Towering Retreat from the Heat
April in Bangkok is hot. Really hot. Hottest month of the year. Average temperatures range from 35 degrees to much higher. During my Easter weekend visit to Bangkok, I started sweating as soon as I stepped outdoors.
When it’s this hot, a Bangkok hotel isn’t just a retreat. It’s a retreat from the heat. INNSiDE by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit is certainly that.
Soothing grey and white décor enlivens both bold and tiny touches
It wasn’t just the air conditioning that was cool. So was INNSiDE by Melia’s seemingly heat-reducing grey and white color scheme with art and design elements that featured different parts of Bangkok life, from the spires of its temples to its dragon boats to the iconic Wat Arun. Even the stairs took center stage in the hotel’s visual palette, caterpillar-like coils that transported you from one all-encompassing space to another.
The compact INNSiDE rooms feature an innovative design with the sink in the center of the room, an island to refresh yourself after a long day, and refine yourself before going out.
The larger Townhouse rooms offer a tub to soak away the heat with a rubber ducky to set afloat on your bath.
What lifts any hotel experience is attention to the smallest details. Bathrobes are folded like origami with cloth. Towels look almost zen-like in the way that they are stacked. Feeling thirsty after your foray into the heat? All the drinks in the minibar are complimentary.
Embrace Bangkok while the hotel embraces you
Feeling cool finally, I sank into a soft sofa to enjoy The Open Living Lobby while sipping an exquisitely prepared cappuccino. The glass walls invited reams of light and Bangkok’s organized chaos to enter the spacious, airy area. I could see the snaking Chao Phraya River continue its journey to the Gulf of Thailand. The hotel virtually hovers above the BTS Sukhumvit line, trains sliding to and fro.
A meeting room right off the lobby seemed perfect for inspirational offsite sessions. Bright ideas emanate from bright spaces.
A floor below the lobby is the all-day The Kites Eatery with two-story high windows and a wraparound view of Bangkok.
Bangkok’s only Spanish Tapas Skybar
Bangkok is famous for its skybars. Tropical weather and panoramic city views lend themselves to drinks atop tall buildings. INNSiDE by Melia’s Luz Bangkok Tapas Bar belongs in that esteemed skybar list and is the only one focused on authentic Spanish tapas.
From a corner table on the outdoor terrace, not far from the surreal-looking glowing blue bar counter, I started my long, leisurely culinary journey around Spain. I kicked off the meal with a Tinto Sour. Bourbon, red wine, lemon, Sea-Buckthorn-Rooibos honey, egg white, and Angostura bitters. A concoction that you would practically need a PhD to create certainly lifted my mood.
The warm breeze wafting across the bar, tinkling lights below, certainly offered an experience that was very much Bangkok but also not unlike summer in southern Spain.
The parade of Spanish tapas from the kitchen of Chef Juan Ignacio Garcia was one delectable treat after another.
The Salmorejo y Burrata from Cordoba combined creamy burrata with slices of avocado and anchovies, in a cold tomato soup with toasted bread to dip into it. The right cool delight for a hot night.
Las Croquetas with Iberian Ham is a classic Spanish tapas, the ham atop crispy, creamy fritters containing béchamel sauce, onions, flour, and milk. So rich and indulgent, I literally couldn’t finish all of it.
Tacos de Rabo de Toro, from Andalusia, had braised Australian oxtail in red wine with Idiazabal cheese served in soft tortillas with onions and cilantro.
One of my favorite tapas was served next: Gambas Al Ajillo, a classic dish with shrimp cooked with chili and garlic olive oil.
The last of the dishes was Cachopo, from Asturias. Tenderloin steak stuffed with Cecina and cheese and coated in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs. Piquillo peppers and French fries were on the side. At this point, I was so full, I couldn’t finish all of it.
Dessert was an indulgent Tarta de Queso, a Basque cheesecake with Biscoff.
After finishing most of the meal, I stared out at Bangkok, the city’s manic vibrancy subdued by the time it reached the bar on the 33rd floor.
Plunge into a Cool Blue Pool
When it’s hot, really hot, I’ve always felt a night swim beats a day swim. You don’t start sweating the moment you depart the pool. INNSiDE by Melia’s pool lends itself to a refreshing night swim. Located on the 34th floor, you can linger in the infinity pool with its transparent walls while gazing upon the sparkling city lights below. Hovering above the pool is a design interpretation of The Giant Swing that frames it and the city.
Bangkok’s best shopping, sites, sips, and savors are easy to get to
Your location in Bangkok can make the difference between enjoying the city or not. INNSiDE by Melia is a mere five-minute walk from the On Nut BTS Station. It’s just two stops away from one of Bangkok’s trendiest neighborhoods, Ekkamai, filled with upscale bars and restaurants. The rest of the city is an easy BTS ride away. Phrom Phong and Siam stations are linked to some of Bangkok’s and Asia’s most luxurious malls. You can also visit downtown Bangkok and its fabulous sites via the MRT Sukhumvit Station, which is connected to the Asok BTS station.
Award-winning hotel to treat yourself to a cool retreat
INNSiDE by Melia has received many accolades. 2025’s Trip.Com’s Instagrammable Hotel and 2024’s Agoda Gold Circle Winner. In the 2025 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, it was ranked 4th best in Thailand. Plus, it received awards from the National Geographic Traveler, Destination Deluxe, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, and Luxury Lifestyle Awards. Treating yourself to a cool retreat at the award-winning INNSiDE by Melia Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel is a chill way to beat the heat.
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