The lobby of Hotel Muse Bangkok is intimate, cave-like, almost. Hotel guests are checked in sitting down at a desk rather than standing up at a front desk. Photo Credit: Accidental Travel Writer.
Amazing Thailand
Hotel Muse Bangkok Langsuan – MGallery Collection is a five-star boutique hotel located on a side street in the upscale Languan district of the Thai capital. It houses three of Bangkok’s most respected food and beverage outlets.
Hotel Muse Bangkok is a boutique hotel with a distinct personality. This is not the kind of hotel you will wake up in a wonder which hotel you are staying at.
Thanks to its unique personality, with its Victorian charm and quirky Asian touches, the minute you open your eyes in the morning, you will know exactly where you are.
I spent two nights at the hotel during a familiarization trip to Bangkok. I was accompanied by a food blogger from Hong Kong. Our stay, including dinner at Babette The Steakhouse and cocktails at The Speakeasy, was courtesy of the hotel.
The Entrance …
My traveling companion and I had traveled lightly so we arrived from klapsons The River Residences, Bangkok, via Bangkok’s efficient BTS, a.k.a. Skytrain. The walk from the Chit Lom BTS Station took about nine minutes.
The Lobby …
The hotel lobby had an undeniable cave-like quality. It was essentially a Victorian-like space, but re-interpreted with modern whimsy and a few Asian touches.
The somber tones were offset by off-white moulding, large floral bouquets, and sprigs of opulent white feathers.
The Welcome …
Upon arrival, we were seated at a desk. It’s always so much nicer to be seated rather than having to stand up when checking into a hotel.
We were also served a tray laden with four refreshing welcome drinks – two for each of us. It was left up to us to decide which drinks we wanted to drink.
Our Room …
My traveling companion and I stayed in room 1114 (pictured above), one of 32 Muse Grand Deluxe Rooms, which are all corner units. They measure 39 square metres.
Grand Deluxe Rooms have either one king-size bed or two twin beds. Our room had twin beds. There was also a comfortable arm chair, a butler’s table, and an ample work station.
The décor was dark and Victorian with the occasional whimsical or Asian touch. The floors were dark marble. There were striking pale leather accents. The walls were clad in felt textured wallpaper.
The desk …
As a travel blogger, I spend a considerable amount of my time at my computer when I am staying at a hotel.
I appreciated having ample space to spread out my reference materials – and also the universal outlets that were located next to the desk.
There were even some stationery supplies in the desk drawer!
The Bathroom …
The bathroom had a manually operated pull-down shade next to the bathtub. I found this less intimidating than the high-tech shades that some of the other hotels I’ve stayed at have.
In addition to the old-fashioned bathtub, which had claw feet, there was a separate rain shower. The sink was hand-painted.
The bathroom floor and walls were clad in black marble. A gold-etched scene with an Asian motif adorned one wall.
The View …
On the 11th floor, our room had a view of a leafy park, which was partially blocked by mid-rise buildings, with high rises in the distance.
Because there were no high-rise buildings directly in front of the hotel, we got ample sunlight throughout the day.
Accommodation Overview …
The hotel has 174 rooms and suites. All rooms have separate bathtubs and rain showers, 40-inch LCD TVs, irons and ironing boards, and free wi-fi and high-speed Internet. Some suites have a second bathroom.
The hotel’s rooms are divided into six room types inspired by Buddhist cosmology. We stayed in a Muse Grand Deluxe Rooms, which I’ve already described, the hotel’s other room types include …
- Muse Deluxe – the hotel has 88 Muse Deluxe rooms, which have either one king-size or two twin beds, a sofa, and a comfortable work station.
- Muse Executive – located on the hotel’s top six floor, Muse Executive Suites offer the best views. They measure 39 square metres.
- Muse Duplex Suite – the hotel has six Muse Duplex Suites, which have living rooms on the lower floor and bedrooms on the upper floor. They measure 76 square metres, which is larger than my three bedroom flat in Hong Kong. Living rooms have a couch, a dining room table, and a guest bathroom. Bedrooms have a king-sized bed and a spacious en-suite bathroom. They also have a pantry with a refrigerator. Hotel guests staying in Muse Duplex suites have access to the executive lounge.
