iSanook Bangkok — a rooftop pool hotel in the Samyan backstreets, with hot tubs and city views from THB 2,300
If you want a Bangkok base in the Samyan–Si Phraya corridor — close to Chulalongkorn University, Sam Yan Mitrtown, and the Chinatown food circuit — with a rooftop pool thrown in, for well under THB 3,000 a night, iSanook Bangkok is a name that comes up again and again in genuine guest reviews. The hotel has been running since 2013 in a quiet residential lane off Si Phraya Road, in the Bang Rak district. It has 154 rooms, a rooftop outdoor pool with two hot tubs and panoramic Bangkok views, a gym, a shared kitchen and a free daytime shuttle to MRT Sam Yan and BTS Sala Daeng. Rates start from approx. THB 2,300/night, and it carries a score of 8.4 from 339 verified reviews on Booking.com — solid value-for-money numbers that are backed up by what guests actually say.
iSanook Bangkok opened in 2013 and sits on Soi Song Phra, a narrow residential lane off Si Phraya Road in the Maha Phruttharam sub-district of Bang Rak. It is not a hotel you stumble across — you choose it deliberately — and the guests who do tend to rate it highly because they know what they are coming for. The rooftop pool is the centrepiece: an outdoor lap pool flanked by two hot tubs, open to the Bangkok sky, with a cityscape you do not usually see at this price tier. Reviews mention early-morning sunrises and evening cocktail sessions on the roof as genuinely memorable.
The location places you between MRT Sam Yan (about 850 m, a 10-12 minute walk) and MRT Hua Lamphong (about 1.2 km), with the hotel's free shuttle bridging the gap during daylight hours. The shuttle runs from 09:00 to 17:00 and covers MRT Sam Yan, BTS Sala Daeng, Siam Square and Si Phraya Pier — four useful connections that make the slightly tucked-away address workable for most itineraries. Sam Yan Mitrtown, the modern neighbourhood mall with its famous 24-hour food market, is roughly 1 km away. Chinatown (Yaowarat), Silom and Sathon are all within a short taxi or MRT ride — the position works well as a central-Bangkok base for food and culture travellers.
"The rooftop pool is gorgeous — we caught the sunrise and had the hot tub entirely to ourselves. Room was surprisingly spacious, staff were brilliant. Incredible value for money."
The 154 rooms divide into several categories. The entry-level Eco Studio (around 20 sq m, two single beds) is the cheapest option, but a number of these sit on a basement level with limited natural light — a trade-off worth knowing about. The iSanook Studio (around 32 sq m, queen or twin configuration) is where most guests land, and the feedback here is consistently positive: rooms feel bigger than the price suggests, all come with a private balcony, a fridge, a flat-screen TV, Wi-Fi and a safe. The iSanook Suite (around 34 sq m, king bed) and the larger iSanook Suite Deluxe add more space and a proper sitting area, making them worthwhile for longer stays or couples wanting a little more comfort.
Beyond the pool and hot tubs, the amenity list is genuinely strong for a three-star property. There is a fitness centre, a shared kitchen (a real plus for long-stay travellers), a restaurant and bar, coin-operated laundry and a small co-working corner. Breakfast is a daily buffet (07:30-10:30), and while it is adequate, several reviewers describe it as limited in variety and repetitive after a few days — the Samyan street-food scene within walking distance is far more interesting for morning eaters. The hotel also offers free private parking, which is a notable extra in central Bangkok.
The honest picture includes a few friction points flagged by real guests. The lane into the hotel is narrow — some reviews mention that larger taxis cannot complete the turn, leaving guests to walk the last 150 metres from the mouth of the soi. Wi-Fi reportedly varies by room. Air conditioning has been called out for not being cold enough in a minority of reviews. There is also a THB 1,000 security deposit required at check-in, which surprises some guests — it is refunded at check-out, but worth knowing in advance. On the plus side, staff are praised in almost every review across all platforms — warmth, helpfulness and quick problem-solving come up again and again, and the service score of 9.1 reflects this consistently.
Practical notes from the review record: avoid the basement Eco Studios if natural light matters to you — the small price saving is not worth the enclosed feel. Book a Studio or Suite on a higher floor and the experience is markedly different. Maximise the free shuttle — it effectively covers the MRT access gap at no cost during the day. And if you are staying more than two or three nights, the shared kitchen changes the economics of the stay considerably. Overall, iSanook Bangkok occupies a genuine niche: a pool-and-gym hotel at a price most three-stars in Bangkok cannot match for amenities.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooftop pool with hot tubs and city views — rare at this price point
- ✓ Friendly, genuinely helpful staff praised in nearly every review
- ✓ Rooms are larger and cleaner than the price bracket suggests
- ✓ Shared kitchen is a real bonus for longer stays and self-caterers
- ! Narrow access lane — larger taxis may not reach the entrance directly
- ! Breakfast buffet is adequate but limited and repetitive after a few days
- ! THB 1,000 check-in deposit surprises some guests (refunded at check-out)
- ✓ Rooftop pool and hot tubs are the genuine highlight — multiple reviewers call them the best part of the stay
- ✓ Studio and Suite rooms feel spacious relative to what you pay
- ✓ Good base for Chinatown, Silom and Sathon exploration
- ✓ Free shuttle service to MRT and BTS actually works and saves money
- ! Eco Studio basement rooms have limited natural light
- ! Wi-Fi signal is inconsistent in some rooms
- ! MRT access is a 10-12 minute walk and the free shuttle is daytime-only
- 💡If natural light and an airy room matter to you — skip the basement Eco Studios; the small saving is not worth the enclosed feel. Book an iSanook Studio or Suite on a higher floor, where the balcony and natural light make a real difference.
- 💡If you need to use the MRT independently after 17:00 most evenings — the free shuttle only runs during the day, and the 10-12 minute walk can feel long in Bangkok's heat. Triple Y Hotel and dusitD2 Samyan are closer to MRT Sam Yan if that matters more to you.
- 💡If a good breakfast is important to your morning routine — the in-house buffet is functional but unremarkable. The Samyan street-food scene and Sam Yan Mitrtown's all-day market are better options, and they are within easy reach.