A modern classic in the heart of Bangkok
October 12, 2002 | 12:00am
In the short space of four days, memorable moments can take place at The Regent Bangkok.
This is what happened when the hotel hosted the "World Gourmet Festival" from September 16 to 22. The festival featured top chefs from among the finest dining establishments in the United States, Europe and Asia. The opening festivities were led by Her Royal Highness, Princess Soamsawali, the first wife of the Crown Prince of Thailand, His Royal Highness, Maha Vajiralongkorn. The next evening, noted author and style arbiter Wongvipa Devahastin Na Ayudhya dined at the hotel’s Japanese fusion restaurant, Shintaro. On yet another evening, Khun Adisorn Charanachitta, co-proprietor of The Oriental Bangkok, attended a dinner at Madison, the hotel’s Manhattan-style steakhouse and the only restaurant in Thailand to be named in the Hot Tables list of the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine for 2002.
Such prominent sightings seem to suggest that The Regent is a hip and happening place, a hub for both royalty and local personalities. But take heart, ordinary people like you and I will find plenty of our ilk around. Businessmen and tourists stream in and out of the hotel, some to sample the creative cuisine in one The Regent’s five restaurants, others choose to stay at the hotel because of its convenient location. The Regent is located on Rajadamri Road, which traverses Bangkok’s commercial and retail centers. It is here where you feel the pulse of modern Bangkok. It is a short walk to the Sky train that takes you across the prime business, shopping and entertainment areas of the city. A mere nine-minute ride takes you down to the banks of the historic Chao Praya River, where you can catch a glimpse of the Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace.
Unlike the hotels situated along the banks of the Chao Praya River, The Regent, perhaps, more than any other, is where the worlds of tradition and modernity meet. In many ways, it mirrors present-day Bangkok. Just like the city, The Regent may have fused modern touches with traditional design concepts, yet it is unmistakably Thai – reflecting the graciousness, cultural traditions and dynamism that one has come to associate with this metropolis. It sometimes takes a leap of faith and doses of daring to bring a traditional hotel up to contemporary tastes and standards – introducing new and fresh design perspectives while preserving its distinct character can be risky business.
However, at one point or another, all hotels must take that plunge. Only a year ago, The Regent took on the challenge and did so with remarkable success.
The international design firm, Wilson and Associates, was tasked to refurbish the main lobby. Built in 1982, the hotel’s most celebrated feature is the 1,000- plus square meters of silk and tempera panels that adorn the lobby’s high ceilings. The murals were the masterwork of legendary artist Adjan Paibun Suwannakudt. The artist did not live to see the present restoration but his son and daughter undertook its completion. The murals are said to resemble those found in temple walls, and like them, they depict a stellar event in Thai history. The panels are composed of 19 sections that show the Thai cosmos. The brilliant colors of the murals are set against off-white walls and floor-to-ceiling columns. Twenty-six wall sconces sit high on each of the columns, featuring gilt wood bases with lighting fixtures framed in glass and bronze. The lighting is used for dual effect– to highlight the ceiling murals on the second floor while infusing soft lighting on the main floor. By night, the effect is nothing less than dramatic. In contrast, the furnishings are executed in clean lines and Thai fabrics enhanced by natural wood frames and legs. Comfortable sofas and chairs are upholstered in dark and light neutrals with geometric patterns. Plant boxes in dark wood hold Zen-like floral arrangements giving the place a contemporary appeal. The lobby is a much-frequented venue for business lunches, high tea, or late-night suppers. An extensive international menu features signature dishes from among the hotel’s five restaurants.
Adjoining the lobby is the Parichart Court. This tranquil indoor garden is surely one of Bangkok’s most refreshing spots. In this tropical setting of koi-filled fishponds and lush greenery are the city’s premier arts, crafts and jewelry stores plus three of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. The latest and most innovative is the open-air courtyard bar, Aqua. Like Madison, Shintaro and Biscotti, Aqua was designed by Tony Chi, whose design firm TCA is credited with more than 400 design projects all over the world. For Aqua, he created a minimalist setting of stark white furnishings in dark wood frames sheltered overhead by a retractable garden canopy. Here guests may enjoy tempting fruit juice concoctions, coffee floats and cocktails while sampling Asian appetizers and savories. Stop for a nightcap and linger over some of the finest martinis the city has to offer or choose from a selection of draught beers.
