Oriental Residence, Bangkok
The Oriental Residences are a combination of serviced residence apartments and a 145 rooms hotel on Witthayu (Wireless) road, directly next to the US embassy and opposite from All Seasons / Conrad hotel. I have to correct myself here that the brand is not connected with the Mandarin Oriental group. They are independent.
The design is unique, everything kept white and it does remind of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok author’s lounge style a bit.
The video tells that they have 2 Jaguar XJL, but they actually have 4 (?) how I got told later. This car no other hotel has yet and it appears more special than a Mercedes or BMW limousine somehow. I also found this car to be more comfortable than the Bentley the St. Regis has. We got more attention with this car than with the Bentley I also have to say. They have 2 ipads in the car moreover.
I had a 2-bedroom suite for only around THB 18k++ that time. The rooms are well equipped, the bathroom is beautiful, especially the living room impresses. The views around Witthayu road are decent as well.
Mandopop is their new Chinese restaurant. From its look it might be Bangkok’s most stylish, modern Chinese restaurant, but the cusine I haven’t tried yet.
The lady showing me around in the beginning they recruited away from Sukhothai hotel, they also recruited a good guy from Four Seasons who is extremely helpful. The Sukhothai was striking back and headhunted Dome (before chief concierge) away, one of their best people. Dome is making a great hospitality career : I know him from when he started as a butler at St. Regis, then the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok headhunted him, he transfered to the opening of the Oriental Residences where I met him in February again and now he already left for the Sukhothai. Well, the Peninsula is still missing and might recruit him next, who knows…
The pool is pretty good and large. However it just feels so out of this world and not like vacation when lieing there. There is not much sunlight coming into the area, the bar was not attented (only a security guard walking around) and the gym isn’t so good – just very small. I actually met the Swiss GM, Mr. Schaub, from Basel in front of the gym. We chatted shortly, he is ok. I think he fits well to the style they want to incorporate there. He is capable to draw and keep certain groups of guests there, i am confident that the place will become strong.
I very much like Witthayu road, it is likely I will be back at their place. Maybe I am trying Mandopop next.
