We review the beautiful Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4, a green, serene oasis secreted amidst Bangkok’s towers of concrete that’s a great base in Bangkok with kids.
Our recent family holiday in Bangkok was full of unexpected surprises, not least of which was the brand new and boldly beautiful Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4, a green, serene oasis secreted amidst Bangkok’s towers of concrete, right in the heart of the bustling business and entertainment district.
The sleek, modern hotel is a brilliant choice for families with great facilities and spacious rooms, just a short walk from the Nana BTS SkyTrain station making it ideal for easily accessing the city’s popular attractions. They also offer an on-demand shuttle service which is great for those toting tots.
A stunning rooftop pool, kids menus, activities and more make staying at the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 with kids a dream.
But it is the VIP welcome from the amazingly friendly staff that takes this place to the next level for kids. Raffles and Sugarpuff feel like rock stars from the moment we are picked up from the cavernous Suvarnabhumi airport, after our Thai Airways flight and delivered into the waiting arms of the welcoming hotel staff who have many surprises in store.
Fab family accommodation at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
We’re escorted to our adjoining rooms, which are beautifully appointed and quite spacious by Bangkok standards. Both rooms offer exceptional city views, a chaise lounge and an ergonomic desk, and are still rocking that awesome “new car smell”. My Grand Deluxe room has a deliciously comfortable King size bed that I could happily spend the 24-hours curled up in, except I am here with children and that’s never going to happen. In fact, I’ll be lucky to nab 6 hours as no doubt one of them will insist on sleeping on top of me like a starfish.
Which is a shame as they have an equally spacious adjoining room of their own with twin beds, where two utterly gorgeous personalised bears are waiting. It’s a really special touch, and the kids are both chuffed.
With these for cuddly company their dreams will be even sweeter tonight, and I may even get through a whole night without a small foot jammed in my nostril.
Armed with their new cuddly bears, the kids leap on their beds like the loons they are. It’s a ritual and they assure me they are suitably bouncy, something they insist is of huge importance to young travellers.
It’s only when they are mid-air they notice the desk out of the corner of their eyes, piled high with fresh fruit and a massive moist chocolate cake, piles of macarons and little gold boxes of handmade chocolates that have been left by the hotel’s executive chef, Tony, as a welcome gift.
Not to mention a huge jar of home made chocolate chip cookies that a certain young lady seemed determined to empty during our stay!
Related: 39 things to do in Bangkok with kids
Kids cooking at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
The kids are both effusive with their thanks, when we head downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant, Food Exchange, to meet him later that day. Chef Tony has a special cooking class planed for my mini Masterchefs, and their eyes pop when they see their cooking space strewn with chocolate, candy and all kinds of fresh fruit.
First up its beverage training. Sugarpuff learns to make a chocolate Milkshake and though, at seven-years old, her yard is still blessedly empty of boys, it is all kind of delicious!
While she does the milkshake, Raffles gets his crepe on with the awesome Chef Tony and the banana, berry and chocolate stuffed result is a thing of sugary perfection.
Though not sugary enough to stop them sneaking back to steal a pile of gummy bears to go on top, with encouragement from the lovely staff, who seem happy to enable their sugar addiction.
Did I mention how nice their enablers are? Everyone here from the GM to the wait staff are super stars and treat the kids like old friends.
To say the kids love it is an understatement.
Art and about at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
We take a break from eating to explore the lovely modern art strewn hotel.
The hotel makes great use of the outdoors too, giving it a fresh and open feel. One of the loveliest spaces at the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 is a pretty rooftop garden that provides a refreshingly fresh splash of green amongst the city’s tangle of concrete and glass.
The kids frolic happily in the outdoor space, putting on a show for the folks doing their thing in the hotel’s state of art gymnasium, which overlooks it.
Ironically, my lazy arse tends to overlook gymnasiums, though this one is more inviting than most.
A feast of food at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
Come dinner time, we get to sample more of Chef Tony’s amazing culinary skills over dinner at Food Exchange, and I can tell you they are quite something! A little Thai, a little European and a whole lot of yum, the menu is fantastic. There’s an excellent kids’ menu and Sugarpuff happily devours fish and vegetables and an unbelievably good mushroom soup with dumplings.
Raffles joins me in sampling some of the house specials including a soft-shell crab curry that had us moaning in spice-infused delight, and giant and juicy grilled Tiger Prawns with gnocchi.
And because he clearly subscribes to the same theory as my children that too much sugar is never enough, Chef Tony sent out an extravagant rich chocolate and matcha dessert that the kids demolished in seconds.
Dinner done and Raffles and Sugarpuff insist we need to take a post dinner dip in the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4’s divine rooftop pool.
I immediately acquiesce, as there happens to be a perfectly lovely Vodka Bar (Bangkok’s only rooftop Vodka Bar) right next to it with my name all over it! Indeed, with 35+ unique vodka labels, I’m happy to stay a while.
Food Exchange proves itself a winner once more at breakfast. There’s a small but excellent buffet offering both Asian and Western selections. But when in Asia, Raffles likes to do as the locals do and he always chooses from the local offerings.
Although how many locals actually eat four serves of chicken curry at breakfast I’m not entirely sure. It’s quite extraordinary, and not a little nauseating, watching him pack it away, but in his gluttonous defence, the kid burns off so much energy, he’s usually hungry again before we even make it back to our room.
In the swim at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
The breakfast feast certainly fuels him up in readiness to head out and discover all the myriad things to do in Bangkok with kids. Raffles and Sugarpuff temple, tuk tuk and tear up the city until early afternoon when they announce their plans for the afternoon. Spoiler alert: They all revolve around the Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 pool and a constant stream of fruity mocktails.
Sounds like a genius plan to me.
Raffles ignores the sign telling him there’s no diving into the stunning roof top pool and launches himself into the water. “It doesn’t mention aerial manoeuvres” is his response when I point it out.
Water baby Sugarpuff is also in her element, splashing in the water to stop only when their drinks arrive.
And it is here they stay happily submerged for the rest of the day until we eat, sleep and repeat.
Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4
3 27 Sukhumvit 4
Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 2-6592888
Disclosure: While we were guests of Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 4, all pancake flipping, gym avoiding, pool immersion, vodka swilling and opinions are our own.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Aleney de Winter was fresh from school when she first set off to explore the far reaches of Australia with a two-man tent and a beaten-up Kingswood for company. Three decades, and two kids later, and she's still on the go, with her itchy-footed offspring in tow. 