Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel has opened its doors as the first purpose-designed Avani property. ITTN’s Neil Steedman checked in to check out the 248-guest room hotel overlooking the Chao Phraya river.
The Avani Riverside adds a contemporary styled, business orientated hotel above a new shopping centre adjacent to, and complementing, Minor Hotels’ popular leisure orientated Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.
On entering the 11th floor lobby, guests are greeted by an impressive 180-degree view of the River of Kings and Bangkok. The open plan design combines reception, lounge, meeting, chill out and restaurant spaces, all in sleek minimalist design and high degree of craftsmanship. The Long Bar serves a variety of refreshments, guests can enjoy sunrise breakfast or sunset dinner at Skyline, and The Pantry offers a mix of comfort food and artisanal deli snacks around the clock.
Even more impressive, at the top of the 26-storey hotel, is the rooftop bar and infinity pool – a great place to relax and unwind while watching the comings and goings along the river.
Attitude, also on the 26th floor, is Bangkok’s newest rooftop hot spot. The stylish restaurant and bar features different areas for socialising and dining, including an indoor dinner lounge with a DJ booth, an open show kitchen, a wine wall and an outdoor restaurant and bar offering molecular cocktails.
A multipurpose sunken lounge located between Attitude and the pool has a retractable roof that provides sunlight or shade, depending on the weather.
All 248 guest rooms and suites are river facing, with expansive views of the Thai capital. The neutral décor is a blend of comfort and modernity, natural materials and high-tech equipment, with black out curtains, rain shower, dedicated workstation with free wi-fi and a media hub docking station as standard.
Avani’s River View Junior Suites offer nearly twice the space as the River View Rooms and include a freestanding bathtub set beside a full-length river view window. River View Two Bedroom Suites offer an open plan lounge and dining room, along with a kitchen and laundry area, while the River View Three Bedroom Suite is the optimum choice for families and friends.
Other in-house facilities include the AvaniFit gym, AvaniSpa, and a multi-purpose events complex on the 10th floor. The latter offers over 4,500 square metres of flexible space including the Grand Riverside Ballroom, which can accommodate 900 guests banquet style, 1,200 guests for a staged performance and 1,500 guests theatre style, with an open showcase kitchen and permanent tea/coffee stations, as well as 11 meeting rooms.
Environmentally aware clients will be interested to know that the Anantara Riverside’s helicopter pad has now been replaced by a hydroponic farm that grows produce used in both hotels.
