Shanghai Mansion Bangkok

Rooms

Shanghai Mansion Bangkok's charming rooms are spread across a number of floors. We stayed in a cosy Superior Room (Mei Hua, meaning ‘Plum Blossom’) which was decorated in a vibrant contemporary Chinese style, and had a carved wooden four-poster bed, silk cushions, a polished-concrete floor, brightly coloured rugs, and red and lilac painted walls.

Suites (Mu Dan) are bigger and feature a free-standing bathtub, a living area and a private terrace with a daybed. That extra space makes all the difference. Some overlook Chinatown’s main thoroughfare, and with that bustling view comes some traffic noise. Swing open red double doors and you'll find an open-concept bathroom with shower, large hanging lanterns and a birdcage sporting ornamental birds.

But our rooms of choice are the grand, romantic Deluxe (Ying Hua) ‘Cherry Blossom’ rooms, decorated in opulent '30s Shanghai style. Each has its own calligraphy sign above the door, a luxurious double bed and, their piece de resistance, a deep free-standing bathtub, as well as access to a shared terrace. The ones in front are somewhat exposed to noise from the restaurant. Those on the second floor surround a landscaped goldfish pond.

Most rooms look onto the hotel's interior atrium through stained-glass windows, and all feature a satellite TV, WiFi, a complimentary minibar (with beer, soft drinks and snacks), and tea-making facilities (Chinese tea, of course).

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Bathrobes
• Coffee / tea making
• DVD player
• Extra beds
• Hairdryer
• Minibar/fridge
• Phone
• Safe box
• Satellite TV
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

A morning buffet spread is provided in the Cotton Breakfast Restaurant, with its kitschy paintings of Jazz-era Chinese beauties and opulent fabrics. You get a mix of Western and Asian options on both the buffet and a la carte menu, including fresh fruit, cereal, yoghurt, pancakes, ham, toast, dim sum, tea and French press coffee.

Red Rose is open for lunch and dinner on the third floor. On offer is the usual mix of drinks, as well as a substantial Thai and Chinese menu; we wish we’d had the chance (or appetite) to try the deep-fried sea bass, sticky rice steamed with Chinese herbs and topped with crab meat, or deep-fried tofu infused with carrots, ginko and mushrooms. Meals are paired with Chinese whiskeys and crisp plum wine.

The Shanghai Terrace is a jazz lounge on an open air terrace overlooking Yaowarat Road. By day, enjoy refreshing drinks and watch the hubbub go by; by night a live jazz lineup entertains while you sip away into the night.

There’s a complimentary dim sum afternoon tea, served in the lobby lounge outside the rooms. Sample the selection of fresh fruit and Chinese teas; all of which is served up by friendly smiling old ladies who explained the difference between each pot of leaves - after an exhausting morning of shopping, it was a welcome break from the hustle and bustle outside.

Be sure to eat out while you're here as this area serves the full gamut of glutinous banquet food. Seafood lovers have only to walk a few paces to be sated beyond their wildest dreams. To your right are a number of popular seafood restaurants, but better still, turn into the soi (street) known as Soi Texas which has a popular market selling huge fresh prawns, sea bass and crabs - watch them sizzle over charcoal fires before tucking in. Be sure to try the suki (Thai hotpot with a dipping sauce) which is very good here, too. A string of restaurants on the main drag specialise in controversial dishes such as shark's fin and bird's nest soup (both in places open to the street and in more upmarket, indoor air-conditioned venues, with big, important cars parked outside), though these can be easily avoided. Street food vendors abound; noodles in the fruit market (100m away to the right) are excellent.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee / tea making
• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

Kids

Shanghai Mansion Bangkok welcomes all ages. Baby cots are free of charge, and extra beds incur an additional charge, however 1 child under 12 can stay in their parents' bed for free in all room types (breakfast is charged as extra). That said, the frenetic nature of Bangkok’s Chinatown is not the ideal place to bring kids.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Suites (Mu Dan) are best suited to families as they can fit 2 children in the existing beds (1 double and a day bed ), and the room can accommodate a further extra bed. The Deluxe (Ying Hua) can fit 1 child in the existing double bed as well as 1 additional rollaway bed. All can fit a baby cot.
Please state when enquiring if you would like your child to sleep in an extra bed or share your own bed.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Shanghai Mansion Bangkok is located in Bangkok's Chinatown district. It is 10 minutes' walk from Hua Lampong MRT and railways stations, a 5-minute drive from Hua Lumpong railway station and about 15 minutes by taxi from Siam Paragon and MBK Shopping Centres.

By Air:
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (25km) is the closest international airport, while Don Muang receives domestic flights. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The hotel can arrange a transfer from either airport - see Rates - or you can jump in a taxi. It's approximately an hour's drive, dependent on the heavy Bangkok traffic.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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