The Salil Thonglor — a British-style boutique in the heart of Bangkok's most stylish district
Step into Soi Sukhumvit 57, just a few steps from BTS Thong Lo, and you find a white building dressed in vintage British detail — The Salil Hotel Sukhumvit 57 - Thonglor, a boutique that blends English-colonial atmosphere with a contemporary edge. Opened in 2017 with 130 rooms, a Mariage Frères tea room and a rooftop pool people love to photograph, it sits right in Thonglor, one of the city's most fashionable neighbourhoods for food and cafés. Rooms start from approx. THB 2,800/night, with a score of 8.9 from 1,214 reviews on Trip.com.
The Salil Thonglor positioned itself as a 'lifestyle' hotel from the start, and what people remember most is its carefully detailed vintage-British design — floral wallpaper, dark wood furniture, brass lamps and corners that look like they belong in a London townhouse. It has been open since 2017 but remains well kept, and is one of the boutiques that comes up most often when people think of where to stay in Thonglor.
Its 130 rooms start with the Premier Room at around 30 sqm and rise to the 45 sqm Living Suite — nearly all of them have a fridge and a small kitchenette, handy for longer stays or for bringing snacks back to the room. Many reviews say the rooms are larger than expected for the price and the beds comfortable. A recurring note is that some rooms are starting to show wear and the décor leans classic compared with newer boutiques.
"The room was just as pretty as the photos, every corner is a photo op, the staff were lovely, and BTS Thong Lo is a few minutes' walk — great value for what we paid."
The part reviews mention most is the rooftop pool on the 8th floor, with views over Thonglor. It isn't large, but the atmosphere is lovely for an evening dip and photos. Downstairs there's Bar Storia del Café serving coffee and all-day dining, a Mariage Frères tea room from the famous French tea house, and a small garden, The Secret Garden, used as a chill-out corner. Breakfast is praised for its variety and the café's atmosphere.
The real draw here is the location in the heart of Thonglor — out of Soi Sukhumvit 57, it's under a 5-minute walk to BTS Thong Lo, and all around are the restaurants, cafés, bars and community malls that make this one of Bangkok's most popular neighbourhoods. Anyone who loves to eat and go out at night will have a great time without needing to travel far. For Siam or Asok, it's just a few BTS stops away.
To be honest, The Salil Thonglor isn't flawless on every front. Some reviews mention a musty smell in certain rooms, street noise in rooms facing the road, and minor maintenance issues you can still come across. But weighed against rates from around THB 2,800/night, design that punches above its price, and a location that's hard to find in this area, most guests still rate it highly and say they'd return. It scores 8.9 from 1,214 reviews on Trip.com and ranks among the top hotels in Bangkok on TripAdvisor.
A tip from reading many reviews: ask for a room not facing the main street if you're a light sleeper, as Thonglor stays lively late. If you're a couple or want more space, the Living Suite with its separate sitting area is worth the difference. And don't miss the Mariage Frères tea room, or photographing the rooftop pool at sunset.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Design that punches above its price, with British styling and many photo spots
- ✓ Central Thonglor location, minutes' walk to the BTS and famous restaurants
- ✓ Friendly, helpful, responsive staff
- ✓ Rooms with a fridge/kitchenette, handy for longer stays
- ! Some rooms have a musty smell or signs of wear — worth asking to change
- ! Rooms facing the road catch the noise of Thonglor at night
- ! The rooftop pool is small — better for a dip and photos than serious swimming
- ✓ Rooms larger than expected for the price, with comfortable beds
- ✓ Beautiful hotel atmosphere; the café and tea room are inviting
- ✓ Very convenient, near BTS Thong Lo with easy onward connections
- ✓ Nice touches and services, such as Thai costumes to dress up and photograph
- ! Minor maintenance issues still crop up in some rooms
- ! A few reviews mention insects or cleanliness that could be improved
- ! Limited parking that can mean a wait at peak times
- 💡If you're a light sleeper sensitive to noise — Thonglor stays lively late and street-facing rooms catch it → ask for a higher floor or an inward-facing room.
- 💡If you expect a brand-new hotel in every corner — this opened in 2017 and some rooms show wear with a classic look → if that's not for you, see the newer boutiques in this same roundup.
- 💡If you want serious swimming — the rooftop pool is small, better for a dip and photos → for a lap pool, a larger hotel serves you better.