Bangkok Babymoon: Staying at Tenface Boutique Hotel - Alvinology

Bangkok Babymoon: Staying at Tenface Boutique Hotel

Tenface entrance (image provided by Wotif.com)
Tenface entrance (image provided by Wotif.com)

Tenface is a boutique hotel situated in Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok, near Ploen Chit BTS station.

Rachel and I stayed at Tenface for our 6D5N babymoon in Bangkok from 10 to 15 May. Initially, we were a little skeptical when our friend from Wotif.com highly recommended this hotel for its vogue factor as it was quite inaccessible by foot from the nearest BTS station. A free Tuk-Tuk shuttle service is provided by the hotel, but we felt that it might be troublesome.

All our concerns dissipated on our first day at the boutique hotel.

For most Bangkok hotels, even if they are near to the BTS station, there is still a considerable walking distance. The Tuk-tuk ride from the BTS station back to Tenface is less than 2 minutes. With a Tuk-tuk at your service with just a phone call, it almost felt like a private taxi.

The miminalist, but chic reception area where guests also wait for the Tuk-tuk
The miminalist, but chic reception area where guests also wait for the Tuk-tuk
The Tuk-tuk service provided by Tenface
The Tuk-tuk service provided by Tenface

Upon arrival, guests are presented with a jewel box containing one all-day BTS pass, a SIM card (bring a mobile phone along that can read a normal SIM card if you are using a phone fitted with a micro-SIM card), an iPod loan set and toiletries. Everything is well thought-of to ensure guests have the best of experience.

The jewel box guests are presented with upon checking in
The jewel box guests are presented with upon checking in
Complementar one-day BTS pass
Complimentary one-day BTS pass
Free SIM card for making local calls, including calls back to the hotel for your Tuk-tuk
Free SIM card for making local calls, including calls back to the hotel for your Tuk-tuk
iPod loan set - you can downloaded movies and travel vodcasts produced by Tenface
iPod loan set – you can download movies and travel vodcasts produced by Tenface
A thoughtful set of Bangkok attraction cards, with directions for taxi drivers in Thai
A thoughtful set of Bangkok attraction cards, with directions for taxi drivers in Thai
The key card comes in a thoughtful holder that reads "Thank you for not smoking"
The key card comes in a thoughtful holder that reads “Thank you for not smoking”
A set of toiletries
A set of toiletries

Check out below one of the vodcasts produced by Tenface on recommended Bangkok sites for tourists. More videos are available via the Tenface Youtube Channel:

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ahtbREb8sU&”]

The hotel’s interior decor is inspired and based on the Ramakien (รามเกียรติ์), which is the Thai version of the ancient Sanskrit epic tale Ramayana.

The name Tenface is derived from that of Thotsakan’s – the demon-king with ten faces and many arms. There are a total of 88 guest rooms in the hotel, spread over 8 floors. Owned by Noble Development, Tenface was originally built as a condominium, but was later converted into a boutique hotel by the owner.

The hotel features a meeting room for corporate clients (30 pax), a small dipping pool, a restaurant and a bar. These are all named after the characters in Ramakien.

Linked walkway between the two hotel wings
Linked walkway between the two hotel wings
Exterior view of the linkway (image provided by Wotif.com)
Exterior view of the linkway (image provided by Wotif.com)
Rachel and I love the four animal statues at the linkway
Rachel and I love the four animal statues at the linkway
The bar
The Sita bar
Bar interior
Bar interior
Lounge area
Lounge area
Smoking area
Smoking area
Dip pool
Dip pool
Full view of the dip pool (image provided by Wotif.com)
Full view of the dip pool (image provided by Wotif.com)
Wanara Restaurant (image provided by Wotif.com)
Wanara Restaurant (image provided by Wotif.com)
Corporate meeting room
Corporate meeting room

The rooms come in 4 types – the one-bedroom suite (2 pax), two-bedroom suites (4 pax), two-bedroom premier suites (4 pax) and Tenface suite (4 pax), in order lowest to highest price.

