Conrad Bangkok by Terry Blackburn

It may not have the most Thai feel of any hotel in Bangkok (that distinction probably goes to the Sukothai), but The Conrad does manage to capture much of the contemporary cool zeitgeist that is propelling the city to the forefront of South East Asia’s capital city fashion league. The design is all comfy minimalism – the lobby may not be opulently decorated, but it abounds in deep sofas and thick bouncy rugs. The rooms have all the mod cons that you would expect for the price and some nice touches such as pillow menus, with a selection of eight to choose from, and glass walled bathrooms with remote controlled curtains.

The atmosphere in its restaurants and bars is immeasurably enhanced by the fact that The Conrad has quickly become entrenched in local and expat high society. Each caters to a different aspect of it – the baroque weirdness of the Liu Chinese restaurant is filled with Sino-Thai old money most nights, the self-consciously cutting edge 87 bar attracts the idle young rich and the Diplomatic Bar fulfils its brief and brings in the post work embassy crowd. Given its status as a business hotel, weekends can be pretty quiet.