The Hotel I was excited about my first ever Kimpton stay and it happened at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, located in the heart of Langsuan. Bangkok has quite a couple of new hotel properties in the past few years, and I managed to check out a couple of them in the past year or so, such as The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, Capella Bangkok and Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. The Kimpton brand started in San Francisco more than three decades ago, but it was only in recent years where the luxury boutique hotel brand started to expand its footprint in Asia-Pacific. As part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok is just a few years old, and it is tucked away in the same development as Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.

It was a sense of warm comfort as I stepped into the lobby, where the contemporary interior takes on subtle and earthy tones. 

The check-in process was quite efficient for me, and it did not take too long before my room key was ready. 

Even though Kimpton is branded as a luxury boutique hotel, the Bangkok property is not small by any means. There are a total of 362 guest rooms (including 131 serviced apartments), where the top floor at level 40 is home to Bar.Yard. The hotel’s location is also relatively close to Lumphini Park and Central Embassy. 

In terms of amenities, the property is also linked to Velaa, a luxury community mall where there are various dining options such as Café Kitsuné and The Coffee Academics.   

Being a pet-friendly property, it was also a visual treat for me to see so many cute and lovely puppies and dogs lingering in the lobby. 

Another aspect I really like is the lush greenery in the hotel’s compound, along with water features which make it feel like an oasis in the bustling city for me. 

I enjoyed taking the small walks in the garden after my meals, or to simply dog watch in the day.

The Room I checked into the King Essential Room, which is the entry level room category in the property. Despite so, it is a decent size at 48 sqm with an option of king-sized bed or twin beds.

The interior uses soothing tones like grey and wood, which I personally find it simple, elegant yet cosy.

There are splashes of subtle colour popping like the dark green chair, which adds a layered sophistication to the room vibe.  

 My room number was 1611 and it has a good garden view which faces the direction of Kempinski. 

The room comes with a spacious work desk which can easily fit two work laptops, and a long comfortable sofa by the window where you can get a good dose of afternoon sun. 

The bed itself is quite hard (to my liking), which uses a custom-made Simmons mattress with 400 thread count linen. The automated curtains system is almost a must for me these days in all new luxury properties, and the ones here are double layered, hence the room is completely blackout once the curtains are drawn down. 

The size of the bathroom is probably one third of the room size, and it is also where the walk-in closet is part of. 

No double vanity sinks, which is not a big issue for me. What you get instead is separate bath and rain shower, a spacious bathtub, and is complete with bespoke Harnn bathroom amenities exclusively designed for Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. 

Another noteworthy mention goes to the bathroom amenities. I did not spot the usual shaving kit in the drawer, but in replacement of it is a long list of complimentary amenities available upon request. I thought that this is quite a smart way to provide service, and it also avoids wastage since some of the guests do not even usually use any of the amenities kit. 

Some of the complimentary amenities available upon request include the likes of Contact Lens Solution / Case, Dental Floss / Mouthwash, Make Up Remover, Razor / Shaving Cream, Mosquito Repellent, Sleeping Eye Mask, Hair Spray, and a whole laundry list. 

Other notable features of the room include a Nespresso Coffee Machine, Vifa Helsinki Sound System, Robes by Christian Develter for Tube Gallery and an in-room yoga mat. Trust me, the room is spacious enough to channel your yoga movements. 

The Facilities One highlight of the hotel is the infinity pool located on level three, where you get a lush view as you soak in the water. 

It is also a good length where you can do serious lap swimming in the partially sheltered pool.  

I like that there are indoor cabanas and outdoor sun deck chairs, depending on how much you love/hate the sun. On the same level as the pool, the common bathroom also comes with a sauna and steam room. 

The pool was not that crowded during my stay, and I managed to enjoy a good weather to bask in the sun.

The fitness centre is located on the same level as the pool, and it is very well-equipped with complimentary fitness classes to sign up for guests, such as Muay Thai classes. The gym spots a funky vibe with the colourful machine and weights for cardio or strength trainings.

For wellness, there is Amaranth Spa if you want to pamper yourself for a treatment. 

In addition, there is also complimentary hourly shuttle service to Chit Lom BTS which is approximately 900m away. 

The Restaurants There are quite a couple of dining concepts in the property and the first one you will come across is Craft located right at the lobby. 

Craft is an all-day concept, and I was glad that I managed to find some time to get a cup of coffee and some Korean Fried Chicken in the day. As it is located in the lobby, you get to people watch, dog watch, or you can simply focus on your food and have meaningful conversations instead.

The coffee selection is amazing with local Thai single origin and blends. The café menu is quite extensive as well with a mix of local and international daily specials, including freshly baked pastries, light bites and more.  

In the evening, Craft becomes a casual bar with a range of local and international beers on tap, along with bar bites. This is also a pet-friendly café in Bangkok, and I spotted many pets during my visit.  

The other good aspect of Craft for me is the plenty of outdoor seating available.

Stock Room located on level five is where the daily breakfast is served, and I kid you not, the breakfast spread is amazing.

The space of Stock Room is an elongated layout where there are different pockets of space for various levels of dining privacy. The dining ambience at Stock Room is funky and the restaurant also does lunch and dinner buffets.   

For breakfast, there is an order form on each table to order your eggs, and the rest is free-flow buffet style.

It is a good mix of local and International cuisines, and I was impressed by the beverage options, where I spotted fresh cold brew bottles, almond milk, a variety of cold pressed juices, a salad and fruits room, fresh young coconuts for grabs, and more. 

I was also glad that I managed to make time to check out Bar.Yard, the rooftop bar concept located on the highest floor of the hotel at level 40, where you can expect to see a good view of the city as you sip on your drinks and have your bar grubs.  

It is a relatively huge space for a bar, and I like that there are different pockets seating sections so you do not really feel that it is very packed or busy.

Experience a tiki bar coupled with elements of an American backyard barbecue, complete with a bright, breezy haven of lush greenery and tropical-inspired furnishings. For solo drinkers or couples, the best seats are the table tops with a direct view of the city.

Other dining concepts in the hotel include Maa-Lai Library which serves Afternoon Tea in a library setting with a view of the city, as well as Ms. Jigger which is a cosy lounge with a curated cocktail experience paired with an Italian fare. 

Rants It is approximately a 900m walk to Chit Lom BTS Station if you need to get around Bangkok by train. That said, there is also a complimentary hourly shuttle service to Chit Lom BTS in the day. 

Overall Experience The service at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok for me has been consistently good at various touch points of the property. I like the relatively muted design of the room which feels cosy, yet luxurious. The dining concepts are interesting, while the facilities are great for a boutique hotel brand. The only downside is its location which is a distance from the BTS, but other than that, this is one IHG property to consider for your stay in Bangkok, and it is also quite possibly the best IHG hotel in Bangkok for me at the moment. 

Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok 
78 Soi Ton Son, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 

For more information, check out Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok Website.

Ranted by The Ranter