The Mustang Blu
721 Maitri Chit Rd., Bangkok, Bangkok, 10100, Thailand
Why We Like It
Artist/hotelier Ananda Chalardcharoen didn’t miss a beat when rescuing and reviving this 19th-century former bank building on a prominent corner in Chinatown. Mustang Blu debuted in 2021, and inside, it’s a bygone flea market fiesta, from artistically displays of antlers and animal bones, to faded oil paintings and antique books propped in corners. The iron staircase and the original vault doors are preserved, while guests find modern comfort in high-thread-count linens, clawfoot tubs, speedy WiFi, and beautiful Persian rugs.
Fodor's Expert Review
Welcome to a scene from Indiana Jones … or, perhaps, The Orient-Express. Welcome to a crumbling, old-world, spy-novel patina of a place; one that really sets a stage for immersing in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
In the 1800s, the building was a banking house, and the owners have restored well-loved hardwoods, faded plaster, and the iron staircase. They collected and added vintage sconces, glass-case antiquities, and taxidermy. The rooms make lovely use of teak and rattan, with antique shutters that open to dreamy vignettes of Bangkok’s bustling, colorful frenzy.
PROS
- Fabulous revamp of a historic building
- Many nearby attractions
- Location in the bustling heart of Chinatown
CONS
- No room service
- Noise and/or mosquitos, depending on the season
- Not ADA compliant
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Room
A mere 10 suites means the Mustang is not only genuinely boutique, but also frequently sold out. Each suite offers a slightly different layout. Gazing up, one studies time’s artistry in a canvas of mottled, crumbling concrete, dreamily patched and painted in places. Small, indoor palms sprout from brass planters. Behind the bed, a vintage card catalog acts as a headboard in one room, while in another, a glass case is decorated with weathered books. Your suite might have a moose rack, a petite balcony, and/or a soaking tub. Regardless, all are lovely and quite large.
Bathroom
The bathroom is a beautiful downside of staying at Mustang Blu. If you’re solo, you’ll find no privacy issue, but with a friend rather than a very close partner, you might have humorous (or downright awkward) moments. Your tub may be inside the bedroom. Meaning: one person is watching a Nicolas Cage movie, and the other might be … bathing? Indeed. For this writer, our bathroom had a thick drapery instead of an actual door (why, we ask?), and the floors of the bathrooms are a slick marble. Due to the open design, the shower has no real separation from the rest of the space. Everything gets wet. It was like ice-skating to get out to the main suite. Elderly people and those with ADA requirements or balance issues would experience real issues here.
Lobby
Undeniably hipster, check-in happens at a huge, antique wooden counter. Opposite, there is a glass case with a taxidermy horse, attached by a lead line to a stack of old books. There are a few scattered chairs, but, while the lobby is visually interesting, it’s only a space for checking in or out. The front desk staff leans into the hipster, artistic vibe. Friendly, but not overly so. Unhurried and purposefully chill.
Dining
You enter the hotel via Mustang Blu’s main floor cafe. The building has had its fair share of tenants in its century-plus year history, from a financial center to a massage parlor to a hospital. Today, it’s famous for Instagram, thanks to that outrageously beautiful, bygone design. Your light comes courtesy of vintage, green-glass banker’s lamps placed upon the iron staircase, and via candles, dripping mounds of wax onto tables.
There are colorful teas and garish cocktails with big garnishes, and a huge menu of dishes, from creative pastries to Chinese-influenced creations, as well as Western options like arugula with feta or oysters. The fare is possibly more memorable for artistic presentation than for flavor. For true Bangkok culinary talent? Simply step beyond the heavy doors into the humid chaos of Chinatown proper and snag a curbside plastic stool.
Drinking
The cafe menus are visually interesting, with big photos of creative drinks, both boozy and non, like the iced coffee, shown with a towering layer of foam and sprinkles of spices, and the Space Oddity Latte, with lavender infusion. That lilac libation comes with a side carafe set, and you play mixologist yourself.
You Should Know Chinatown can cause sensory overload. In the daytime, the covered outdoor market of Sampeng Lane is alive with locals buying and selling everything from lightbulbs to toys, woks to pajamas, plants to jewelry. At night, the neon signs come on, and the neighborhood is bathed in colorful light, including the red of brake lights, as vehicles fight terrible traffic. It’s a party scene, to be sure. If you are at all sensitive to loud noises, chaotic crowds, the frenzy of hawkers, or blinking lights, Chinatown might be better for visiting and not your base in the city.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
There is no better hotel from which to explore Chinatown, as you step out just a block from the main throughfare of Yoawarat Road, with its iconic, towering neon signs and fascinating street food scene. It’s advisable to explore Chinatown on foot, as it’s flat, condensed, and traffic is frequently very congested. You can also connect to the rest of the city via the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) train at the Wat Mangkon station. Cabs and the city’s iconic tuk tuk rickshaws are also plentiful. From the hotel, it’s a 20-minute, flat walk to the Ratchawong ferry stop, to board a public water taxi for as little as 20 Baht, or 60 cents, USD.
Restaurants
Chinatown is one of the ultimate neighborhoods for sampling Bangkok’s famous street food, particularly along Yaowarat Road, and the side arteries sprouting from it. You’ll find Thai and Chinese creations, from roasted duck in fragrant sauce to chili-laden oyster omelets to pillowy Pa Tong Go––Thailand’s deep-fried donut. Dozens of carts set up at sunset along the sidewalks, with plastic stools and tables for quick, lively meals. For a slightly more-formal experience, Ba Hao is dreamy, with red lighting, carved wood, tiny tables and shareable bites like sesame buns and caramelized pork belly. For a truly formal experience, make a reservation at Potong––housed in a former apothecary––where exquisite, Chinese gastronomy comes courtesy of multi-award-winning chef, Pam Utharntharm.
Bars
A small side street in Thailand is called a ‘soi.’ Every Chinatown stay should include drinks over on Soi Nana, a little laneway that’s become a nexus for craft mixology. There are a handful of colorful bars on the street, many of which have taken home top awards at global competitions. Wander in Teens of Thailand, Tep Bar, Asia Today or sip a craft beer over Pijui.
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