Highrise after highrise meets my eye as I drive into the familiar city of Bangkok. Then suddenly, I catch a glimpse of a golden dome glinting in the sunshine and I know that I am fast approaching my destination, lebua Hotels & Resorts in Bangkok. Nestled amongst the many hotels lining the Chao Phraya riverfront, lebua stands out both in its stately design and the quality of luxury appointments and services offered to its guests.

Sweet suites

The lebua Hotel offers two levels of accommodation, the State Tower and the Tower Club. The more exclusive and private of the two is the Tower Club which can only be accessed by those residing there and was launched quite recently. The 221 suites of the Tower Club take up floors 51 to 59 and I was going to experience the corner suite on the 59{+t}{+h} floor, facing the river. My suite featured a well-furnished kitchenette, dining space and seating area with plush couches and an overhanging crystal chandelier, separated from a large bed and bath space. A special feature of the suite is a spa room set up on request. With its soft lighting, pristinely clean upholstery and an iPod dock to play your ‘sounds of nature' track from, you need not to go down to the fitness centre to get a Thai massage. The colonnaded balconies in each suite offer great views of the city and river. The suites on offer range from one to three bedroom spaces. The soft, white beds, warm décor and Bvlgari shower amenities take luxurious comfort to a new height.

Funnily, out of all this finery, what stood out as I walked around the suite was the artwork – stills from a recent movie that brought Bangkok back as the place to party hard or go home - Hangover 2! Certain scenes from the film were shot at the hotel and guests can choose to stay in the Hangover suite which boasts of 266 square metres of luxurious living. The complimentary Hangovertini, a drink made with green tea liquor and Martini Rosso will set the stage for fun nights to come.

To make the guests feel truly comfortable, the service staff is attentive and welcoming while the concierge tries his best to guide you through the bustling streets of Bangkok. I consulted both housekeeping staff and the concierge on the best places to shop and directions. One manager even walked me through the back of the hotel into a small alleyway as a shortcut to Centerpoint shopping mall.

All that glitters

The Dome is the collection of gourmet restaurants and bars at lebua. Comprising of Mezzaluna, Sirocco, Sky Bar, Breeze and Distil, guests can taste dishes from around the world literally under one roof.

Sirocco and Sky Bar are on the 63{+r}{+d} floor of the hotel, open to the elements and offer the best view of the golden dome. While Sky Bar sets the mood with its funky lighting and live jazz music, Sirocco serves Mediterranean fare paired with some of the best wines around. The soups, meat dishes and desserts were beautifully plated and generously portioned but it was the humble Caesar's salad that made an impression. Light, crunchy and dressed to the right amount, this oft-dismissed salad when made well is the mark of a good restaurant.

Mezzaluna, run by the twin chefs Mathias and Thomas Sühring, is the pride of lebua. Guests can choose only between the three and six course chef's tasting menus which are redesigned daily and feature ingredients sourced from 15 countries. Parsley risotto with autumn truffle, beets with crunchy green apple and sinful Vahlrona chocolate with blackberries were on our menu for the night. Tasting the six-course menu requires close to four hours of your time so guests pick Mezzaluna for the experience just as much as for the food. Sebastian, the French sommelier, made our meal more pleasant by narrating stories about each of the wines chosen.

Breeze offers modern, innovative, Asian cuisine with influences from as far as Morocco. Spicy Szechuan vegetables, stir fried tofu and braised beef are all given a modern twist with the use of non-Chinese spices and sauces. Distil, the bar on the 64{+t}{+h} floor is where guests can try a few drinks exclusive to lebua like a glass of Krug Rose while snacking on fresh oysters and Beluga Imperial caviar and trying a hand-rolled Cuban cigar. For special occasions and functions, choose to dine at the State Room, which is the banquet hall directly underneath the dome.

Café Mozu, while not a part of The Dome, is a fun dining experience with Lebanese and Indian cuisine as well as a selection of 99 shooters.

Apart from the restaurants and bars, guests can experience the fully-equipped gym, sauna, pool and Jacuzzi or get a massage to truly de-stress.

Future plans

In India, lebua Hotels & Resorts plans to open its first property in the sub-city of Dwarka, New Delhi towards the end of 2011. Mr. Ohri, the CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts said that the definition of “glocal” would be redefined by the entry of lebua into India, with the term focusing more on exchange of ideas rather than adapting to a new environment. At lebua in Bangkok, modern European design elements and cuisines blend with traditional Thai features and flavours, informing and complementing each other. It is not surprising then that guests slowly begin to believe the statement constantly made by the staff at the hotel, “Nothing is impossible at lebua”.

What: lebua Hotels & Resorts

Where: Bangkok, Thailand

How much: $559 onwards per night per suite at the Tower Club

archana.a@thehindu.co.in

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