout. The entire space is brightly lit both as a result of the interior lights, white walls, and a plethora of windows letting in plenty of natural light.

Moving on from the central living room, there’s a 12-person dining room table, with two small chandeliers hanging above.

The main bedroom is a sight to behold as well, featuring a queen-sized poster bed with elegant drapes dangling from the four corners.

This suite is slated for six occupants, so there are a few more beds in a separate bedroom, but they’re slightly more pedestrian compared to the main bedroom.

The main bathroom is breathtaking. It features a double vanity, another large square mirror, a walk-in shower, and a centrally placed bathtub with gold fixtures.

There is also an exercise bike tucked into the corner of the suite, which is a unique touch.

Overall, the rooms at The Athenee Bangkok are upscale, and fitting of a Luxury Collection hotel. I appreciated the consistency throughout, as it created a cohesive identity within the hotel.

At the same time, both the Athenee Suite and the Ratanakosin Presidential Suite offered an elevated step above the base-level rooms. 

While this style of décor isn’t necessarily one that I’m overly enthused about, it’s still luxurious and opulent, and may cater well to people with different tastes than me. 

The Athenee Bangkok – Executive Lounge

One of the stand-out features of The Athenee Bangkok is the Executive Lounge, which is located on the 26th floor. It’s officially known as the Royal Club Lounge.

I wound up popping by for the evening hors d’oeuvres service, and then again quickly in the morning before heading down to the restaurant for breakfast.

There are lots of seating options available in the lounge, ranging from bar stools, sofas, and restaurant-style tables with chairs for guests to choose at their leisure.

The far side of the Executive Lounge is covered in windows, once again bringing in an ample amount of natural light inside.

We popped in for a quick snack and a drink on the evening of our stay. The lounge had a fairly impressive buffet, which included sushi, gyoza, tom kha gai soup, charcuterie, pastries, and light snacks.

In addition, there’s a wide selection of food and drinks on offer, including Thai iced tea, which I’d argue is a must-try.

During evening hors d’oeuvres, I enjoyed a nice French 75 cocktail paired with fried rice and roasted chicken. 

We then decided to venture out into the city in hunt of some local street eats for dinner.

In the morning, the Executive Lounge puts on a light breakfast spread for eligible guests to enjoy.

Here, you can find a nice selection of breakfast items, including congee, bacon, hash browns, sausages, tofu, Thai green curry, dumplings, fresh fruit, and a salad bar.

It’s worth noting that the spread here isn’t quite as abundant as what you’ll find at the main breakfast buffet.

The Athenee Bangkok – Breakfast

In addition to the spread in the Executive Lounge, the main breakfast area takes place in the dedicated buffet area at The Rain Tree Café. The breakfast buffet was one of the most impressive spreads I’ve seen, and we took full advantage of the opportunity to fuel our bodies for the day.

It’s worth noting everything featured in the breakfast buffet is organic.

There are lots of different hot buffet items available, including fried rice, red bean congee, silken tofu, beans, bacon, dim sum, and even Hainanese chicken rice, to name a few. You’ll also find dishes from a number of world cuisines, including Indian, Thai, Western, Chinese, and Middle Eastern.

Along with self-serve buffet options, there are two live cooking stations, where you can customize both your omelets and noodle soup orders, and watch the chef prepare it right in front of you.

The cold buffet area is just as well-stocked as the hot buffet, with a juice bar, fresh cut fruits, a wide assortment of cereals and toppings, and a great selection of different breads.

Overall, the breakfast was very impressive from all angles, and we really enjoyed everything the hotel had to offer. We all made several trips back to the buffet to fuel up for our last day in the city.

It’s worth noting that while the service during breakfast was great, at times, it felt a bit too attentive. For example, as I was toting back some dishes from the buffet area, staff members often insisted on carrying the dishes for me. 

This resulted in a bit of an awkward exchange, since beverages and bowls of soup are a bit tricky to pass off. Otherwise, we were often offered refills of drinks during our lengthy breakfast, and the staff at the various stations were fantastic.

The Athenee Bangkok – Dining

There are eight different restaurants at The Athenee Bangkok, and each highlights a different cuisine. Most are catered towards higher-end clients, which is likely a product of being nestled amongst embassies and posh buildings.

We didn’t dine at any of the restaurants outside of The Rain Tree Café; however, we noticed that each restaurant was consistently busy. Perhaps during my next visit, I’ll give one of the restaurants a visit..

Kintsugi Bangkok by Jeff Ramsey is located on the third floor of the hotel, and serves contemporary Japanese kaiseki dishes. It’s open daily for lunch from 11:30am–2:30pm, and then for dinner from 6–10:30pm.

This restaurant has also been reviewed by the Michelin Guide.

There’s a nice amount of seating available, and the entire restaurant is decorated in a distinctively modern Japanese fashion.

