Oriental Residence Bangkok

Despite being located in one of Bangkok's shimmering modern towers, the Oriental Residence Bangkok takes its style inspiration from a romantic vintage-chic with French countryside and vintage travel aesthetics. The entrance is a sleek wall of windows, but, inside, glass chandeliers, light paneled walls, vintage architectural prints, mahogany tables, and plush leather chairs prevail. The effect is pleasant and calming, like walking into an oasis. Next to the check-in desk a bright, windowed alcove has a couple of sitting areas with ostensibly mismatched leather and upholstered chairs and sofas in pastel colors. Outside, there's a small herb garden with traditional Thai herbs for the restaurants to use.

The pool deck -- an open-air space on the fourth floor -- is similarly refined and elegant, with tan cabanas shading the lounge chairs that flank the 66-foot aquamarine pool and overlook the lush embassy gardens that surround the hotel. Stylized wicker sunbed tents offer more privacy. With its full bar and views, the Play Deck, as it's called, is a popular spot for guests to lounge throughout the day. The other two restaurants -- Savelberg Thailand and Cafe Claire --  both serve French cuisine, and Cafe Claire in particular has capitalized on the classic Paris bistro theme in its aesthetic, with wooden bistro chairs, mirrored walls, hanging ball lamps, and a marble bar.

Thanks to its popularity with long-stay guests, the hotel often feels quiet and serene, which can a welcome change for many short-stay guests too.

The Oriental Residence Bangkok is located on a quiet street in the Lumpini neighborhood, between the American and Dutch embassies. The large Lumpini Park is just down the street in one direction, and the nearest skytrain station and shopping centers are  down the street in the other direction, all within walking distance. There are a number of good restaurants within walking distance, as well. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a 45-minute drive away; Don Mueang International Airport is a 30-minute drive away. The closest skytrain station is within walking distance, but the hotel does offer a free shuttle service for guests. There's also free parking, and the hotel offers a limo service.

The rooms at the Oriental Residence Bangkok are apartment-style residences, each with a fully equipped kitchen; so, the smallest Grand Deluxe rooms are roughly equivalent to a studio apartment in set-up and amenities. The largest rooms are three-bedroom suites, which can accommodate families comfortably for extended stays. All rooms are decorated in the same romantic, vintage-inspired style that prevails throughout the hotel. Dark hardwood floors and mahogany tables and carved chests reminiscent of old travel cases lend an elegance to the space, while tan patterned wallpaper, pastel teal and cream furniture, leather ottomans, and walls of windows lighten it up. Kitchens, in contrast, are sleek and modern, with shiny cream cabinets and electric panel stovetops. Bathrooms are large, tiled entirely in marble, with soaking tubs, a walk-in rainfall shower or two, bathrobes, slippers, and plenty of toiletries. All suites have flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers (espresso machines in some), free Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service. Higher- floor rooms have the best views of the city's rooftops, although the quiet street means that even rooms on lower floors don't get much street noise.

As a hotel that caters to both short- and long-term guests, the Oriental Residence Bangkok has a good range of features. There are three restaurants: Savelberg Thailand, the latest fine-dining French restaurant from Michelin-starred Dutch chef Henk Savelberg; Cafe Claire, the hotel's French bistro, serving classic dishes with locally sourced ingredients in a charming, Parisian-inspired setting; and the Play Deck, the full bar on the pool deck that serves drinks and snacks to lounge chairs and view-admirers. The pool itself is on the fourth floor, surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas, as well as a kids' pool; it's worth noting that the pool is shaded by a ceiling, although the walls are open and some lounge chairs get direct sunlight. There's also a modern, fully equipped fitness center, with floor-to-ceiling views over the embassy gardens, although the room itself is small and might not have all the state-of-the art exercise machines. In addition to the kids' pool, kids' menus and babysitting services are available. Breakfast is not included in most rates. The hotel also offers extensive concierge services, as well as a shopping butler who can arrange luxury shopping experiences. The hotel also has a number of high-end conference rooms and a well-equipped business center. The 24-hour on-call doctor and in-house florist demonstrate the dedication to long-term guests. There's free Wi-Fi throughout.