Review / Is this Thailand’s coolest boutique hotel? Housed in the city’s second tallest skyscraper, The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon boasts design-led interiors, world-class dining and the city’s highest rooftop bar

May 28 , 2024

Cheeky vibes abound at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, which opened in late 2022. Photos: Handout

Designed by Jaime Hayon and located in King Power MahaNakhon, The Standard’s Asian flagship artfully blends many of the New York original’s funkiest features with unrivalled Thai hospitality

Ojo, Mott 32 and The Standard Grill have Mexican, Cantonese and American cuisine covered, while the pool overlooks the city skyline, and the property is conveniently connected to the BTS Skytrain

The second tallest skyscraper in Bangkok, King Power MahaNakhon (formerly known simply as MahaNakhon) doesn’t just stand out for its height, but also for its captivating design. Its “pixelated” and “cuboidal” exterior has made it one of the most photographed buildings in the city and a key feature of Bangkok’s futuristic skyline.

Housing a mix of residence and retail, since late 2022, the structure has also been home to The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, the US-based chain’s Asian flagship. Founded by man-about-town André Balazs, Standard International has brought the concept of the boutique hotel into the 21st century with signature properties such as The Standard High Line in New York’s Meatpacking District and the now-shuttered The Standard Hollywood in Los Angeles. With its cheeky vibe, design-led interiors and informal but attentive service, the group has built a global portfolio that now includes two hotels in Thailand (the other one is in the coastal resort town of Hua Hin).

The second tallest skyscraper in Bangkok, King Power MahaNakhon is home to The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon

Much like its sister properties in the US and around the world, the Bangkok hotel acts as a social hub for locals and visitors alike, with an array of dining venues that are some of the most happening in town.

First among them is Ojo, a Mexican eatery helmed by chef Francisco “Paco” Ruano. Located on the 76th floor, the restaurant offers Mexican dishes made with local ingredients, which means that fans of spicy food are in for a real treat. Sample delicacies such as tetela de carnitas, a pork dish, and pollo loco, grilled chicken served with a choice of flavourful sauces, before heading up a couple of floors to Sky Beach, the highest rooftop bar in Bangkok and a great spot for post-dinner drinks.

Pollo loco, a chicken dish at Ojo at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon

If you fancy Cantonese cuisine, Mott 32, a spin-off of the Hong Kong original, delivers delicious dim sum, while The Standard Grill, familiar to those who have stayed at the New York High Line hotel, focuses on classic American fare like steaks. You can try all three restaurants at once with the Three of a Kind special, which comes in different packages, including a “boozy” one for a fun brunch experience.

Spanish designer Jaime Hayon is behind the hotel’s colourful and eclectic appearance. Tropical touches abound, while artworks such as a Marco Brambilla video playing in the lobby (guests of The Standard High Line may recognise that he is also behind a clip playing on a loop in the lifts there), and pieces by artists such as Marc Quinn and Joan Miró are peppered throughout.

The colourful living room in a penthouse suite at The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon

As someone who has stayed at the High Line property several times – it’s been my home away from home during New York Fashion Week for many seasons – I was very much looking forward to experiencing the group’s Asian flagship.