SO/ Bangkok boasts a central location in Lumpini Park, quirky element-themed rooms and a world-class club lounge. Whether for party lovers, couples or business travellers – this queer-friendly hotel offers a relaxed stay in a cool atmosphere.
Review #51
Content
Location
SO/ Bangkok Hotel is centrally located at the Thai capital, next to the famous Lumpini Park. From here you can easily explore the whole city and reach all the sights.
Getting there
Of course, you will normally fly into Bangkok and then land at Suvanabhumi Airport Bangkok. There are flights to this airport from virtually all over the world. There is also a second airport, Don Mueang, for domestic and intra-Asian flights. Both airports are well connected by public transport.
How to get to the hotel
We arrived at Suvanabhumi Airport on a direct Swiss Business Class flight from Zurich. From there we took a grab which took us to the SO/ Bangkok right in the city center in just under three-quarters of an hour. Of course, you can also take the Air Rail Link train directly from the airport to the city centre, where you should arrive at the hotel after changing to a bus and travelling for about an hour.
Check-in
As we arrived at SO/ Bangkok, we were greeted in a friendly manner and immediately helped with our bags. The luggage was collected immediately and found its own way to our room. We had to give our names and after a quick look at a checklist, we were escorted directly to the Club Signature Lounge on the 25th floor where we checked in.
We were given this privilege because of our Platinum status with All – Accor Live Limitless. All non-status guests check in at the regular lobby on the 9th floor. However, at the time of our stay, that was being renovated and so the initial check-in for all guests, as well as the check-in for non-status guests, took place in the ground floor lobby.
Our passports were collected at the lounge and we were served our welcome drink. This consisted of an orange drink already inside a glass, topped up with a blue liquid from a test tube. The end result was a purple, very tasty refreshment.
We were given all the necessary information about times and facilities and then escorted to our room.
SO/ Bangkok at a glance
The ground floor of SO/ Bangkok houses the lobby, sushi restaurant and chocolate boutique. The All Day Dining Restaurant is located on the 7th floor, and the passageways from the lower lifts to the upper lifts are located here as well as on the 9th floor. Reception is also on the 9th floor. The pool and Water Club Bar, gym, spa and sundeck are located on the 10th floor. The SO/ Club Signature Lounge is to be found on the 25th floor and the Bar Restaurant Park Society and the Bar HI – SO are located on the 29th and 30th floors.
The entire hotel is divided into 5 elements – Metal, Wood, Earth, Water and Fire – each of which extends over several floors and gives the rooms and floors in each section different characteristics typical of the element.
The 237 rooms, including 26 suites, are located from the 11th floor up.
There was some important information about the hotel and possible activities waiting in our room.
Room
As always, we had booked the cheapest room category. Here at SO/ Bangkok which would be the SO Cozy room. Due to our Platinum status with All, Accor’s membership programm, we were upgraded to an SO Comfy room. The two room categories are basically of the same size. However, the better room is on a higher floor and also has a view of the park.
We got room 2308 on the 23rd floor. Let’s have a look at it.
Welcome
When we got to our room, the welcome gift was waiting for us. SO/ Bangkok had created a real work of art out of chocolate and macaroons and there was also a delicious iced tea.
Hallway
As you enter the room you will find yourself in a hallway with the open-plan bathroom immediately to the right. On the left is the built-in cupboard containing the safe, bathrobes, slippers, iron and ironing board, an extra pillow and all the necessary items for laundry and shoe care. Directly opposite is a bar with everything you need to make tea and coffee in your room. In the cupboard below is the mini-bar, which is stocked with water and two local refreshments.
Bedroom
Straight ahead is the sleeping area. The super-comfortable king-size bed comes with four pillows. Plus an oversized duvet. There are bedside tables to the left and right with reading lamps on either side. On the left is the phone and a pen and pad. Both sides also have various charging options which is really well thought out.
There is a TV on the wall opposite the bed, a desk built into the side of the window as well as a desk with a lamp and information about the hotel and activities. Also a chaise longue is placed in front of the window.
Bathroom
The spacious bathroom is very open and can only be closed off by a mirrored sliding door to the actual room. Even after closing that door the room still remains open to the hallway.
There is a washbasin on the vanity unit and a two-drawer cupboard containing a wide range of standard toiletries. Of course, there is also soap and lotion, as well as two bottles of water.
At the end of the room, towards the actual room, there is also a freestanding bath tub.
The walk-in rain shower and toilet are located side by side at the rear of the bathroom, just next to the entrance door.
