Ibrik Resort by the River

In Bangkok's most Bohemian quarter and as close to the Chao Phraya river as can be, a tiny, eccentric, cottage-tastic hideaway

On the banks of the olde-worlde Thonburi side of Bangkok, Ibrik River (as opposed to Ibrik City) is not an easy hotel to find. It is tucked between the Patravadi Theatre's Studio 9 eatery, and a town- house which I initially thought was the hotel. But, once you've found the small white gate, darted down the narrow path into a little garden and entered their demure café/lobby, you realise that you’ve stumbled upon a rather special, idiosyncratic hidey-home in Bangkok’s most Bohemian spot.

One of the first boutiques to open in 2004, this petite gem – white, clean-lined and filled with dappled light and breeze – is a triumph of understatement: polished concrete floors, contemporary bathrooms, grandma’s attic furniture. The lobby (lounge area, TV, newspapers, shelf of discarded books) and café area (a bistro-type bar with coffee machine, plus cake on demand) form the only public areas, but guests at this three-room hotel will probably be quite happy on their riverside balconies when not out exploring the city.

Highs

• Ibrik is hard to fault for its charm – it's a haven for the weary tourist, and the lazy river becomes a moat keeping the chaos of the metropolis at bay
• The ground-floor, twin-bedded River Room offers the best Wind-in-the-Willows ambience
• Walk a few steps, and enter a zero-tourist-in-sight clothes market area; this is the real Bangkok
• Taking river transport rather than taxis is a great way to get around Bangkok (though water taxis stop around 9pm)
• Friendly staff (though English can be limited)

Lows

• Apart from breakfast and coffee, there are no in-house dining options (however, there are good restaurants nearby)
• On Friday and Saturday nights, a newly-opened bar/restaurant next door has a live band which is apparently audible until 11pm
• The noise coming off the river can be just as effective as an alarm clock
• Not the most convenient location, it's across the river to most sites (including the Grand Palace); and not suited to those with mobility issues due to all the river taxis you'll be taking
• In the rainy season (July-October) the boat trip across the river becomes less romantic