BACKGROUND
The Lebua brand began in 2003 with the creation of a drinking and dining “destination” on the roof of one of Bangkok’s highest buildings. Once the Sky Bar and Sirocco restaurant had built a reputation as a local hotspot, they took over the Meritus hotel in 2006 to create the Lebua at State Tower property, before launching the all-suite Tower Club at Lebua in 2009.
WHERE IS IT?
The hotel is located on the upper floors of the State Tower, minutes from Chao Phraya River at the end of Silom Road. It is 30-60 minutes’ drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport depending on traffic but less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Saphan Taksin BTS (Skytrain) station. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to the station.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Each of the Tower Club’s rooms boasts at least one large balcony with fantastic views. It shares its entrance and a low-lit, L-shaped lobby with the Labua at State Tower hotel, but check-in is on the 51st floor. Four lifts service the Tower Club, but they also provide public access to the top-floor Dome restaurant and bar complex, which can make navigating around the hotel a frustrating affair.
ROOM FACILITIES
I was in an enormous two-bedroom Signature suite (176 sqm). The entrance corridor led into a dining area/kitchenette, then a drawing room, complete with crystal chandelier and French windows that opened onto one of three balconies.
The main bedroom was also palatial, offering plenty of wardrobe space and a second large TV. The bathroom had a separate walk-in shower and bath, with Shanghai Tang “Mandarin Tea” amenities. There were a range of free extras, such as a minibar, shoe shining services, a large Nespresso machine and wifi. The second bedroom – with twin queen-size beds – was off the dining area.
Though there were electrical sockets scattered around the suite at ankle height, there were none at desk or bed height, which was slightly annoying. (Single-bedroom suites, however, have multiple-type power sockets in the wall behind the desk and are a room category more suited to business travellers.)
BARS AND RESTAURANTS
The 12th floor, known as the M floor, is home to Café Mozu, which serves breakfast and all-day dining including Lebanese, Indian, Thai and Western food. The 52nd floor houses the Tower Club Lounge, Ocean 52 lounge and Breeze – a popular pan-Asian restaurant.
On the 64th floor you’ll find cocktail lounge Distil with its alfresco terrace, as well as an oyster, sushi and Iranian caviar bar. On the same floor is the open-air Flute, a Perrier-Jouet Bar – the highest champagne bar in the world, serving vintage sparkling wines exclusive to Thailand. Down a staircase is Sirocco, the world’s highest outdoor restaurant together with Sky Bar, whose backlit circular bar changes colour every 60 seconds. Mezzaluna on the 65th floor offers French haute cuisine with a Japanese twist.
Each of the restaurants was excellent in its own way; overall, this is among the best F&B collections of any hotel property I have visited.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES
The Business Centre on the 51st floor offers desktop computers and secretarial/administrative support, and there are two meeting rooms for small to medium-sized groups. The main function rooms are expansive, cover two levels and are accessed from the third floor.
LEISURE FACILITIES
There is a large fitness centre on M floor, with fitness machines, and a weights section. Glass walls look out onto the pool area and part of Café Mozu, which may put some off, but there’s no doubt this is a first-class facility – I used it on a few occasions and it had a good atmosphere. The swimming pool curves round a corner of the building and has a Jacuzzi area attached. A sauna, steam room and spa are also on the same floor.
VERDICT
A distinctive hotel with a luxury product that ticks all the boxes. It excels in location, views and its variety of superb restaurant and bar offerings.
FACT FILE
- PRICE Internet rates for a Tower Club Signature two-bedroom suite in mid-June start from US$487 per night.
- CONTACT 1055 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500; tel +66 2624 9555; lebua.com/tower-club
Jeremy Tredinnick