There’s currently a promotion on Wotif.com: All the room rates are going at less than 50% of the published rates. If you are traveling to Bangkok , do consider Tenface. 🙂

Rachel and I stayed in the one-bedroom suite which comes with a full living room and kitchen. We made good use of the kitchen on some nights, preparing some of our own food for supper.

Cosy living room area
Cosy living room area
Espresso machine in the room
Espresso machine in the room
Even the drinking water provided are branded with Tenface motif
Even the drinking water bottles provided are branded with the Tenface motif
The consistent themed motif is seen on possibly every objects in the room, including the files and folders
The consistent motif is seen on even files and dustbins
Kitchen area with a stove, fridge, microwave and various utensils, pots and pans
Kitchen area with a stove, fridge, microwave and various utensils, pots and pans
Tenface notepad
Tenface notepad
Closet with a safe, umbrella, hair dryer, bedroom slippers and bathrobes provided
Closet with a safe, umbrella, hair dryer, bedroom slippers and bathrobes provided
The sleep-inducing cosy bedroom with a small balcony
The sleep-inducing cosy bedroom with a small balcony
The bathroom which comes with both a bath tub and shower head
The bathroom which comes with both a bath tub and shower head
Rachel reading a magazine on the bed
Rachel reading a magazine on the bed
Reading in the living room
Reading in the living room
Dining table whereby a platter of fruits, chocolate and cookies welcome us
Dining table where a platter of fruits, chocolate and cookies welcome us
One of the nights whereby Rachel and I made our own dinner after attending a Thai cooking class
One of the nights Rachel and I made our own dinner after attending a Thai cooking class

Guests also get to choose the preferred pillow type, from a traditional one filled with buckwheat husks to those high-tech contour ones made of foam.

Choose your pillow
Choose your pillow

We like the fact that much thought was put into making sure that every aspect of the decor fit the overarching theme.

The architecture and interior of Tenface is designed by Vitoon Kunalungkarn, one of Thailand’s foremost interior designers and architects. He founded IAW Company Limited, a professional design company in architecture and interior design based in Bangkok, in 1994. Over the years, the firm has delivered numerous outstanding and acclaimed design works such as H1, Playground, Greyhound Cafes, and of course, Tenface Serviced Apartment.

You won’t find the the cliched, ubiquitous Buddha motif so popular among establishments over-eager to advertise themselves as “Asian”. Instead, this designer interprets scenes from the Ramakien using painted illustrations on the walls of rooms and even the lift.

Even the interior of the lift is kept thematically beautiful
Even the interior of the lift is kept thematically beautiful
If you prefer to travel in style vs the Tuk-tuk, Tenface has a vintage car for hire
If you prefer to travel in style vs the Tuk-tuk, Tenface has a vintage car for hire

With it’s spiffy decor and friendly staff, Tenface‘s main clientale base now are Taiwanese and Hong Kong tourists who had stumbled upon the hotel through various chic media publications, blogs and magazines. The place is still undiscovered by Singaporeans. During our stay, Rachel and I did not bump into a single Singaporean guest.

We appreciate the fact that most of the guests appeared to be the artsy and refined type. They were pleasant when we met in the lifts and the breakfast area.

Breakfast at Tenface
Breakfast at Tenface
Breakfast area
Breakfast area
Thai alphabets as wall decor - they case nice symmetrical shadows
Thai alphabets as wall decor – they cast nice symmetrical shadows
Rachel like her eggs sunny-side up
Rachel likes her eggs sunny-side up
Porridge for me
Porridge for me

There is nothing to complain about the service. The room is immaculately tidied every day and each of the staff, who wear a name tag, greet the guests at every encounter. The breakfast buffet line waitstaff are helpful – there was once we went for breakfast 15 minutes before closing time and they helped us get all the food we needed without being asked to. The porters take pride in their work; each piece of luggage they bring up to the rooms is tagged with their name.

I usually don’t take a lot of photos of my lodging during my travels, but Tenface is an exception. 🙂

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