Le Meridien Bangkok, Thailand

For the past few years, Le Meridien in Bangkok has been our favourite hotel in the land of smiles. We originally selected it because of the handy Patpong location, we soon discovered there's so much more to love about Le Meridien.

Part of the Starwood group, Le Meridien's customer segment is the sophisticated, creative, hip and younger world traveler, they seek to create a unique experience for their guests, helping them to discover and explore our wonderful world.

The 360 experience starts a the front foyer with a visual feast of a giantic photograph/mural by American photographer, Ralph Gibson. For me, it perfectly captures the spirit of the sophisticated world traveler.  Step inside and you're greeted warmly by staff in distinctive and stylish black suits, on your way to the lift you smell a very subtle scent - LM01 created for Le Meridien by Le Labo.

Step into the lift and your ears are greeted by the distinctive and haunting music of Henri Scars Struck, commissioned especially for Le Meridien.  Each of the four lifts play a different Struck composition.

Inside, the room is not large but well organised, with one of the most comfortable bed and pillows I've slept in, as well as a wonderful rain shower and bath.  From our 16th floor the view of a major Bangkok temple was stunning.

I particularly like the 'service' button on the phone system, you don't have to work out what number to ring from a bewildering series of options like laundry, housekeeping, operator etc.  At Le Meridien it's just one button. 

And after a long flight, the fitness centre and pool was a god send.  The pool isn't large but perfect for relaxation and the plunge pool staff were very warm and efficient but unobtrusive.

In the afternoon, after the pool I'm usually checking emails at Latitude 13, the lobby coffee shop.  I alternate between a short black, cappuccino and latte.  The staff always brings out something extra, like a slice of biscotti.

It's the restaurants that's restored my faith in five star hotel eating.  Le Recipe buffet breakfast serves up the best quality food with not a bad choice either.  You have to try the complimentary eye openers as well as signature breakfast dishes created by three Michelin star chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten especially for Le Meridien.

Latest Recipe - eye opener

Bamboo Chic serves up great pan Asian five star fare with a choice of buffet or a-la-carte and also some wonderful cocktails to boot - all in an alluring environment.  Bamboo Crush is a must try cocktail, but be warned, it's strong and very addictive.  And their dessert is not bad either.

Bamboo Chic - dessert

Should you want to discover more art, your room key, a piece of artwork by Michael Lin, also gives you complimentary entry to the Thailand Creative and Design Centre, described as 'theatre of the mind' in Sukhumvit Road.

No wonder the hotel has been at 100% capacity recently.

Le Meridien Bangkok
40/5 Surawong Rd, Bangrak
Bangkok, Thailand
+66 (0) 2232 8888

Latest Recipe, Le Meridien, Bangkok, Thailand

They say breakfast is the most important part of the day, it's especially so where we're staying because there's not too many options at 7am in the morning.  Latest Recipe breakfast buffet is a new concept that was launched at Le Meridien in Bangkok, where the focus is on quality and not necessarily quantity.

The first thing that greets you is a choice of eye openers created by three Michelin star chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.  They're a test tube shot of flavour to wake you and your taste buds before enjoying breakfast.  Pictured above is the raspberry-pineapple-clove eye opener, but there are six in total including my favourite, mango-chilli-lime.

Buffet breakfast is a competitive field amongst Bangkok's five star hotels, each claiming enormous more buffet choice than the other.  Le Meridien is refreshingly different, Micheal Hoevel, the hotel's Director of Food and Beverage proudly claims while his hotel also provide a good selection, the emphasis is unashamedly on providing it at the highest, consistent quality all year round.

It's a brave call, but I'd have to agree, we were here 13 months ago and I remembered it was one of the best buffet breakfast I've had and I'm glad to say the quality is just as good this time around.

Quality: fresh is best - Dragon Fruit

There are two things which distinguishes Latest Recipe from the others, a world-wide relationship between Vongerichten and Le Meridien which means a series of signature dishes by the world renowned chef, prepared especially for the breakfast menu.

One of which is the smoked salmon and silken tofu.  As you can see it's presented wonderfully and the thin slices of salmon subtle and strong works amazingly well with the thick block of tofu.

The spiced oatmeal souffle is a twist on breakfast oatmeal.  It's superb, wonderful fluffy texture and rich raspberry topping.  The souffle is changed every 5-10 minutes to make sure guests are enjoying it the way it should taste.

But for the the main point of difference is the interactive, customer-centric culture created by Hoevel.  Chef Thanavoot Srilardlao actually roams the entire restaurant to talk to guests and asks for their feedback.  He notices guests who have been here for a while and offers suggestions or cooks up a different dish for them, sometimes doing it himself.  It's common to see both Hoevel and Nicolai Mitchell, Senior Guest Relations Manager striding around Latest Recipe and getting their hands dirty, Mitchell picking up a napkin I dropped in my rush to get a custom cooked omelette.  This sets a wonderful example for the staff who do seem to genuinely want you to have a wonderful experience.

Of course Latest Recipe has the hot food section, the custom cooked noodles, egg, pancake section, congee and Asian breakfast, fresh fruit and fruit juices, it also has frozen yogurt for dessert (see video above) and it has a three Michelin star chef signature dishes as well as a wonderful customer-centric culture.

Noodlies dined as a guest of Latest Recipe.

Latest Recipe
Le Meridien Bangkok
40/5 Surawong Rd, Bangrak
Bangkok, Thailand
+66 (0) 2232 8888