People-watching at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, is a satisfying pastime. The brand’s flagship property in Asia attracts a certain crowd to it—young creatives and well-heeled style stalwarts in Nike Dunks or oversized Balenciaga T-shirts run amok, sipping on a cocktail or coffee in one of the hotel’s six dining spots. Many pairs of sunglasses are sported indoors, and the elevators’ generous full-length mirrors are the perfect set-up for your next TikTok or BeReal content. I, like everyone else around me, was drawn to The Standard’s vibrant spaces like a moth to flame, as we languidly flit through the hotel in what feels like a modern-day Wes Anderson film.
The lobby at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon—likely the first place you’ll head to when you arrive—is a stunning room with a love for curves. Sofas arch beautifully against the walls, while plush armchairs are positioned invitingly across from it. The stellar design team at The Standard and Jaime Hayon and Hayon Studios are behind the design brilliance of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, with a tight curation of colours and objects which lend to its panache. Castleton green and rosewood shades fill the space alongside leafy foliage from the hotel’s potted plants. Its shelves act as a gallery of sorts, with artful, whimsical objects made by Thai artisans on display. Indie-pop tunes waft gently through the space, with a playlist mostly dedicated on local artists.
Once you’re done marvelling at your surroundings, the friendly guest experience team takes over and guides you to your room, accompanied by lively chatter about the things you can do in the vicinity. The hotel’s 155 rooms and suites are an extension of your fanciful home away from home, with every luxury amenity you will need. While children are not frequent sightings in the hotel, the staff do a great job in catering to them—expect little trinkets and homemade snacks, and a cot in your room should you require one.
As an entry point, the Standard and Deluxe rooms are a decent 40 to 45 square metres, dressed in neutral tones with pops of rust on the bed, and also features a dusty pink bathroom and rain shower. However, if space is what you’re after, book the Suite Spot, a cavernous 83 square-metre suite with floor-to-ceiling window views in both the living area and bedroom, reminiscent of the rooms at The Standard, High Line in New York. Bright and airy, with accents of canary yellow and cobalt blue, the suite is ideal for families, or those who prefer a more spacious stay. I took a long time to find the bathroom—it caught me by surprise, actually—as it is hidden through a discreet entrance in the bedroom, where a giant soaking tub awaits (big enough for two, three or your entire brood).
Located in the Ole Scheeren-designed Mahanakhon Tower, ducking out of the hotel for a Michelin-starred meal or the city’s famed crab omelette is an easy ride away, but staying in for your meals and avoiding Bangkok’s notorious traffic is a wondrous option, too. Food at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon, is impressive both for quality and variety—your cravings will be kept to a minimum.
Be sure to make a reservation at The Standard Grill, a spirited American brasserie similar to the one in New York. Start with the Tiger Prawn Cocktail, served with iceberg lettuce and country bread, for something traditionally old-school American, followed by the moreish Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke Soup, topped with toasted almonds and brown butter. The Jack’s Creek Black Angus Grain Fed Tenderloin was superbly tender with every bite, worthy of every top steakhouse worldwide. Paired with a sumptuous Potato Millefeuille and Creamed English Spinach, you’ll be wonderfully content when you’re done—possibly also forgetting you’re in Bangkok, not New York.
For another standout meal, Ojo—touted by many as Bangkok’s hottest new restaurant—is a must-go. Perched on the 76th floor, the ride up to the top is an experience in itself, and the views on a peerless day are second to none. I was pleasantly enamoured by the opulence of it all—high ceilings, gilded trimmings and flamingo pink upholstery—and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a fancier restaurant in Bangkok.
Chef Paco Ruano brings Mexican food like never before to Thailand, and each dish introduces fresh and inventive textures and layers for an incredible experience. To start, call for his Ojo guacamole, served with warm corn tostadas, and his refreshing Aguachile mixed with fresh tiger prawns, green tomato, coriander and chilli. This whets your appetite for the main event, where the Pescado Zarandeado, a grilled fish dish with avocado, cucumber, chilli and coriander adobo, is succulent and well-balanced, while the Pollo & Pipian is a flawlessly crisp roast chicken that pairs nicely with rice or tortillas.
When you find yourself a spot of free time in the day, head for the pool—a chic oasis lined with yellow and white striped umbrellas in the midst of Bangkok’s skyscrapers. Order yourself a juice or healthy snack while you luxuriate on a deck chair in your best bathers, for it is in these community spaces that you never know who you will meet, or the conversations you will strike up. If people are your passion, there is no better hotel for it.
Book your stay at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon here.
