The Mandarin Hotel is a modern hotel both inside and out, though there's a bit of disparity between the more opulent public areas and simple guest rooms. The lobby is a large space, with an elegant black-and-white marble floor, a large floral arrangement on a black circular table, and a softly illuminated reception desk manned by smartly dressed staff. By the front windows, there's a range of seating, from contemporary white leather armchairs to velvet Louis XV style sofas set around coffee tables. Just the right touch of shimmer makes everything feel that much more upmarket. The property attracts a diverse spectrum of international travelers, including couples, families, solo travelers, and business guests. It’s a large property and has a relaxed feel, but due to the lack of other dining options in the area, some guests find that it gets crowded in the restaurant at breakfast time. 

The hotel is located on the busy Rama IV Road, near Bangkok's buzzing Silom neighborhood. Despite that fact, there isn’t much immediately surrounding the hotel. A 10- to 15-minute walk southeast leads to Silom Road, which is one of the heart's of Bangkok's businesses. At night it's lined with a market and plenty of street food, and is also home to the Silom Complex, one of the city's more upmarket shopping malls. The notorious Patpong Night Market and entertainment area is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, while the sois running southeast from Silom Road -- like Convent Road -- are lined with uber-hip dining and drinking spots. It’s a five-minute drive to the Chao Phraya River and Wat Hua Lam Phong, and a 15-minute drive to Siam Paragon and MBK Shopping Centers. The hotel also offers a free shuttle bus to the malls. The Grand Palace takes around 20-minutes to reach by car. However, it's worth noting that traffic in Bangkok is insane, and drive times will skyrocket at most times of day. Alternatively, the Sam Yan Metro station is less than five minutes from the hotel on foot, and makes connections to the skytrain, allowing for relatively easy access to destinations like the malls along Sukhumvit Road or Chatuchak Weekend Market -- the latter will take about 40 minutes to reach by metro. Suvarnabhumi International Airport  and Don Mueang Airpot are both officially 30 minutes away by car, but budget at least an hour to 90 minutes of travel to either during peak times.

The hotel’s 375 guest rooms are available as Deluxe Rooms or Grand Suites, and there are significant difference between what's offered in each. The rooms are spotlessly clean and have modern decor, though when compared to the elegant common areas, the look is a bit simple. Guests can expect to see white, high-shine tiled floors, plain white bedding and light, neutral walls plus contemporary furniture in dark brown and black hues. There are subtle touches of bronze and gold in the decor, such as the patterned wall art behind the beds in some rooms as well as decorative silk bed runners. Small vases of fresh flowers add a splash of color to the rooms as well. 

The bright, spacious rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, mini-fridges, microwaves, safes, tea- and coffee-making facilities, free mineral water, and free Wi-Fi. There are some high-tech touches too, like the electrically controlled window blinds. The Grand Suites have a large separate living and dining room which has an additional TV, a brown leather sofa and armchair, and a dining table and chairs. These rooms also include a kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator and sink. Bathrooms are contemporary -- done in a similar white-on-white motif as the rooms -- although they are fairly small, and have a shower cubicle, but no bath. Showers have powerful rainfall showerheads. A hairdryer and toiletries are provided, and there's a good amount of counter space around the sinks. The Japanese-style mechanical toilets with heated toilet seats are a popular feature for many guests -- but we will let you decide on that one. 

Given its size, there are a decent number of amenities at this hotel, though some are a bit small for the number of guests who stay here. The hotel's breakfast room, in particular, can get very crowded. A daily buffet is served and includes options like breakfast sandwiches, fresh fruit, and cereals, but it's only built into some rates. The hotel also has an a la carte restaurant, Krua Luang, that's open all day serves a variety of Thai and international dishes. It's a sophisticated space with high ceilings, contemporary lattice screens, and a touch of Old World charm in accents like tufted seating. Room service is available around the clock.

Aside from dining and drinking, the hotel has an outdoor pool that has a black slate edging and is surrounded by astro-turf. There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols, and it's set in a courtyard that makes it feel private from the bustling traffic that sits just outside the hotel. For a relaxing alternative, a range of treatments can be booked at the hotel’s large spa, where there’s also a sauna and a well-equipped, modern fitness center. The 24-hour front desk offers a tour desk, currency exchange, and can arrange laundry services. There are also eight meeting rooms for business guests, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, free underground car parking, and a bank of computer stations. Free shuttles are offered to some of the city's most well-known malls.