The Regent Bangkok Gets A “New Look” US$4 million renovation nears its end

The Regent Bangkok, already recognised as one of the leading hotels in the city, is in the final stages of a US$4 million makeover which promises to make it even more attractive to the international traveller and local guests alike.

Already completed is the transformation of The Regent’s popular Parichart Courtyard into a fresh and stylish “garden” plaza with a range of luxury boutiques, the casual bar Aqua, a new and wider side-street entrance and improved lighting and facilities.

To open on April 29 is the hotel’s stylish, new signature restaurant, Madison, and recently completed is the upgrading of the hotel’s main entrance, including new landscaping, a granite cobblestone driveway and a marble walkway.

Due to start soon and scheduled to be finished in the next six months is the complete refurbishment of the focal point of the hotel, the Lobby area, one of the most popular meeting places in the city of Bangkok, and the hotel’s top floor suites.

Parichart Courtyard Garden

Designed by the world-renowned architect and interior designer, Mr Tony Chi, the new Parichart Garden Plaza features new facades on all shop fronts, all with limestone casings, to help make shopping a pleasure for even the most discerning visitor.

Gathered together in the plaza are some of Thailand’s premier up-market stores, including Jim Thompson, Kunta Arts of Asia, Neold Thai Style, Lotus Arts de Vivre and Guerlain, as well as The Regent Shop, featuring fine coffees, pastries, sandwiches, wines, pasta and much, much more.

Also within the Parichart shopping garden is the newly created outdoor bar Aqua, again designed by Mr Chi, and featuring a range of draught beers, the best Martinis in Bangkok and especially prepared snacks to complement the drinks list.

In the few months that Aqua has been open it has already become one of THE places to meet in Bangkok, with its very modern and casual ambience and the longest Happy Hour in the city. From 11.00am to 11.00pm if you buy one drink, you get one free.

Madison

But the centrepiece of all the creative renovation work being undertaken in the hotel is the construction of the completely new restaurant, Madison, which overlooks the Parichart Garden and will be open to the public on April 29.

“It will be an entirely new dining experience for Bangkok,” General Manager, Mr Guy Rigby said. “Again designed by Tony Chi, Madison is a stylish, modern grill featuring a small bar area with fireplace and a sophisticated ambience.

“It is perhaps reminiscent of some of the most fashionable new restaurants in Manhattan and will feature prime US and Australian beef, an open kitchen and char grill, and a private dining room for intimate functions,” he said.

“The bar will also feature the largest single malt whisky selection in Thailand, while the restaurant itself will have an extensive and moderately priced wine list.”

New Entrance and Lobby

Mr Rigby said that also just completed is the revitalisation of the front entrance to the hotel with enhanced landscaping and the installation of a replica of an antique bell similar to those found in many Thai monasteries.

This work also included a new granite cobblestone driveway and a marble walkway to enhance the comfort and welcoming ambience for guests and visitors on arrival at the hotel.

“This will be further enhanced by the renovation to the Lobby of the hotel, which will begin in May and will be completed in the next six months,” Mr Rigby said.

Design of the new Lobby has been undertaken by the US group, Michael Wilson and Associates and is expected to be complete by the end of September.

The lobby area is already one of the most popular, luxury meeting places in Bangkok and the renovations now being undertaken will enhance its attractiveness and overall ambience still further.

“In the Lobby, we want to maintain the feeling of light and space that has made it so attractive in the past, while improving its main features, fittings and furnishings,” Mr Rigby said.

“The Lobby murals on the stairs and ceiling are to be restored by the son and the daughter of the original artist, Acharn Paibun Suwannakudt, using a rare and delicate process involving painting with gold leaf on silk stretched over plywood.

“There will also be brand new furnishings, rugs and a recessed front desk for the greater comfort and better service of our guests,” he said.

Mr Rigby said the staged renovation work within The Regent Bangkok had been underway for more than 12 months, but because it was done in stages and involved only parts of the hotel guests were not inconvenienced.