Going Spanish on a Bangkok rooftop

Bangkok may be south-east Asia’s street food mecca, but you might be surprised what else can be found in this crazy capital, our globetrotting correspondent Rod Eime reports. 

Some time ago, we sampled excellent Indian and Mexican food at the Rembrandt Hotel in Soi 18. Quite satisfactory Middle Eastern food can be found in the multilevel MBK shopping complex at Siam along with all the cosmopolitan fast food brands we’re used to at home.

My last couple of visits introduced me to the authentic Spanish tapas served by visiting chefs at the brand-new Melia INNSiDE Bangkok Sukhumvit a stone’s throw from the On Nut BTS station.

Walk-ins are welcome at Luz Bangkok on the 33rd floor. Spanish chef de cuisine Juan Ignacio García Racionero, who was born in Madrid and has honed his craft in some of Spain’s top kitchens, takes us on a culinary crusade through Spain, with a dynamic variety of local Thai ingredients in the mix, too. 

My dining companion seems too distracted by chef Juan’s movie-star looks to make up her mind, so we say, “Just bring it!” and throw ourselves at his mercy. As it turned out, I’m glad I was hungry.

Against a backdrop of Bangkok’s illuminated skyline, the dishes just kept coming:  ‘Gilda de Pulpo' grilled octopus, olives, pickled paprika and olive oil, 

‘Sardine Ahumada Con Lima’ smoked sardine with lime and avocado cream, ‘Gambas Al Ajillo’ sauteed prawns with chilli, garlic and olive oil, and ‘Ensalada De Salmorejo Burrata’ burrata with cold tomato creamy soup, anchovy and avocado are among ‘LUZ Tapas’ highlights.

“One of my favourite dishes is the ‘Pulpo a la Parrilla’,” Juan tells us. He adds mango, chilli and smoked paprika purée to create a contrast of sweet, salty, and spicy flavours, offering a fresh take on the traditional Spanish recipe.

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Just over my shoulder is the mandatory cocktail bar which beckons me to challenge it and in no time the bar resounds to the satisfying rattle of the silver cocktail shaker.

To say every dish is beautifully presented and delicious even for an unfamiliar palate goes without saying. Much as I love Bangkok's cornucopia of street food, it just goes to show this amazing city has a lot up its sleeve.

DOING IT

LUZ is open daily from 4pm until midnight.

For further information and to make a reservation, visit www.melia.com or call on +66 2 340 5499.

Vietnam resort success story celebrates first birthday

The Central Coast of Vietnam is booming as a tourism destination with dozens of new resorts having opened over the past few years. 

One that has got off to a flying start is the Gran Meliá Nha Trang, a seafront hotel that is celebrating its first anniversary this month. 

Vietnam’s first and only Gran Meliá resort, this five-star retreat opened in July 2023 and is already listed on the region's top 5 on Tripadvisor with a 5/5 rating. 

There has been praise for its outstanding villas and "its ability to seamlessly blend the brand’s rich Spanish heritage with the finest Vietnamese hospitality".

“Our first anniversary gives us the chance to reflect on a wonderful year, during which we have curated many magical moments and made many new friends," says Jingyi Wu, the resort's executive assistant manager.

"We are proud to have achieved such a strong first year, but this is just the beginning - moving forward, we will continue to improve, innovate and elevate the standard of five-star hospitality in Vietnam."

So plenty of confidence there. I'll try to take a look when I visit with Vietjet in October. 

To celebrate its first anniversary, Gran Meliá Nha Trang has unveiled a  program of activities and events that capture the Spanish spirit of fiesta. 

Gran Meliá Nha Trang’s “Anniversary Offer” - available for bookings made during the remainder of July - includes early check-in, late check-out, and an upgrade to the next room category (subject to availability), plus complimentary stays for up to two children under 12 years old. 

For more info check out www.melia.com/en/hotels/vietnam/nha-trang/gran-melia-nha-trang.

New Bangkok hotel offers a different view

Bangkok has a bewildering array of hotels from which to choose with the latest being the new INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, which opened this week in the fast-rising On Nut precinct.

Towering 34 floors, the 208-key INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit is the first INNSiDE property in Thailand. It features integrated co-working spaces, a roof level transparent infinity pool and rooftop tapas bar.

It is fourth Meliá Hotels International property in Thailand after the nautical-themed Meliá Koh Samui, the impressive Meliá Phuket Mai Khao and urban hotel Meliá Chiang Mai.

INNSiDE by Meliá is a collection of 38 urban and beach INNSiDE hotels that have been launched in 14 different countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

It is fair way down Sukhumvit Road but On Nut is quickly becoming a popular neighbourhood and the hotel is close to both the On Nut BTS Skytrain station and Bangkok’s largest convention centre, BITEC.

The lifestyle hotel’s co-working space features floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Bangkok skyline.

There are three food and beverage outlets including the Giant Swing Pool Bar on the 34th floor.

Adjacent to the infinity pool is an expansive rooftop terrace, dotted with outdoor lounges and sunbeds and the open-air pool bar will serve serves Mediterranean, Thai and international snacks from 10am-midnight daily.

By night, the pool bar will become an upper-floor extension of the hotel’s 33rd floor LUZ Bangkok Tapas Bar - a nod the Melia group's Spanish roots.

