Hotel Icon makes a super-modern first impression with its asymmetrical, angular facade. Inside, plenty of natural light fills the lobby, creating a bright and airy vibe. Blonde wood and marble-tiled floors open onto several comfortable seating areas with low-slung couches, and a small business station. Hanging overhead are giant lantern-inspired light fixtures. An eye-catching purple canvas with the image of a digitized elephant drapes one wall. Cino Bar and Bistro is a chic, simple space with minimalist-wood and purple-cushioned seating, as well as outdoor seating on a sleek, wooden deck. The open-air, rooftop Violet Bar offers great skyline views of Bangkok, especially around sunset, though it isn’t particularly lively and seems more intended to serve guests relaxing by the pool. Up on the roof, there are some stylish clusters of dark wicker couches with white cushions, and a row of dark wicker loungers and green umbrellas facing the skyline. Tourists and couples make up the bulk of guests, though some business travelers and families stay here as well.

Set on a relatively quiet side street (or soi) off of manic Sukhumvit Road, the hotel is an eight-minute walk from the Ploen Chit BTS station. The Lower Sukhumvit area is simultaneously high-end and low-brow, and it's not always clear where one part ends and the other begins. Between the massive Terminal 21 shopping mall (a 15-minute walk) and the red-light nightlife of Soi Nana (six minutes on foot), there are plenty of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and Thai street food within walking distance of the hotel. The city’s historic sights, like the Grand Palace and Chinatown, are best accessed by taxi (about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic) or using the BTS, metro, or river ferries, which can take up to an hour. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport can be reached in a little over an hour using the BTS and the Airport Rail Link, or in about 30 minutes by cab.

The hotel’s guest rooms are spacious, simple, and bright, with retro-futuristic touches like mid-century-style swivel chairs and white lacquered desks that give an understated flair. Superior and larger Iconic Rooms have similar decor, though Superior Rooms are carpeted while Iconic Rooms are tiled and have extra storage space. Neutral floors complement the unremarkable abstract canvases and light wooden oblong sculptures that double as headboards on the decently comfortable beds. All rooms include safes, minibars, tea kettles, alarm clocks, and 40-inch flat-screen TVs. Bathrooms are separated from the main rooms by frosted glass and are private, though some guests may want to consider this detail before booking. Bathrooms have large granite vanities, retro-silhouetted sinks and toilets, and contemporary fixtures, as well as large walk-in showers, slippers, and generic toiletries. We noticed a bit of discoloration in some bathrooms’ grout, and guests have reported an erratic hot water supply in the showers. Iconic Rooms are on the sixth floor, with easy gym and pool access; Family Rooms consist of two Superior Rooms with a connecting door. 

The long and narrow rooftop pool is an excellent place to cool off while taking in views of the Bangkok skyline. The hotel’s Violet Bar, in a shaded space adjacent to the pool, has a small selection of drinks and comfortable outdoor seating. A small on-site fitness center has free filtered water, a limited selection of free weights, two cardio machines, and a weight-training machine. The breakfast buffet is decent, though has a limited selection and is only included with certain bookings. (Plenty of better, local breakfast options can be found all along Sukhumvit Road.) Cino Bar and Bistro is open for lunch and dinner and provides room service until late, along with happy hour deals at the bar. Iconic and Family Rooms receive a free welcome basket of fresh fruit, and some bookings include meal and beverage perks. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout, a business station in the lobby, and a small, stylish meeting room with great natural light. Concierge services are available, and cribs are free for guests with small children. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to destinations within a small radius of the hotel, including Sukhumvit Road.