Contemporary decor and this international chain’s signature scent permeate the Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, which attracts a mix of business and long-stay leisure guests. The hotel occupies the first 20 stories of a soaring tower, with floor-to-ceiling windows that go all the way up. Higher floors house condos that share the property’s facilities. Set back from the busy main road, the bright, high-ceilinged and spacious lobby has stylish modern seating, colorful artwork on the walls, and views of greenery in the entrance courtyard. Wide hallways sport contemporary brown carpets, white walls, and attractive tan-wood bedroom doors, while the airy sixth-floor Aldo’s restaurant has more floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the attractive pool area. The pub adjoining the ground-floor lobby goes for an Old-World Irish look, while the bright, stylish, and comfortable residents’ lounge is enclosed by glass walls, though its a little on the small side.

Set back from the busy main road and surrounded by other hotels and office blocks, the Ascott Sathorn Bangkok is walking distance from the elevated BTS Skytrain (the hotel provides a free shuttle service, too). It’s well placed for both the Sathorn and Silom business districts and their trendy bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, and the Japanese, Malaysian, Australian and Singaporean embassies are all within a short taxi ride away.

• Four-minute walk to bars, restaurants, and cafes on Sathorn Sois 10 and 12 
• Seven-minute walk to Chong Nonsi Skytrain station
• 14 minutes to the Sathorn river ferry pier by public transportation (three-minute drive)
• 16 minutes to Patpong market and Central Silom shopping mall by public transportation (six-minute drive)
• 18 minutes to Siam shopping malls by public transportation (15-minute drive)
• 25 minutes to Lumpini Park by public transportation (six-minute drive)
• 27-minute drive to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (53 minutes by public transportation)
• 27-minute drive to Don Muang International Airport
• 33 minutes to Pratunam market by public transportation (12-minute drive)
• 34 minutes to Chinatown by public transportation (11-minute drive)
• 36 minutes to the Grand Palace by public transportation (15-minute drive)
• 48 minutes to the BITEC convention center by public transportation (17-minute drive)

The Ascott’s 177 bright, spacious, and quiet rooms are designed for long-stay guests. Bedrooms feature pale wood-panel flooring, large beds against attractive ceiling-height brown headboards, and pistachio-colored bed runners. Living rooms have elegant coffee-colored sofas, round glass dining tables, plus well-sized dark-wood desks. Standard amenities include large flat-screen TVs with a good selection of cable channels, DVD players, plus safes, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers, and bathrobes. While the larger rooms have bigger windows, well-designed lighting means all rooms remain bright throughout. There are pleasant views of the pool, highway and Skytrain, and even a neighboring patch of greenery that’s survived development -- a rarity in downtown Bangkok. Both smoking and non-smoking rooms are available, but all balconies are smoker-friendly (though some rooms lack this outdoor space). All rooms feature large kitchenettes with ovens, stovetops, refrigerators, microwaves, and washer/dryers. Free drinking water is provided daily, but there are no minibar snacks or beverages. In Studio Premier Rooms, dark-wood wardrobes and cabinets divide living and sleeping areas, while pricier rooms have separate living rooms and bedrooms. Two-Bedroom Executive Suites have larger kitchenettes, adjoining utility rooms for separate washing machines and dryers, and small luggage storage rooms.

Elegant master en-suite bathrooms have separate bathtubs and walk-in showers with rainfall and power showerheads, plus large wood-fronted vanities with shiny black marble tops. Larger suites come with second bathrooms with shower/tub combos. Miniature toiletries by L’Occitane are provided in all. Rooms generally get good reviews, though there have been some reports of worn furniture. 

The Ascott has plenty of amenities, though it shares them with a block of condos that occupy the building's top floors. These include an attractive outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool surrounded by lounge chairs and private cabanas plus a huge gym with an excellent selection of free weights, and cardio and weight-training machines. The fitness area also has hot tubs, a sauna, steam rooms, and its own coffee bar, and daily exercise classes and personal trainer services are available for a fee. The pool and gym are shared with the residential condo on the higher floors of the building, though. The hotel also has a spa with pleasant contemporary treatment rooms as well as a kids’ playroom. Babysitting is available for a fee.

Dining options include a Mediterranean bistro with an impressive wine list and a Japanese restaurant, Nanja Monja, while room service is available until late (though not 24/7), and the pleasant Irish-style M Pub adjacent to the lobby has regular live music performances. The international buffet breakfast offers a solid selection, but it’s not included in standard rates. The business center offers a full range of office services, and there are a number of contemporary meeting rooms available. There’s also an on-site convenience store and ATM, guests get free secure parking and transfers to the Skytrain. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.