There is also an all-day dining venue, The Kites Eatery, with dishes from across Thailand.

In-room offerings include complimentary minibar items, organic bathroom amenities, yoga mats, 50-inch TVs, wifi and USB chargers. Ask for an upper floor room for the best views.

Room service is available 24/7 and the hotel also has a 24-hour Infit Gym and a concierge service.

In a nod to the environment, the hotel shuns single-use plastic, suing recycled glass bottles for drinking water and biodegradable takeaway boxes.

“Our hotel may well be the new kid on the block in Bangkok yet we offer a completely new hotel experience in one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities,” said Ignacio Martin, Meliá Hotels International Managing Director for Asia Pacific.

“True to its destination, this sensational hotel gives guests the freedom to connect or disconnect among an independent community.”

A 15% off introductory offer on room rates applies from July until October 2023 to celebrate the hotel’s opening. Visit melia.com or email reservation.innside.sukhumvit@melia.com

Taking a Chiang Mai stay to a new level

I have visited Thailand on many occasions but have never made it to the northern city of Chiang Mai.

That's a pity as I keep hearing great things about the city.

One spot that will be on the "to do" list when I finally make it will be a new 'hotel within a hotel' called The Level in the Meliá Chiang Mai.

The Level has 43 rooms and suites as well as a private lounge (above) and bespoke privileges.

Housed on the upper floors of the 22-storey urban hotel, the selection of rooms offer some of the most spectacular views of the city.

Guests staying in The Level have exclusive access to 21st-floor executive lounge The Level Lounge, which offers all-day snacks and beverages accompanied by vistas of the city and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountain to the west.

Tucked under the hotel’s 22nd floor rooftop bar Mai The Sky Bar - the highest bar in Chiang Mai -The Level Lounge has large installations of illuminated umbrella ribs - which have regional significance - clinging to the ceiling.

Various artworks of umbrella canopies hang on the walls, such as those made from antique Chiang Mai textiles.

The Lounge offers private breakfast service from 7-10.30am, afternoon tea from 2.30-4pm, and cocktails and canapes from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

Guests get private check-in and check-out and dedicated concierge service.

Business guests also enjoy complimentary use of The Level’s meeting room for two hours per stay and a 10% discount at YHI Spa.

Meliá Chiang Mai is located on Charoen Prathet Road by the River Ping and Night Bazaar.

To contact Meliá Chiang Mai’s The Level or to make a booking, call +66 5209 0699 or see https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/chiang-mai/melia-chiang-mai/index.htm

Thailand travel with a Spanish accent

Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International is a global giant aiming to make a major impact in Thailand.

Meliá Phuket Mai Khao, a wellness-inspired beach resort with a beach club and private pool villas, has just opened on Thailand’s largest island.

The resort is the second five-star property to be launched in Thailand under the Melia banner and is part of a brand roll-out across the country. 

Situated on Mai Khao beach on Phuket’s north-western coast on the Andaman Sea, the resort sprawls over eight acres and is now fully operational after some initial opening delays. 

The 30-suite and 70-villa resort is a 15-minute drive to Phuket International Airport and close to Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, Sirinat National Park and Wat Phra Thong temple.

The resort’s design melds traditional and contemporary Thai aesthetics with a smattering of Mediterranean elements (as you'd expect from a Spanish company).

The resort has three accommodation categories. Each features a single bedroom and is differentiated by an anchoring amenity - be it an outdoor bathtub, a private plunge pool or a wellness arrangement.

All of the suites and villas feature outdoor bathtubs, open-air showers and outdoor terraces to take advantage of Phuket’s climate. 

The 78sqm suites are complemented by cabanas and the 85sqm one-bedroom villas have private plunge pools.

At the top of the accommodation scale, the 15 wellness villas each feature an open-air Vitamin C shower, ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, GermGuardian air purifier, Tempur-Pedic pillows, aromatic salts for the outdoor bathtub, a fit ball and yoga mat. 

Which sounds just hunky dory. A highlight of staying in a wellness villa is a daily 60-minute massage included.

All rooms and suites have individually controlled air-conditioning, 43-inch LCD TV with satellite channels, Bluetooth speaker, Nespresso coffee maker and gourmet capsules. 

The resort has four food and beverage outlets under culinary director Luca Mancini. 

Gaia Beach Club celebrates Spain by serving Mediterranean and fusion cuisine from an open kitchen and a cocktail selection from a long bar.

SASA is an elegant all-day dining restaurant that specialises in international and Thai cuisine, while the Elyxr Café serves coffee and tea.

The Pool Bar is a swim-up affair at the centre of the resort that serves a range of refreshments including fresh juices, smoothies and cocktails.

On site amenities include a spa with a menu of massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps and the resort will offer wellness packages that include healthy menus and freshly squeezed juices as well as activities such as meditation, yoga, and walks and cycling. 

There is also a fitness centre and children's club.

“Meliá Phuket Mai Khao’s debut marks such an exciting time for Phuket, signalling our genuine optimism for the future of tourism on Thailand’s largest island,” said Maetapong Upatising, Phuket Villa Group's managing director.

Meliá Koh Samui debuted in January 2020, while Meliá Chiang Mai is slated to open in April 2022. INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit (a very silly name), the first property of its brand in Thailand, with 176 guest rooms, is due to open 2023.

See www.melia.com