Oriental Residence Bangkok

Style and Character

It's all about anonymous, modern luxury at the Oriental Residence, a pleasant space to pass through rather than to linger in. The spacious lobby, complete with chandelier, feels a little chilly and is very quiet. The common areas and rooms are bright, plain and highly functional. Café Claire is perfect for a business lunch but romantic it is not.

Service and Facilities

Service is understated and friendly if a little distant. The Oriental Residence has an attractive pool on the 4th floor with wonderful views of downtown Bangkok. The adjacent gym and playroom – the latter offers table tennis and table football and can also be used for small functions – have everything one might expect.

Rooms

The state of the art rooms and one-, two- or three-bedroom suites kept in white and grey tones with hardwood and marble floors, are functional, elegant, bright and in excellent condition though they lack personal touch and are a little on the small side, perhaps because the double beds are generous in size.

All rooms sport a small kitchen alcove – there are quite a few long-term guests staying here due to the proximity to several nearby embassies – as well as large, spotless bathrooms with tubs, separate showers and sliding doors.

Food and Drink

Café Claire on the ground floor is a bright, modern French bistro and offers excellent salads, light meals and a good selection of main dishes at reasonable prices. Most main dishes are around £15, ranging from duck leg confit to excellent Boeuf Bourguignon a la parisienne. The sandwiches aren’t bad either. Guests may also dine in-room. The menu is the same as in Café Claire, with some Thai additions. On the second floor, the Oriental Bar is the best place for a pre-dinner drink and serves a great selection cocktails and mocktails.

The bar asked ambassadors resident on Wireless Road for their favourite tipples. The US, Dutch, Swiss, British and Japanese acquiesced and now have their signature drinks on the menu. There’s an international breakfast buffet, though its inclusion in the room rate is optional. Savelberg is a Michelin-star restaurant attached to Oriental Residence serving extravagant French cuisine dreamed up by a Dutch chef.

Value for Money

Double rooms from 6,827 baht (£155) in low season; from 7,768 baht (£177) in high. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.

Access for guests with disabilities?

Yes. The Oriental Residence has several rooms adapted to the needs of guests with disabilities.

Family-Friendly?

There are some connecting rooms, extra beds are available and baby-sitters can be hired. Café Claire has a kids’ menu and younger guests are welcomed with pens and toys.

Location

While the hotel is located on Wireless Road, as downtown as it gets, it’s a 10 to 15 min walk to BTS Ploenchit, the nearest skytrain station. Guests may pre-book an hourly free shuttle bus.