A fun and funky Bangkok hotel with gourmet options

Some hotels give off the right vibe from the moment you enter the lobby.

In the case of the Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, that vibe is ultra-cool. This after all, is a hotel that has female DJ spinning chill-out tunes right across the way from the check-in desk.

Formerly the Sofitel Silom, the refurbed and re-imagined Pullman stands out from the crowd in a city that is chock-a-block with classy and affordable hotels.

It's a big hotel, something that doesn't always sit well with me, that features 469 stylish rooms (think almost all-white decor) with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the impressive and constantly changing Bangkok skyline.

The hotel, unashamedly aiming for a market of hipsters, has a good selection of food and beverage outlets, 12 meeting spaces, a fitness centre, open-air pool and spa. But it is the staff, uniformly cheerful and helpful, that play just as big a role as the the hotel's urban attitude.

I liked the speedy check-in, the snack bar and bar in the lobby, the comfortable lobby chairs and the ground-floor 24-hour burger bar a lot. I liked the videos playing in the lifts, and the art installations. 

But I liked my well-equipped room even more. Spacious and bright, its features included a pillow menu, bathrooms with separated bathtub and shower, Roger & Gallet bathroom amenities, iPod and iPad docking station, free wi-fi in all areas, satellite/cable TV with a good choice of overseas channels, minibars, coffee and tea facilities and flat-screen TVs. 

For those with the cash to flash, G Suite rooms offer personalised private check in and butler service, along with large separate living areas and private bars, and there are also executive floors with access to a private lounge. 

The hotel also offers concierge and secretarial services - and there are free Mac computers in the lobby for guests to use. 

The star of the show, however, is Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant (right) with its panoramic views of the Bangkok skyline. This buzzing bar and bistro has an excellent selection of both cocktails and wine, and the city’s largest selection of cheeses, charcuterie and tapas.

The 25 Degrees restaurant serves real burgers around the clock in a milkbar-themed setting while Playground, over two levels, is a laid-back cocktail bar.

Impressive breakfasts are served in the Mistral Restaurant, which somehow lacks the energy of the rest of the hotel. 

With early bird rooms here starting from around $90 a night, it's easy to enjoy five-star luxury at three-star prices.

Pullman Bangkok Hotel G, Silom, 188 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500

T. +66 2238 1991. www.pullmanbangkokhotelG.com. 

Thai Airways International flies 40 times a week from Australia to Bangkok with connections domestic Thailand, Asia, India and Europe, South Africa and Los Angeles. For more information, quotes and bookings visit thaiairways.com.au.