The Silk Road is located on the third floor of the hotel, and specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine from dim sum to Peking Duck. It’s open daily from 11:30am–2:30pm for lunch and 6pm–10:30pm for dinner.

The interior design is a throwback to the 1920s in China with a heavy Art Deco style. The seating options range from large circular booths to more intimate four person dining arrangements.

The Rain Tree Café is located on the ground floor and is the hotel’s all-day and buffet restaurant.

It’s open from 6–10:30am for breakfast, 12–2:30pm for lunch, then 6–10pm for dinner from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the lunch hour is extended by 30 minutes ending at 3pm.

The restaurant features cuisine from across the world, with plenty of variety to appease a wide range of guests. There’s a particular focus on seafood for the dinner service, which is when crab legs are available from the buffet.

The décor is very grand yet elegant, and gives feelings of home. The entire space is well-lit, with tall ceilings and an overall casual quality – making it a great place for all-day dining.

The View is a hip upscale cocktail bar situated on the fourth floor of the hotel, right next to the pool and loungers. It’s open daily from 9am–7pm, and has an extensive drinks menu with accompanying snacks.

The House of Smooth Curry can be found on the third floor, and specializes in authentic Thai cuisine. It’s open daily from 11:30am–2:30pm for lunch, and 5:30–10:00pm for dinner.

The restaurant prides itself on showcasing authentic Thai flavours from across the country while being as sustainable as possible by supporting local farms and growing their own spices.

The Allium Bangkok is also located on the third floor of the hotel, and its focus lies with haute French dining. It’s open daily from 11:30am–2:30pm for lunch, and 5:30pm–10:00pm for dinner.

The restaurant places a heavy emphasis on alliums, which is a genus of plant that contains various aromatics such as onions, garlic, scallions, and chives – a surefire way to guarantee a flavour-packed meal.

The interior is mainly outfitted with white colours, and is contrasted with bright, bold reds, which gives the entire restaurant a dramatic yet airy feel.

The Bakery is an artisanal bakery and coffee shop located on the ground floor of the hotel. It specializes in afternoon tea and quaint French-inspired desserts. Its opening hours are daily from 7am–6pm.

This space is a part of a larger conservatory, and surrounds its guests with greenery in all directions.

Lastly, The Glaz Bar is another restaurant located on the ground floor of the hotel right next to The Rain Tree Café. The bar offers small plates from across the world, which you can pair with a wide selection of cocktails.

It’s open daily from 11am–11pm.

The Glaz Bar mainly features white colours with black accents and has a royal feel to it – paying homage to the hotel’s location once as a royal palace.

The Athenee Bangkok – Other Facilities

The Athenee Spa is located on the fifth floor of the hotel. While I didn’t get the opportunity to try any of the spa services this time, it looked like a nice place to get treatments done.

As with most hotel spas, appointments should be booked ahead of time. There are relaxation rooms overlooking the hotel’s pool, so be sure to request this in advance to snag a spot.

A large resort-style pool can be found on the fourth floor’s rooftop garden. This outdoor area is full of lush greenery, with a manicured lawn nearby.

We spent part of the afternoon here, admiring the garden views and cooling down in the heat.

The pool is only 10 metres short of being an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and is an ideal place to swim laps.

Here, you’ll also find a rooftop bar called The View Bar, where you can get some respite from the heat and enjoy light snacks and a drink.

The fitness centre at the hotel, known as Athenee Fitness, is also found on the fourth floor, close to the pool. It offers Muay Thai boxing classes, in addition to a variety of free weights and weight machines.

A row of treadmills, exercise bikes, and elliptical machines look out of brightly-lit floor-to-ceiling windows onto the outdoor pool and sky garden. 

After your workout, you can relax in the steamroom and sauna adjacent to the fitness centre, or treat yourself at the spa, just one floor above.

Conclusion

The Athenee Bangkok is a luxury hotel that joins old with new, and French with Thai very well. The hotel is built on the grounds of the Kandhavas Royal Palace, and looks the part.

While the locale isn’t the most convenient to get to and from the main tourist attractions, the area is filled with great eats and readily accessible transit options. It’s also a great spot to be if you’re in town on business or doing any diplomatic work.

While we were able to secure the Athenee Suite as a result of using a Suite Night Award, the base-level rooms are still nicely appointed, and would be a great place to spend a few nights in Bangkok.

There are eight world-class dining establishments located within the hotel, ensuring that guests never have to go far regardless of their dining preference. The challenge is deciding whether or not to forgo a meal at one of the restaurants for street food instead.

Combine the relatively low cash rate, reasonable cost in points, and the ability to use a Free Night Award from a whole host of Marriott co-branded credit cards, The Athenee is an excellent hotel to spend a few nights in Bangkok.