Ariyasom Villa

Ariyasom Villa is a boutique hotel built around a family villa from the 1940s at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 1, one of the busiest stretches of central Bangkok. The original house was carefully restored by the family that owns it and extended into a small hotel set in a tropical garden, and the result is a quiet, green retreat only a few minutes' walk from the shopping centres and BTS stations of Sukhumvit and Ploenchit. Old and reproduction teak furniture and Thai silk curtains give the rooms a warm, traditional character.

There are 24 rooms over four floors. Ten Studio rooms of 34 square metres and eight Deluxe rooms of 42 square metres make up most of the inventory, with three Executive Deluxe rooms and three Executive Suites of 60 and 70 square metres for anyone wanting more space. Beds are twin or king-size. The saltwater swimming pool, a little under 25 metres long, sits among the gardens with a jacuzzi alongside. The hotel's restaurant, Na Aroon, serves vegetarian and seafood dishes but no meat, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Som Sen Spa, open from 10:00 to 20:00, offers Thai massage, including hot herbal compress treatments, and there is a library and a meditation hall.

Check-in is at 14:00 and check-out at noon. Parking is free on site, with complimentary valet parking, and the hotel can arrange a limousine transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport, about 29 kilometres away, for a fee. Babysitting is available on request. Pets are not allowed. Book directly by email through the contact details on the official website.

Ariyasom suits couples and travellers who want character and calm in the city centre, as well as vegetarians and anyone interested in wellness. Families are welcome. Rates are mid-range to upper mid-range, reflecting the small size and personal service.

The villa is at 65 Sukhumvit Soi 1 in Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana. Ploenchit and Nana BTS stations are around ten minutes' walk away, and the Saen Saep canal boats, which stop near the end of the soi, offer a quick ride west towards Pratunam and the old town. The restaurants and bars of lower Sukhumvit and the shopping centres of Ploenchit and Chit Lom are within walking distance.