With a great location, comfortable rooms and excellent service, the Hua Chang Heritage Hotel ticks most of the boxes I look for in a hotel. Located a short stroll away from the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, this is chic and contemporary accommodation with a distinct Thai twist.
Rooms
The Hua Chang Heritage Hotel has 80 rooms spread over 7 floors. With a mix of glitz, function and design, the rooms are anything but staid. Some of the quirkier aspects of the decor might not appeal to everybody, but work well in the context of this boutique hotel. An iPad-style control panel, hidden discretely away in a bedside drawer, controls the room lighting and air-conditioning. I wasn’t sure about this feature at first and yearned for the simplicity of turning a light switch on and off, but after a while this hi-tech solution began to grow on me. Clever design features maximise space with sliding wall panels enabling the bathroom to be open-plan or hidden away depending on your preference.
The name ‘Hua Chang’ means ‘elephant head’ and refers to the nearby Saphan Hua Chang (Elephant’s Head Bridge). Guests will see the hotel’s distinctive elephant head logo on bath towels and dressing gowns.
Facilities
The mix of period and contemporary features works well and the concept of having private butlers wearing traditional-style costumes to look after guests is a nice touch. I didn’t use the pool, but it looked inviting and with a swim-up bar and tranquil environment would be a place I’d be happy to relax after a day’s sightseeing in Bangkok.
Breakfast can be eaten inside the dining area or al-fresco looking out onto the pool and tropical garden. I thought the breakfast offerings were very good with a mix of Asian and Western dishes to set you up for the day. I had lunch here on the afternoon I arrived (fried rice with shrimp and chicken soup) and it was excellent. Obviously not as cheap as eating at a hawker stall, but more than reasonable by hotel standards with the presentation of the dish and garden surroundings making it a very enjoyable meal. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, there are often promotions for lunchtime dining which are worth checking out.
The only minor issue I had was the in-room wi-fi connection which was patchy on the first night I was there, but the problem rectified itself the next day.
Insider tip:
The Wendy Guest House is located in the same lane (Soi Kasemsan 1) as the Hua Chang Heritage. Approximately 20 metres up from Wendy House there is usually a fruit vendor who sells delicious coconuts and juice. Continue walking towards the National Stadium and MBK shopping mall and when you reach the main road turn right and right again into Kasemsan Soi 2 for Jim Thompson’s House.
Location
The Hua Chang Heritage is in an ideal location for exploring Bangkok. The Skytrain, Jim Thompson’s House, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and the central Siam shopping area are all within a comfortable 5-10 minute walking radius. To see a slice of local life, catch a canal boat taxi from Hua Chang Bridge (1 minute walk away) and take the 10-minute journey along the Saen Saep Canal to Wat Saket (the Golden Mount).
Summary
Hua Chang Heritage Hotel is an excellent choice whether you’re a first-time visitor to Bangkok or a frequent traveller to the Thai capital. A mix of classic elegance, charm and contemporary styling made for a thoroughly enjoyable 2-night stay.
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I was a guest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for my 2-night stay at this hotel.
