TenFace Boutique Hotel In Bangkok, Thailand

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Tenface Boutique Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand

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When developer Thongchai Busrapan created his Playground complex on Thonglor several years ago he put together a futuristic vision of the shopping mall as a place to shop, play and relax. Now, however, in his latest project he’s turned to the past for inspiration, drawing on the ancient Thai fantasy tale of Ramakien with its ten-faced giant Tosakan.

Thus his new service apartment/hotel is named TENFACE, and is located on Soi Ruamrudee in Bangkok. It ambitiously aims to embody the essence of Tosakan by fusing passion with wit and achieving the pinnacle of knowledge. This basic lust for life and devotion to knowledge provides the basic philosophy of Ten Face, underscoring all of the facility’s services and amenities.

Comprised of 79 one- and two-bedroom suites in two separate buildings, Ten Face offers guests a restful, luxurious stay whether they are there for one night or one year. The décor and architectural design seem to have been conceived primarily to soothe and pamper guests while evoking the feeling of the ancient fantasy that inspired its creation.

Understated elegance combined with attention to detail gives guests a different feeling than most other buildings of its kind. There are no large, open airy spaces. Carpeting mutes sounds and dark walls alternating with lighter colored art panels provide interesting counterpoints of feeling. Artwork abounds throughout, highlighted by a wire sculpture of a mythical snake adorning one wall of a restaurant dining room. 

The guest rooms vary in their décor depending on size. The two-bedroom units, designed more for long-stay guests, feature hardwood floors instead of carpeting and complete kitchen facilities including dishes and silverware and also a washer/dryer unit and a dishwasher. The one-bedroom suites are similar to upscale hotel rooms with all of the amenities you would expect in a five-star establishment. However, the one-bedroom units are an enormous 61 square meters, larger than any rooms we’ve seen in Bangkok that are comparably priced (currently 3,700 baht/night) and the two-bedroom suites range from 110 to 125 square meters (6-6,800 baht/night), also representing a great value.

There are three different color schemes for the guest rooms – red, yellow or white – and the above-mentioned amenities include flat screen TVs with cable channels and free wifi internet throughout the buildings.

It’s not just the rooms that will please guests, either, as the public areas of TENFACE are equally appealing. On the main floor there is a bar/lounge area and a restaurant with three different seating areas. The Sita Bar, named after the legendary beauty of the maiden Sita in the myth, provides guests with a hip gathering space that is highlighted by its metallic wire design elements. The bar is looked over by Pipek, the resident concierge, DJ and entertainment guru, who is named after the estranged brother of the giant Tosakan.

The mythical Pipek was an excellent astrologist who provided valuable information to those around him and it’s the responsibility of the modern-day Pipek as well. Pipek helps guests to enhance their TENFACE experience by knowing all of the right people and the cool places in the urban jungle of Bangkok. He can put people on all the right guest lists if they want to go out or guide them through the in-house entertainment service if they want to stay in, including the specialized VDO podcasts about Bangkok.

And if guests want to stay in the hotel for dining, they can enjoy the fusion cuisine that is served in the Wanara eatery. The chef combines traditional Thai recipes with classic western-style food resulting in novel dishes that are delicious and meticulously presented. Examples include the starter of foie gras, cooked perfectly by the way, with Thai sausage and the garlic fried rice with tenderloin tips and slices.

Also impressive is the tenderloin entrée with, again, foie gras and the roasted snowfish wrapped in bacon. The presentations are equally appealing, and the overall style of the chef harmonizes completely with the philosophy of TENFACE: unpretentious excellence with a touch of the unusual. The menu has great variety, with dishes ranging from Thai fried rice creations to classic western entrees like the above-mentioned tenderloin with foie gras. There’s a tom yum seafood dish and a river shrimp dish also, as a counterpoint, perhaps, to a club sandwich and a burger. Anyone should be able to find something they like as well as being unique to their own dining experiences. 

So in a modern world that moves ever faster and is based on always-changing standards, it’s reassuring to know that there are still some places that offer an alternative. TENFACE draws upon traditional principles, mixes in a little fantasy and offers its guests a unique experience, one that’s a little less ordinary.

See http://thaihotels.ning.com/profiles/blog/list for info on hotels and travel destinations in Thailand.