Across Aqua are two of The Regent’s highly acclaimed restaurants – Madison and The Spice Market. The Spice Market features teakwood shelves bear bottles of Thai spices. Earthenware jars and large gunnysacks are poised on ledges around the room. Upon entering, guests find a traditional wooden spice cart brimming with local spices of various textures and colors. All this is supposed to evoke the look and feel of an old Thai spice shop. The rustic interiors suggest that Thai cuisine is really enhanced by a medley of flavors that come from the bounty of nature. Indeed, one can look forward to meat, fish and vegetable dishes in a variety of preparations and end with an assortment of exotic Thai sweets.
The less adventurous yet discriminating can opt to dine at Madison – a New York-inspired steakhouse that has drawn rave reviews. Madison adds the dash of style and sophistication that every hotel needs. Furnishings in rich brown and ochre tones give the restaurant its club-like atmosphere. The predominant design feature that extends from the entrance to the bar and restaurant is the wide plank walnut flooring and the arrangement of wild flowers. The extensive use of glass makes for an open and layered design approach. Wherever one is seated, other sections of the dining area are visible as are the bar, the courtyard or the garden beyond. Cathedral lights are hung from the ceiling on stainless steel shaped ropes and feature frosted glass cylinders. In the main dining area, a polished marble counter holds a buffet for salads and appetizers. Banquets set in open booths offer a fitting ambience for business meetings and intimate occasions. Dark brown leather seats and mystic red cushions and seat backs add warmth to this area. Although the design is inspired by contemporary New York aesthetic, all the furniture and fittings were handcrafted in Thailand and nearly all of the fabrics are from the design house of Jim Thompson.
At Madison, diners can choose from a selection of grain-fed prime US or Australian beef, Australian lamb or veal and succulent whole lobsters or tiger prawns. Madison also has an extensive wine selection including dessert wines and the largest single collection of malt whisky in Thailand. Don’t leave the place without having the velvety chocolate dessert. Equally delightful are the fruit crepes and tarts topped with the most delicate ice creams and sorbets, all homemade of course.
At the other end of the lobby is the hotel’s innovative sushi bar, Shintaro. The word shintaro means a "new vision." True to its name, this Japanese restaurant offers new styles and preparations of sushi, sashimi and standard grilled fare. To echo the contemporary cuisine, the flooring and wall accents are done in a combination of cherry, ash and teakwood. A unique lighting system that is set on a timed dimmer can be adjusted depending on the time of day. The lights are focused mainly on the sushi bar and the chefs who turn out peppered tuna rolls, sushi pizzas or spicy crab rolls. The dining area enjoys subdued lighting. Guests will find earthenware and china in an assortment of colors and shapes. The handcrafted woven glass plates and the artfully presented dishes enhance the dining experience.
Just across is Biscotti, a casual and upbeat Italian restaurant. It features an open kitchen that allows guests to see the chef and his cooks at work. A communal table inside the restaurant serves as a bar and a gathering point for both the chef and the guests to interact. Biscotti is done in a play of contrasting neutrals. Tabletop accessories reflect the trends in contemporary Italian lifestyle. That ranges from simple and modern earth colors to bold whites with accents of apple green and cobalt blue. The cuisine here is all about the comfort food of Italian dining – so you will find old favorites prepared with a delicate touch just as you might expect from a Regent-Four Seasons hotel property. Guy Rigby, the hotel’s general manager, is particularly proud of his five restaurants. "We have the most dynamic and exciting restaurant program in the city," he says. "We have five restaurants that can hold their own with any in the world – they run lunch and dinner at an occupancy of over 110 percent every day of the year." That says everything about the dining experience at this fine establishment.
Yet another strong point of The Regent is its guest rooms. Whether you stay in a standard superior room, a deluxe suite, or one of the cabana rooms set in the outdoor garden, Thai decorative touches are all around–hand-painted silk murals, hand-crafted teak panels and furniture, wall accents with Thai motifs, northern Thai hand-blown glass or antique lamp bases, celadon bowls bearing local fruits, flatware in brass and fitted with wood handles. Clear reference to Thai culture is all around. All of the 356 guest rooms offer views of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, the pool terrace or nearby residential areas. Best of all, the standard and superior rooms are among the largest in Bangkok, boasting a minimum of 42 square meters. The largest suite, the Rajadamri, is the ultimate in luxury and includes a library, a massage room and six connecting bedrooms with a total area of 600 square meters that overlooks rich landscaped gardens.
Whether one is in Bangkok for business or leisure, The Regent caters to various tastes and requirements. And even as traditional touches abound, the Hotel’s modern spirit reveals other aspects of this old culture – its dynamism, adaptability and undeniable international flavor.
As an added bonus, you’ll experience the legendary Four Seasons service that has won this hotel chain more than its fair share of accolades.
With so much so close at hand, why choose to stay anywhere else?
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