THE LONG WEEKEND
Opposite page, from top: Saawaan; Warehouse 30 This page, from top: Oriental Spa; Mahanakhon SkyWalk
SENSATIONAL SPAS
If a spa day is top of your wishlist, here are three of the best places to get pampered ORIENTAL SPA Housed in a century-old teak house, the Mandarin Oriental’s spa is reached by boat across the river from the main hotel. There are 15 treatment rooms, including a handful with hot tubs, and menu of traditional Thai and modern Western treatments. mandarinoriental.com PANPURI ORGANIC SPAThis all-white spa at the Park Hyatt specialises in anti-ageing facials and hot oil massages from Thailand's leading organic skincare brand. There’s a second spa with five Japanese-style thermal pools at Gaysorn Village mall. panpuriorganicspa.com THE PENINSULA SPA In a colonial-style building overlooking the Chao Phraya, this three-storey spa offers a full range of treatments, from a two-hour Thai massage to a hi-tech Second Skin facial using 3D-printed hyaluronic strips. peninsula.com
ask a local
Words: Lara Brunt
Somrak Sila, co-founder of WTF Café & Gallery (wtfbangkok.com), shares her insider tips for Bangkok “Soul Food Mahanakorn (soulfoodmahanakorn.com) is my favourite restaurant. It serves consistently great Thai food in a simple dining space – the pomelo salad with chilli jam and popcorn tiger prawns is a must-try. Overlooking the Chao Phraya River, Loy La Long Hotel (loylalong.com) is a tiny hidden gem in the grounds of a temple and a top spot for a quiet sunset drink. A few doors down from my own café and gallery, Studio Lam (facebook.com/studiolambangkok) is perfect for those who love an intimate club with incredibly diverse music. And don’t leave Bangkok without buying some Tiger Balm – it’ll fix all of your problems!”
HEADY HEIGHTS Enjoy sensational sunsets and sky-high views atop some of the city’s tallest towers. When the golden hour approaches, those in the know head skyward to one of the city’s many rooftop terraces. Join them at the newly opened Mahanakhon SkyWalk (kingpowermahanakhon. co.th), a two-tiered observation deck 314 metres above the busy streets of Silom, complete with a glass floor section and Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar. Meanwhile, the aptly-named Vertigo (banyantree.com) pairs upscale al fresco dining – think smoked Wagyu carpaccio topped with crayfish and caviar – with
spectacular views from 61 floors above the city. Before you sit down for dinner, drop by Moon Bar next door for sundowners. Across the river, ThreeSixty (www3.
hilton.com) sits atop the Millennium Hilton Bangkok. Listen to live jazz while taking in the unfettered panorama of the city skyline and filling up your Instagram feed.
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