As Bangkok addresses go, you don’t really get more central than this. Nestled in a quiet, exclusive, residential street in Ratchadamri, home to the Thai and ex pat elite, this somewhat infamous Bangkok luxury boutique hotel is the ultimate urban oasis – calm, green, earthy and elemental – fusing contemporary sophistication with Thai charm. It’s walking distance from the retail-tainment at Siam Paragon and Siam Square and close to the Erawan shrine, but if you can’t take the Bangkok heat, a tuk-tuk or cab is always on call should you enjoy traffic. The Hansar delivers understated refinement and casual elegance throughout its 94 rooms and common areas. Our Edge Suite was sprawling and beautifully appointed in neutral tones – the Hansar certainly doesn’t skimp on space, as a large part of the room is given up to a double-floor height terrarium, to give you that outdoors, indoors feel. We were hoping to access it, but it’s really for show only. The pièce de résistance is the 8th floor pool deck, a serene place to escape the rigours of exploring the city. The hotel’s service was good, although more laid-back compared to other five-stars – but then, some of us like that.