Turndown
SO/ Bangkok also offers guests a turndown service. This involves folding back the duvet and placing a small fresh flower arrangement, putting a goodnight pillow on the bed, drawing the curtains and folding the pyjamas neatly. The diligent housekeeping staff also go through the room again, checking what needs to be replenished or put away.
View
We got a park view room, which meant we had a fantastic view of the neighbouring Lumphini Park and the city skyline from the 23rd floor.
Lounge
SO/ Bangkok offers its status customers the opportunity to use the Club Signature Lounge on the 25th floor and enjoy the following amenities:
- Coffee, tea and juices throughout the day
- Complimentary breakfast in the Executive Club Lounge or restaurant Red Oven from 6:30 to 10:30
- Afternoon tea with snacks from 13:30 to 15:30
- Evening cocktails with canapés are served from 16:30 to 18:30
The beautifully designed lounge features a two floors layout at the entrance area and offers fantastic views of all of Bangkok. You can even sit outside on a small terrace and soak in the view.
There is another room at the back of the lounge with additional tables and a corner off the main room where the buffet is set up. Drinks are served very friendly throughout the day and you can help yourself with food as you like.
The lounge and staff uniforms were designed by fashion designer Christian Lacroix, whose original signature can be seen on a concrete pillar through a window in the wall covering.
Hotel activities
Pool
The SO Pool is located on the 10th floor of the hotel where you can swim laps or just cool off with a magnificent view over Bangkok. There are several loungers and some cosy seating areas by the bar, and if you prefer a quieter atmosphere, there is also a terrace with loungers on the opposite side of the building.
In the afternoon a DJ plays relaxed lounge music and every last Saturday of the month the legendary SO Pool Party takes place, where in and around the pool turns into a dancefloor.
Fitness Center
Adjacent to the pool is the gym, where you can actually watch the action in and around the water from the cardio machines through full-surface glazing. The fitness centre itself is well equipped.
Restaurants
Restaurant
The Red Oven Restaurant on the 7th floor is the hotel’s all-day dining venue. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. International classics and local specialities are on the menu. The huge windows offer a great view, but there is also a covered terrace where you can dine al fresco.
Bar
At the very top of the SO/ Bangkok on the 29th floor is the HI-SO Bar, where you can enjoy the evening with fantastic views over the rooftops of the city.
We used the two welcome drink vouchers to enjoy delicious cocktails and were not disappointed.
Breakfast
As our status gave us access to the lounge, we were also allowed to have breakfast there. As well as a small but delicious buffet, we also had the option of ordering egg dishes. Drinks were ordered and served at our table.
Check-out
As with check-in, we were able to check out in the lounge, which again was extremely straightforward, but unfortunately a credit card in digital form did not work for payment. Otherwise, we were given a very friendly farewell and thus had a really nice end to a well-rounded overnight experience.
Costs
We paid 6,426 THB for one night at SO/ Bangkok, which at the time of our stay in August 2024 was the equivalent of just under 170 euros. Mind you, this was for the lowest room category and without lounge access.
Departure and onward journey
As always in Bangkok, there are a number of ways to leave the hotels. The vast majority of people will certainly continue their journey by taxi or grab but of course, it is also possible to take public transport. Lumphini MRT station on the Blue Line is a 4 minute walk from the hotel – so it’s just around the corner.
The two airports are between half an hour and an hour away by car. But as Bangkok is also known for its clogged roads, be prepared to spend some time in traffic as you are leaving. Public transport will take you at least an hour to get to the airports, with needing to interchange at least once.
Conclusion
The SO/ Bangkok is a great hotel. We had a really good time here and the location is of course also great for seeing all the sights of the city. The pool is really great and the lounge is really really good.
All in all, a really great experience.
Our recommendation
We can highly recommend SO/ Bangkok. Couples and single travellers will be really well catered for. Families can also feel at home in this hotel, but are probably not the target group. Business travellers will also find this a good alternative to the standard business hotel. In general, the hip party crowd is more more of what you will find here.
Hotel Homepage
Rating
We can only give the SO/ Bangkok a well-deserved 10 out of 10 possible points. We simply couldn’t think of anything that would warrant a deduction. Would you? Leave us a comment if you also stayed at SO Bangkok and want to share your experiences with us.
Go there?
Absolutely. SO/ Bangkok is one of the most popular hotels in the city for a reason and we were absolutely convinced throughout our stay here.
YouTube Review
We didn’t make any video of this stay as there are already YouTube review of two previous stays. So feel free to check them out.
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