Emerald Hotel Bangkok

“Comfortable beds, big rooms, good breakfast but just a bit outdated ”

This hotel has really big rooms, soft comfortable beds, they offer a great breakfast but the hotel is a bit outdated being so old so the rooms are a bit old. Other than that convenient location and friendly staff. Coffee isn't the greatest bit that pretty much is standard all over Bangkok unless yo… more

This hotel has really big rooms, soft comfortable beds, they offer a great breakfast but the hotel is a bit outdated being so old so the rooms are a bit old. Other than that convenient location and friendly staff. Coffee isn't the greatest bit that pretty much is standard all over Bangkok unless you go to a barista coffee place.

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“A once grand old Bangkok glory hotel in need of a major refurbishment. Still has some charm.”

The Emerald Hotel, still standing, still the same old, once glorious, very solid, 1970’s styled rock of a rather inglorious & somewhat tired grand old lady of an hotel. That said, still has some of the old charms & still has her solid chunky marble bathrooms & sturdy wooden fit out. Plenty of swe… more

The Emerald Hotel, still standing, still the same old, once glorious, very solid, 1970’s styled rock of a rather inglorious & somewhat tired grand old lady of an hotel. That said, still has some of the old charms & still has her solid chunky marble bathrooms & sturdy wooden fit out. Plenty of sweeping marble floors & quality public areas including well laid out & fitted out washrooms. Definitely worth taking the larger dual stand alone shower / bathtub twin chaired larger work desk bigger rooms in the rear building, in the same tower as the 15th floor swimming pool & 11th floor gym. The pool only gets sunshine from dawn until just after midday! After 1200 or very latest 1300 the sun is blocked out by the towering hotel block in front & so the pool actually sits in the shade for most of the day. The gym is positively archaic with the same 1970’s / 1980’s Maxicam resistance equipment in the same Naugahyde turquoise upholstery & nothing has changed in the last 30 years when I first stayed in the hotel. Give that old equipment it’s due, you can smash yourself a workout on that kit! But my goodness it makes one chuckle to think how long it’s been in service. Probably state of the art for 1980’s gym gear but absolutely archaic in 2025. No working AC in the gym didn’t help matters the any. The cardio equipment is more modern & in a separate room which has decent working AC. Great to see the trusty old squash court still standing proudly, further along a group fitness room & of course a grand snooker table in its own swanky member’s room. Showers & changing rooms the same. The hotel is a convenient 7-10 minute walk from Huai Kwang MRT diagonally opposite the newer more impressive Swissotel. The public areas, restaurants, especially the specialist Chinese restaurant are quality. Plenty of functions in the hotel too. On days when the hotel has lower occupancy the staff are under a great deal less pressure & afford guests more time & bigger smiles. Large comfortable beds, with good quality bed linen & comfortable soft & firmer pillows large bathrooms, nice fluffy white towels, bath robes that fit all sizes & plenty of wardrobe space. The furniture & furnishings are old as are the soft furnishings & the hotel would benefit greatly from a complete refurbishment & a decent makeover. Until that happens the hotel remains a solid 3.5 star in the old framework of a once rather decent 5 star. Until that happens one should seek to pay no more than US$35 to $45 per night, room only. The more standard tariffs north of US$75 & often $90 per room night would seem rather poor value to me. The hotel still offers good 5* service like complimentary luggage storage between stays if travelling to other Thai destinations. A tad pricy for ice in your room at a quoted 170THB for a bucket of ice. Then again, large blocks of ice did arrive in a nicely polished silver ice bucket. The staff are welcoming & helpful, especially the smiling bell hops, doormen, concierge & swimming pool attendants. Receptionists helpful though under pressure on busy days over the Chinese New Year week & so more amenable on quieter room nights of lower occupancy. Would be great to see the old Emerald Hotel given a bit of TLC & restored to her once grander days of Bangkok celebrity.

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