Tried & Tested

Serviced apartment check: Oriental Residence

29 Jan 2014 by Rose Dykins

BACKGROUND

An independent serviced apartment property managed by Thai hospitality group Onyx, Oriental Residence Bangkok opened in January 2012. Its 145 serviced apartments have a minimum stay of only one night, and there is no maximum stay.

The 34-floor property also has 46 private residences, which are located on floors 22-31, with their own pool and sky terrace on the 32nd floor 

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

Luxurious and airy, its distinctive lobby with a soaring ceiling, pristine white wooden paneled walls and chandeliers, sets the tone for the rest of the property.

lounge area

I was greeted by a staff member wearing a beige suit dress and pearls – the refined uniform at the Oriental Residence. She showed me to my room, where she checked me in and asked if I had any questions.  Shortly after she had left, a hamper of fruit was delivered as a welcome gift (this is a standard service for those staying in two- or three-bedroom apartments). 

Service strikes the balance between being personal and professional – I was feeling unwell when I first arrived and phoned down to reception for the on-site doctor, who called me back within minutes to ask a few questions, and then came to my room within 45 minutes. The next day, staff in the lobby asked if I was feeling better and if there was anything I needed.

Compared to other serviced apartments I have stayed in, Oriental Residence had much more of a hotel feel – with features such as a manned reception desk, 24-hour room service, and optional daily turndown service. However, there was definitely an enhanced sense of privacy compared to a hotel, and I felt like I barely saw any other guests in the corridors or the lobby during my stay.

WHERE IS IT?  

On Wireless Road, nestled between the Dutch and American embassies, which both have lovely green grounds to gaze out at. The Central Chidlom department store is a five-minute drive away (the property offers a free shuttle service) and Suvarnabhumi airport was a 45-minute drive away. 

APARTMENT FACILITIES

I stayed in a two-bedroom apartment (120 sqm) on the 16th floor, which had a serene duck egg blue and cream colour scheme and huge windows with sweeping city views across one side.

In each apartment, there was a contemporary etching of the king by Thai illustrator M L Chiratorn Chirapravati. The attractive Chanintr Living furniture is imported from all over the globe, which created a slight (though very stylised) boutique feel. Overall, the apartments had a light colour scheme, a minimalist style and a sense of sophistication.

The dark hardwood floors were furnished with soft rugs, and the open plan living room and kitchen at the centre of the two bedrooms had a comfy beige canvas sofa with teal cushions, beside which was a leather-topped coffee table with a selection of international newspapers including the Daily Mail and the International New York Times.

Between the kitchen and the living room area was a round mahogany dining table with a glass top, with five chairs – if you sat at one end you could connect your laptop to the plug socket on the wall.

There was also a good-sized working desk by the window. Inside its drawer as headed letter paper and envelopes, a stapler, highlighters, cellotape, scissors, a desk phone and a hub for wired internet. The desks in the entry-level Deluxe apartments  (45 sqm) are more quirky – their work surfaces fold out from a feature wall fashioned from the exteriors of antique suitcases.

The two bedrooms a similarly decorated, with excellent King-size beds, a good amount of storage space, iPod docks and large flatscreen TVs and DVD players in each. The master bedroom was bigger than the other, though the smaller bedroom had a balcony – shielded with a glass front that ran the height of the apartment, and great for sitting on in the evening.

The cream marble bathrooms had glass-walled walk-in showers, and in-built speaker systems connected to the TVs in the bedrooms, while the master bathroom also had a bath tub and twin sinks. Penhaglion’s London toiletries were supplied, as were crisp white cotton bathrobes and slippers. Wifi was free throughout the apartments, and it worked well. 

In the sleek kitchen, the following amenities were available:

• toaster

• electric hob

• microwave

• selection of croquery (plates, bowls, mugs, tea cups, wine glasses)

• cutlery

• bottle opener

• tin opener

• scissors

• spatula

• chopping board

• frying pans

• sauce pans

• tea towels (no washing up products, though)

• fridge and freezer

• washing machine (detergent provided, though laundry and dry cleaning services  are available).

• kettle (selection of herbal teas provided)

• coffee machine with capsules

Other amenities in the apartment included free Chang water, a laptop safe in the living room chest of drawers, a hairdryer, an umbrella, the longest shoehorn I have ever seen, and a fridge stocked with chargeable snacks and drinks, including Singah beer (90 baht/£1.60, Lindt Lindor chocolates (160 baht/£2.90 and a bottle of Monsoon Valley Shiraz (950 baht/£17).

Room service is available from 5am-11pm, with breakfast options such as eggs benedict (330 baht/£6) or waffle tower with maple butter and fresh berries (300 baht/£5.50), international options such as black squid ink fettuccini with basil, pesto, sundried tomato, white meat crab and asparagus (690 baht/£12.60) and triple deck orb club sandwich with roasted turkey, lettuce tomato and bacon (310 baht/£5.70) and Thai options such as egg noodles “Chang Mai style” in prawn curry (390 baht/£7) and panaeng ghoong – blue river prawns in thick red curry sauce served with steamed rice (430 baht/£7.80).

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Café Claire (pictured below) is the property’s elegant Parisian-style restaurant, and it appeared to be a popular with locals when we went down for breakfast. The buffet (served 6am-10.30am) offered fresh pastries, rolls and bagels, smoked salmon, cold cuts, cheeses and hot options, while the à la carte menu included classic such as eggs benedict and pancakes. Afternoon tea is served here from 2.30pm until 5.30pm, and gourmet international cuisine is served for lunch and dinner.

Café Claire

The property’s contemporary Chinese restaurant, Mandopop, is currently closed for a refurbishment. Just outside Café Claire in the lobby, there is a small  shop selling gourmet tea and coffee.

MEETING FACILITIES

There are three meeting spaces on the third floor. The West Wing is the a light-filled space for 100 people theatre style, with a foyer area, high ceilings, chandeliers and a fresh all-white décor scheme. There are also two rooms for small meetings: the Green room (six people) and the boardroom (14 people).

LEISURE FACILITIES

Level four of the property is home to the property’s leisure facilities, which are the most sophsticated I have ever seen in a serviced apartment property. There was a loft-style playroom (pictured below), complete with a table football and table tennis tables, white brick walls, city views and food stations – the space can be used as a relaxation area as part of a conference.  The 24-hour gym with Technogym equipment is next door – it had glass walls and lovely views of the surrounding parks.

playroom

The open-air 20-metre pool was a real highlight – lined with white wicker cocoon like cabanas and stripy cushioned loungers, this was a great place to relax in the sun before catching my flight. There is a bar here open from 12pm-8pm.

VERDICT

A blissful stay thanks to the comfortable, stylish rooms and the impeccable service. The calm, private atmosphere made me want to return.


FACT FILE

  • HOW MANY APARTMENTS? 145 – 41 Grand Deluxe, 70 One-Bedroom, 30 Two-Bedroom and four Three-Bedroom.
  • PRICES Rates for a one-night midweek stay in February started from £119 for a Deluxe apartment.
  • CONTACT 110 Wireless Road; tel +66(0) 2125 9000; oriental-residence.com 


Rose Dykins

 

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