- Muse Suites – measuring 84 square metres, Muse Suites have separate living rooms and bedrooms. Those on the 17th floor have landscaped outdoor terraces. Those on the 18th floor have extended living rooms and studio areas. Hotel guests staying in Muse suites have executive lounge access.
- Royal Muse Suite – measuring 216 square metres, the hotel’s penthouse has a bedroom with king-sized bed, a spacious bathroom with a Jacuzzi bathtub for two, and a walk-in closet. They have a sitting room, a dining area, a fully outfitted kitchen, a guest bathroom, and three balconies. Hotel guests staying in the penthouse have access to the executive lounge.
The Breakfast …
A buffet breakfast was served each morning in Babettes The Steakhouse. There were hot and cold entries, eggs were cooked to order, and there was honey direct from the honeycomb.
There was even a self-service table set up with everything you needed to make Bloody Marys.
The bad news is that I detest Bloody Marys. The good news is there were enough ingredients for me to make my own self-concocted cocktails.
The Dinner …
It was suggested that we have dinner on the roof at The Speakeasy, where we started with signature cocktails. We ordered dinner, however, from the menu at Babettes The Steakhouse.
Altogether, the hotel had five food and beverage outlets, each one with a different menu, but they did have a similar vibe – with the exception of the Wet Bar.
- Babettes The Steakhouse – Undergoing a complete transformation after breakfast, Babettes The Steakhouse turned into a stylish, fine-dining restaurant. If I hadn’t seen the transformation in progress when I returned to take photos later in the day, I would have thought it was a different venue.
- Medici Kitchen and Bar – located in the basement, Medici Kitchen and Bar serves a Tuscan menu. It is considered to be one of the best – if not THE best – Italian restaurant in Bangkok. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to eat there during our visit.
- The Speakeasy – with a 1920s theme, the Speakeasy is reminiscent of a Chicago-style watering hole at the height of Prohibition. There is a dramatic indoor space. We had a sumptuous steak dinner on the roof with views of the city.
- Le Salon – situated off the lobby, Le Salon serves gourmet breakfasts, light lunches, afternoon teas, and signature cocktails.
- Wet Bar – lights snacks and beverages are served by the rooftop swimming pool at Wet Bar.
The Facilities …
There was a roof-top infinity swimming pool that I didn’t have time to swim in and some lounge chairs set right in the water that I didn’t have time to lounge in.
I also didn’t find time to work out in the hotel’s smallish fitness room, which had treadmills, a stationary bike, some multi-use exercise machines, and other equipment.
The Location …
The hotel is located on a side street in the upscale Longsuan district of downtown Bangkok, which appears to be slowly transforming from a residential to a commercial district.
Directly across the street is Gaggan (68/1 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok, Thailand,. Tel: +66 2 652 1700). Serving Progressive Indian Cuisine, the award-winning eatery has been named Asia’s best restaurant for three years running by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Just down the street was one of Bangkok’s ubiquitous Starbuck’s outlets, which had garden seating in front (39 Soi Lang Suan, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel: +66 2 68 41525).
My traveling companion and I had a massage at Chang Foot Massage and Spa (Soi Lang Suan, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel: +66 2 252 4336)., which was a short walk from the hotel.
Transport
The nearest BTS station is a nine minute walk from the hotel.
The hotel is 36 miles, or 28 minutes, from Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport (BKK) and 39 miles, or 33 minutes, from Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), taking toll roads.
BKK is used mostly for international flights. DMK is used mostly for domestic flights. Most budget airlines also use DMK.
The Verdict …
I really liked this hotel’s unique personality. The room was comfortable, with an armchair and a well-laid out work station. The food and beverage outlets were first rate, and the location was just a short walk to a BTR station.
Where
Hotel Muse Bangkok – 55/555 Langsuan Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand. Tel: +66 (0) 2 630 4000.