If you’re researching places to stay in Bangkok, chances are you’ve come across the Kimpton Maa-Lai. It’s one of Bangkok’s newest hotel openings, and is an anchor establishment in Langsuan’s swanky new Sindhorn Village development. It’s location is just a stone’s throw away from some of the cities top bars and restaurants, and a short journey from the main tourist attraction.
I spent an extended time staying at the Kimpton Maa-Lai back in January with my boyfriend while he worked remotely and I visited my family. We spent a lot of time at the hotel, enjoying the amenities such as the tree-top infinity pool, lush gardens, art collection, and lounge spaces.
It was one of the most beautiful and verdant urban hotels I’ve experienced. But more than the space itself, the attention to detail by every member of staff was truly what made the experience memorable.
So if you’re considering the Kimpton Maa-Lai while you’re visiting Bangkok, I’m giving you my full experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Kimpton Maa-Lai
When Did The Hotel Open?
Kimpton Maa-Lai opened in September of 2020. Due to the downturn in tourism and guests traveling through, the hotel still felt sparkling new when I visited in January of 2022.
Is The Kimpton Maa-Lai Part Of A Hotel Group?
Yes, the hotel is part of the Kimpton Group, which at one point was the largest hotel group stateside. It was acquired by IHG in 2014, which is when they began opening international destinations.
Is The Hotel Dog Friendly?
Yes – probably the most dog friendly hotel I’ve ever been to! We saw cats, parrots, an iguana, and more dogs than a dog park. There’s no charge to bring a pet regardless of the weight or breed, and they’ll provide you with everything from pet strollers.
Is The Hotel Family Friendly?
The hotel has all the accommodations a family could need and I saw several young families during my stay.
Is The Hotel Accessible?
I noticed that hotel was fabulously built with smooth transition and large turn radiuses to accommodate people with a range differing physical abilities, and (most importantly) a staff that is extremely attentive and accommodating.
Location Of The Kimpton Maa-Lai
The hotel is located within the leafy new Sindhorn Village development in the well-heeled neighbourhood of Langsuan, known for its trendy restaurants and sprawling embassies. It’s a stone’s through from Lumphini Park and literally adjacent to the immaculately landscaped Sindhorn Park, which keeps the area noticeably cooler than other parts of the city.
A short meander through the park will bring you to the design-forward outdoor lifestyle mall, brimming with some of the city’s trendiest boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants. It was about a twenty to thirty minute journey to most of the main tourist attractions, mindful of rush hour.
Amenities At The Kimpton Maa-Lai
Bars & Restaurants
There are tons of dining options at the hotel, all of which are very popular with locals and will be difficult to get into without a reservation! Stock.Room is what the hotel refers to as the neighbourhood grocerant, and is where breakfast is served during the morning before turning into a general restaurant and cooking school during the day. The buffet breakfast each morning here was divine, serving everything from acai bowls and ginger shots to fried morning glory and international curries.
Craft is their pet-friendly cafe and bar that begins in the lobby and extends out into the waterside patio area – this was constantly buzzing with energy and full of young, beautiful Bangkokkers having brunch with their dogs.
Bar.Yard is their rooftop bar and restaurant with gorgeous views over the city that serves Mexican inspired farm-to-table dishes. It regularly hosts great djs and can get quite busy in the evenings. Lastly, Ms Jigger is a swanky little Italian restaurant and cocktail bar that you’ll want to dress up for.
Spa & Fitness
The fitness facilities at the Kimpton Maa-Lai were extremely comprehensive. Every room is stocked with its own yoga mat, and there is a small yoga studio located near the pool.
The main gym had every aerobic machine and weight you could dream of, in addition to an entire section dedicated to Thai boxing and a rock climbing wall. The front desk also provided a special map with their recommended running and cycling routes nearby.
The on-site Amaranth Spa is created in collaboration with HARNN, focusing on eastern practices and organic ingredients. The spa aims to fuse ancient wisdom with modern techniques, and attempts to engage each of the five senses in every treatment.
Concierge
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the concierge team at the Kimpton Maa-Lai is the best I’ve ever encountered in my life. Two experiences particularly stand out – I had forgotten to bring a rather unique medicine from the states, and the team not only called around a dozen doctors on a holiday for me, but also arranged courier service for its delivery.
Later, our reservation for Suhring was cancelled at the last minute due to a covid outbreak in the kitchen. The team at the front desk gave us recommendations for several up and coming places, and even managed to snag us a chefs table seating.
The Rooms At The Kimpton Maa-Lai
The accommodations at the Kimpton Maa-Lai are divided into three categories; specialty suites, guest rooms, and accessible deluxe.
Each of the rooms in the hotel, starting with the most basic Essential Room, are provided with Dyson hair dryers, yoga mats, Nespresso machines, HARNN toiletries, and silk robes designed bespoke for the hotel by Christian Develter.
I chose to stay in the Junior Suite, part of the specialty suites category, and I was so pleased with the decor and layout. It is incredibly spacious – we had a separate living area, our own walk in closet, and a huge private balcony overlooking the park.
The giant tub was great for soaking in after a long day of walking around the city, and we loved waking up each morning to light filled city views from our corner room.
We enjoyed having a separate living and dining area so that we could order room service and enjoy a sit down meal without all the hustle and bustle of going out into the city. When we requested laundry services, all of our clothes came back immaculately pressed and hung in the closets.
And, if there was anything I didn’t pack (a curling iron, for instance), concierge was always able to magically source whatever it was to bring it up to our room. Coming back to our room each day honestly felt like coming home. Overall, the category was well worth the room upgrade for the extra square footage and special design touches.
Overall
I definitely recommend staying at the Kimpton Maa-Lai if you’re visiting Bangkok. To be honest, I’ve stayed at other hotels in the city, and this is the only one I want to return to. The buzzy energy is contaigous, the staff have a phenomenal attention to detail, the amenities are phenomenal, and the leafy location in Langsuan is perfect for me.
The only downside to the hotel is that it is extremely popular with locals, meaning it gets quite a bit more foot traffic than most other luxury hotels. If you’re looking for something a little more quiet, I’d recommend its sister property right next door, the Sindhorn Kempinski.
