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Fodor's Expert Review First House Bangkok Hotel

Name: First House Bangkok Hotel
Address: 14/20–29 New Phetchburi Rd., Soi 19, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
Telephone: 02-254–0300
Price range: $$

14/20–29 New Phetchburi Rd., Soi 19, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand See on Map

Paul Feinstein

This cheap, boutique hotel is very short on amenities, but long on location. You won’t find a gym or spa, or even much to eat or drink, but in the immediate vicinity are incredible open markets, big malls, dozens of bars and restaurants, and lots of sightseeing and people-watching.

room

They may be hard to find, with elevators going every which way and mazes of hallways. But once you do get there, the rooms are clean, with hardwood floors, black and white checked pillows that match the bathroom tile, and equipped with coffee and tea makers, and free water.

bathroom

The minuscule bathrooms are simply an extension of the bedroom and have black and white tile, and snug, curtained off showers that border the toilet.

lobby

The lobby is a bustling zone but not a hangout. Throughout the day, you’ll find large tour groups and budget-conscious backpackers moving in and out. It’s also incredibly hot--you won’t want to linger here.

dining

Some of the rooms come with a complimentary breakfast, but it’s not much to write about, and honestly, not worth spending extra on if there’s an option. You’re better off finding restaurants in the surrounding area.

LOCATION

Getting Around

You’ll be walking a lot in this area, but if you want to get to other parts of the city, you’ll need to catch a cab or tuk-tuk. Traffic is always a problem, so you may want to walk to the Siam or Chit Lom BTS Skytrain stations that are 15-20 minutes away.

Restaurants

If you have a hankering for Italian, head down to the Grand Hyatt Erawan where Spasso (15-minute walk) has oodles of noodles to choose from. If Spanish food is more your thing, check out Uno Mas (10-minute walk) on the 54^th floor of the Centara Grand at CentralWorld.

Bars

Also at the Centara Grand is Red Sky (10-minute walk), an epic rooftop joint with incredible cocktails. For a refined drinking experience with a well-heeled crowd, go to Hanuman (10-minute walk) inside the Siam Kempinski Hotel.

WHY WE LIKE IT

There’s not a whole lot to love here beyond the location. Fortunately, you get what you pay for, and that’s a clean room with all the basic services. What you really get for your money is the location and easy access to endless shopping outlets, dozens of bars and restaurants, and a snapshot of Bangkok’s chaos in full effect.