Sukhumvit / Nana

Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit

★★★★★

The Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit is the smart, practical choice for travellers who want to stay on Sukhumvit Road, the long artery of restaurants, bars, malls and hotels that runs east through the modern city. It opened at the end of 2018 as the Hyatt Regency brand's debut in Bangkok, in a 31-storey mixed-use tower, and its biggest advantage is its connection: a sky bridge links the hotel directly to Nana BTS station, so you can step from the lobby onto the Skytrain without crossing the busy road, which in Bangkok's heat and traffic is a real luxury. From Nana, the BTS reaches Siam in a few stops and Saphan Taksin, for the river boats to the old town, with one change. The hotel has 273 rooms, including 21 suites, with a clean, modern design, comfortable beds, good showers and city views from the upper floors. Facilities include an outdoor freeform pool on the sixth floor, with a whirlpool and a pool bar, a steam room and a 24-hour gym. Market Cafe, open around the clock, serves Thai and international dishes, and Spectrum Lounge and Bar occupies the top floors of the hotel, with grills, cocktails, live music and a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. The Regency Club lounge on the 27th floor offers breakfast, evening drinks and a quieter place to work for those who book club rooms. Around the hotel, the lower Sukhumvit sois are packed with restaurants of every cuisine, rooftop bars, massage shops, tailors and nightlife, and the Terminal 21 and EmQuartier malls are a stop or two along the line.

Sukhumvit is where many visitors end up staying, and for good reason: it has the most choice of restaurants and bars, the Skytrain runs along its length, and it is a good base for exploring the modern city. The Nana area, around Soi 11 and Soi 13, is lively, with some of the city's most popular bars, and parts of the area around Soi 4 are known for adult nightlife; the hotel itself is a calm, professional retreat, but families should know the neighbourhood's character. Further east, Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lo and Ekkamai are more upmarket and residential, with excellent restaurants and cafes, all reachable in a few minutes by BTS.

Choosing a room: standard rooms are comfortable and well equipped for a few nights; club rooms add lounge access, which is good value if you will use the breakfast and evening drinks. Higher floors are quieter and have better views. The pool is a pleasant retreat for the afternoon heat, and Spectrum's rooftop terrace is a good place to start an evening with a view, before heading out to the restaurants and bars of the sois below.

Who it suits: first-timers who want convenience, business travellers, couples and groups of friends who want Sukhumvit's dining and nightlife on the doorstep, and anyone who values the direct Skytrain link. The trade-offs are the distance from the old town and the river, which takes a BTS ride and a boat or a taxi through traffic, and a busy, sometimes brash immediate neighbourhood. For a well-priced, dependable international hotel in the heart of Sukhumvit, it is one of the best options.