137 Pillars Bangkok: A Suite Stay With Perks

A quiet oasis in the centre of Bangkok with a stunning rooftop infinity pool

‘What’s a London cab doing in Thailand,’ you may wonder while pulling into the driveway of 137 Pillars Bangkok. Painted a deep shade of royal blue, the cab is actually “Louie”, the hotel’s very popular—and very photographed—complimentary shuttle that takes guests to and from the nearest BTS station.

Gifted to the hotel by Khun Art, a local Thai classic car collector who remains Louie's custodian, the London cab isn’t the only great thing about 137 Pillars Bangkok.

Opened in April 2017, the second luxury boutique hotel under 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts Group (the first being Chiang Mai) has plenty of other features that make it a top choice for your next trip to Bangkok.

Above Louie the London cab (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Location

Midway between the shopping mecca of Siam and nightlife district of Thonglor, 137 Pillars Bangkok is perfectly positioned near Phrom Phong station. Being just minutes away from the Emquartier shopping district means it’s quieter, more calm, and definitely more residential.

The area is known to be popular among the local Japanese, and is sprinkled with cute cafes like Storyline and Brekkie Organic Cafe. Getting to 137 Pillars Bangkok from either Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport takes around 40 minutes (barring traffic) and the hotel is well connected by shuttle bus and Louie.

See also: 48 Hours In Bangkok

Above The hotel lobby (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Rooms

Offering both suites and residences, 137 Pillars Bangkok is a popular choice for short-term and longer-stay guests. The residences and serviced apartments are ideal for those who want to feel at home—from studios to one or two bedroom apartments, all have kitchen facilities, laundry machines, and dedicated workspaces.

On the other hand, the hotel’s 34 suites feature more colourful furnishings and come with their own set of perks. Named after the royal periods in Thai history, they include the Rattanakosin, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and the Thonburi suites, they range from 64 to 115 square metres in size.

The Ayutthaya suite

We stayed in an 85 square metre Ayutthaya suite, complete with a separate living room, private dining table, guest bathroom, walk-in closet, marble bathtub, outdoor balcony with daybed and the hotel’s signature rocking chair (a remnant from 137 Pillars Chiang Mai).

But the best part of being a suite guest was the exclusive access it gave us—including check-in and check-out at the Leonowens club lounge, the private gym for suite guests and best of all, the rooftop infinity pool.

Take a look at the 137 Pillars Bangkok room types in the slideshow below:

Photo 1 of 6 Ayutthaya suite living room

Photo 2 of 6 Ayutthaya suite bedroom

Photo 3 of 6 Ayutthaya suite bathroom

Photo 4 of 6 Executive studio residences

Photo 5 of 6 Thonburi suite

Photo 6 of 6 Sukhothai suite bathroom

Dining

For being an intimate boutique hotel, 137 Pillars Bangkok offers a surprisingly wide range of dining options including Bangkok Trading Post Bistro & Deli on the ground floor, a brightly-lit all-day dining destination popular among locals and hotel guests.

Above Bangkok Trading Post (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

On the 27th floor, Nimitr, which means ‘a special dream’ in Thai, serves up exquisite Asian-inspired cuisine with a stunning view of Bangkok, and one floor up is Jack Bain’s Bar, a whisky and cigar bar ideal for pre- or post-dinner drinks.

Above Nimitr (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Above Jack Bain's bar (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Lastly, Marble Bar, outside of Nimitr and next to the hotel’s infinity pool, is the place to go for open-air drinks and cocktails with glittering views of the skyline.

Above The Marble bar (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Facilities

With not one but two gyms for 137 Pillars Bangkok suite guests, you’ll never have to wait your turn for a machine. Highlights include a grueling Jacob’s ladder and complimentary TRX classes on the sixth floor, as well as state-of-the-art cardio machines like Tour de France bikes.

Above The gym for suite guests (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Other facilities include a golf simulator and hair salon on the sixth floor, and Nitra spa on the 28th floor with three treatment rooms, each with its own steam and shower facilities.

Add to that two stunning infinity pools (one on the 27th floor, and one on the rooftop just for suite guests), which makes taking that solo Instagram shot that much easier.

Above The 'public' infinity pool (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Service

From check-in to check-out, we found the service at 137 Pillars Bangkok to be friendly, fast and flawless. In fact, we sometimes wished they'd be less friendly to the guests who showed up in the club lounge in their PJs...but that's another story altogether. If you're looking for a hotel that delivers top-notch luxury with plenty of character, 137 Pillars Bangkok is it.

Tatler tip: Be sure to stay in one of the suites to get exclusive access to the rooftop infinity pool, higher-level gym and complimentary breakfast, drinks and snacks at the Leonowens club lounge.

Above The rooftop infinity pool (Photo: Courtesy of 137 Pillars)

Both 137 Pillars in Bangkok and Chiang Mai are members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which represents over 500 independent boutique hotels worldwide.

137 Pillars Bangkok, 38 Sukhumvit Soi 39, Klongton-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand, 137pillarshotels.com

See also: 9 Best Pools In Hong Kong

Topics

Thailand Bangkok Boutique Hotel Small Luxury Hotels SLH 137 Pillars