Nestled in the busy foreign embassy studded road in Bangkok stands a classy yet unassuming building which was going to be our home for the next two nights. Upon entering, we were pleasantly surprised at the immediate warm and elegant feel of the entire place. A bright, well-decorated lobby, happy and courteous staff, and most of all, an understated atmosphere oozing with class. In fact, we felt a tad bit scruffy rocking up in the hotel after a long overnight bus. Regardless, the staff happily welcomed us to the Oriental Residence Bangkok.
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Oriental Residence: Location
For anyone that has been to Bangkok, you would know that it is a big city teeming with life. Everywhere you go there are people walking, cars zooming, and tuk-tuks and cars honking. While it sounds a bit chaotic, this is what makes Bangkok such an interesting city. Amidst all the organized chaos (as I like to call it) is a small stretch of greenery called Lumpini Park. Being one of my favorite places in the city, I was more than happy to find out that the Oriental Residence was located by Wireless Road with Lumpini Park only being a few meters.
As I checked into our room, the first thing I did was looked out the window and low and behold, I saw a serene lake, and a whole bunch of greenery- a welcome sight in Bangkok! Apart from that, it is also close to a few BTS metro stops (Ploenchit or Chit Lom BTS) making it a convenient place to stay while in the city. Aside from that, they also have a great after work hours bar which is perfect for those who work near the area.
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The Rooms
The Oriental Residence has six different types of rooms, with their one-bedroom rooms offering a variety of different views. They also have large three bedroom suites, perfect for those traveling with families. Upon entering our room, we were immediately drawn in by the large plush bed as well as the small kitchenette conveniently located to our right.
Unlike most hotel rooms that felt like every other hotel, the Oriental Residence had created a living space which made people feel right at home. Coming from a long bus ride from Chiang Mai, we immediately drew the curtains and settled into one of the most comfortable beds we’ve slept in a while. Alas, the woes of full-time travelers! We awoke from our nap, ready to explore the rest of the hotel.
Soon, we started to notice the little details spread across the room. Like the chocolate covered strawberries left by our dining room table.
The pillow menu which allowed us to select from over 9 different pillows (how have I only experienced this now??) all the way to the french press coffee which was beckoning out attention. As I always say, the way I judge hotels is through their attention to detail because after all, it’s the little things that count.
Editor’s Note: Looking for more places to stay? Check out our Where to Stay in Bangkok Guide for more options
The Oriental Residence Facilities
Unlike most hotels, the Oriental Residence is also home to a few long stay guests whose amenities are exclusive only to them. Although they aren’t a full-service apartment, the fact that long staying guests opt to stay here is a vote of confidence to the level of service that the staff can provide. By the lobby of the hotel, you will find Cafe Claire, a restaurant which serves breakfast and gourmet comfort food.
We ordered breakfast from Cafe Claire twice during our stay and were happy with the spread that we got. Although the Eggs Benedict were quite lackluster in my opinion. However, to be fair, I am a HUGE eggs benny fan so I might just have picky taste buds.
One of the highlights of the entire space is the rooftop pool which showcases beautiful views of the city. While the Oriental Residence isn’t one of the tallest building in Bangkok, the poolside was the perfect place to relax, unwind with a cocktail (or coconut) in hand in their many available sun loungers.
Half the pool was indoor while a small portion was outdoors, making it the best of both worlds for those that can’t stay out in the sun all day. This means that when you’ve ticked off all the things to do in Bangkok with your family, you can then just happily laze around the pool- which is exactly what we did.
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The Oriental Residence Bar
For happy hour, we decided to make our way to the Oriental Residence Bar. Although the place wasn’t large in size, it created a cozy yet chic atmosphere, perfect for a few after work drinks. As the Oriental Residence was located near all the international embassies, their bar boasted of signature cocktails named after the international ambassadors themselves.
I thought this was a great play on their location and vibe. True enough, as we sat down, the South African ambassador was seated on a couch nearby, suggesting for us to try his namesake cocktail.
Upon the beckoning of Laura, the Onyx Hospitality Group’s Social Media Manager, we ordered a selection of cocktails, all uniquely prepared in front of us. The bartender put on a show for us, creating an array of cocktails with a twist. We were served their famous classic mojito which had a raspberry popsicle in the middle, a delicious kiwi inspired drink, and a whiskey-based cocktail “The Embassy Classic” which was mixed in with some smoked spices and herbs.
As both my partner Tom and I love cocktails, we were two happy campers who could have easily spent another two or three hours in that cocktail bar. Trust me when I say, if you ever find yourself near the Wireless Road area or if you ever get the chance to stay at the Oriental Residence, drop by their cocktail bar and enjoy a few well-made libations.
Above and Beyond
Unfortunately, our time in Oriental Residence Bangkok was not all cocktails and butterflies. On our first night there, Tom, unfortunately, pulled a ligament in his knee, rendering him immobile for the next few days. So what was supposedly a relaxing stay in Bangkok before we both set off to travel turned out to be a mad scramble to make medical arrangements with airlines and consultation with doctors.
However, one bright thing that came out of it all was the amazing service that the Oriental Residence staff extended towards us. The staff regularly brought us coolers full of ice so we could apply cold compress. They also asked us if we needed any immediate medical assistance, and was more than happy to let us use their hotel wheelchair.
As we were unable to make it down to Cafe Claire for breakfast, every day, they happily took our orders and delivered the food straight to our room. The concierge even helped me contact the airline company to arrange for wheelchair assistance from Bangkok all the way to Heathrow airport. They were all very kind and helpful, making the entire accident a little bit less stressful.
So if you’re looking for a great place to stay while in Bangkok, I cannot recommend the Oriental Residence enough. Between their friendly staff and warm service, comfortable rooms and fantastic amenities, this hotel was a great find and is a place I would gladly stay in again.
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Please note that some services from Oriental Residence Bangkok were complimentary, however, as always, all opinions are ours and remain completely unbiased.