Main photo: Ariyasom Villa.
There aren’t many places in central Bangkok where you can step through the entrance and leave the city’s traffic and high-rise far behind you. Ariyasom Villa, on Sukhumvit Soi 1, is a family-owned boutique hotel built around a Thai residence dating from 1941–42. The original house has been carefully preserved, while additional low-rise buildings, traditional furnishings, and tropical gardens give the property the character of a private villa rather than a conventional city hotel.
The atmosphere is markedly Thai, with teak floors, carved wooden details, antique and reproduction furniture, and handwoven Thai silk drapes. Outside, the gardens provide a welcome sense of greenery and space. It’s a setting with a strong sense of history, but one that comes with the modern comforts you’d expect from a small city-centre hotel.
With just 24 rooms, a garden swimming pool, Som Sen Spa, and Na Aroon restaurant, Ariyasom Villa makes a good base for visitors who want to experience Bangkok while having somewhere peaceful and characterful to return to.
Ariyasom Villa at a glance
Style
1940s Thai heritage villa and boutique hotel
Location
Sukhumvit Soi 1, central Bangkok
Accommodation
24 rooms across four categories
Dining
Na Aroon – vegetarian and seafood
A family home with a place in Bangkok’s history
The story of Ariyasom Villa begins during the Second World War, when the main house was built as the private residence of the grandparents of the hotel’s current owners. One of them, Khun Phra Chareon Visawakum, was a prominent civil engineer and the first dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University.
The family property was subsequently developed into a boutique hotel, which opened at the end of August 2008. The design takes its inspiration from Bangkok in the 1940s, with the newer buildings following the architectural character of the original villa.
The gardens are an important part of the overall setting, too. Rather than being treated simply as landscaping around a hotel, they give the property its trademark sense of separation from the busy streets beyond the entrance.
A tropical garden and a proper swimming pool
Greenery is one of the defining features of Ariyasom Villa. The landscaped grounds surround the low-rise accommodation buildings and provide a leafy backdrop to the shared areas. It’s a particularly appealing feature in this part of Bangkok, where the surrounding neighborhood is closely associated with major roads, hospitals, offices, and commercial development.
The outdoor saltwater swimming pool is just under 25 meters long, making it more than a small decorative hotel pool. There’s also a jacuzzi, providing another option for relaxing between sightseeing trips or after a day exploring the city.
The combination of mature planting, open-air space, and traditional architecture gives the pool area a very different atmosphere from the rooftop pools and high-rise hotel terraces found elsewhere in Bangkok.
Swimming pool
Outdoor saltwater pool, just under 25 meters long
Additional facility
Poolside jacuzzi
Surroundings
Landscaped tropical gardens
Rooms with traditional Thai character
Accommodation at Ariyasom Villa is arranged across four low-rise floors within the garden setting. There are 24 rooms in total, divided into four categories, with interiors that continue the hotel’s traditional design through teak flooring, wooden doors and built-in furniture, Thai silk drapes, and a mixture of antique and reproduction pieces.
The rooms combine that older aesthetic with practical modern amenities, including air conditioning, wireless internet, a refrigerator, tea- and coffee-making facilities, a safety deposit box, and a private bathroom with a separate bathtub and shower.
Windows can be opened, and most rooms have balconies, adding to the residential feel of the accommodation.
Executive Suites
The three Executive Suites are the largest accommodation category, at approximately 70 sq m. Two have mezzanine levels with the bedroom upstairs, while the third is situated in the original villa itself. The latter offers a particularly direct connection to the property’s history and traditional architecture.
Entry category
Studio Rooms
Approximately 34 sq m, with twin or king-size bed configurations. There are 10 rooms in this category.
More space
Deluxe Rooms
Approximately 42 sq m, available with twin or king-size beds. Eight rooms are offered.
Larger accommodation
Executive Deluxe
Approximately 60 sq m, with king-size beds. Two of the three rooms have a separate entrance room that can serve as an additional bedroom or quiet space.
Traditional treatments at Som Sen Spa
Som Sen Spa is the hotel’s intimate spa, with treatments centered on traditional Thai massage and other forms of bodywork. Its menu includes traditional Thai massage, oil massage, head and shoulder treatments, foot massage, and combinations incorporating herbal steam or hot compresses.
The hot-compress treatment is a particularly traditional touch, bringing heated herbal compresses into the massage experience. There’s also a private Thai herbal steam room, which can be booked separately.
The spa operates daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with appointments recommended. Treatment availability and current prices are best confirmed directly with the hotel.
Na Aroon: Thai cooking with a meat-free approach
The restaurant is one of Ariyasom Villa’s most distinctive features. Na Aroon serves Thai and Western food, but with a difference: the kitchen doesn’t serve meat. Instead, the emphasis is on vegetarian cooking and seafood, giving the restaurant a menu that offers something a little different from the usual hotel dining selection.
The setting is in keeping with the rest of the property. Traditional architectural details, wooden floors, and the character of the original villa create a dining room that feels connected to the hotel’s history. It’s a natural place to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, lunch, or dinner without leaving the grounds.
Vegetarian Dining
A particularly useful choice for vegetarians
Na Aroon’s meat-free approach gives vegetarians a much broader choice than they would usually find at a hotel restaurant, and its menu includes a substantial range of vegetarian Thai dishes, from tofu starters and mushroom salads to noodle dishes and curries.
Some dishes are also identified as vegan in the restaurant’s menu, including:
- Fried tofu with spicy peanut sauce
- Northern-style chili and eggplant dip with tofu
- Mixed vegetable soup
- Mushroom and vegetable soup
- Vegetarian pad Thai
- Vegetable Panang curry
What about vegan dining?
Despite the hotel’s health-conscious slant, vegetarian dishes shouldn’t automatically be regarded as vegan. Some contain egg, and ingredients such as fish sauce, shrimp paste, or other animal-derived seasonings may need checking. Vegan diners should explain their requirements when ordering and ask the restaurant to confirm the ingredients and preparation of individual dishes.
A few quieter places to spend time
Ariyasom Villa’s shared facilities extend beyond the pool and spa. The property includes a library and meeting room, as well as a meditation hall. These spaces complement the hotel’s more residential atmosphere and provide alternatives to spending time in the guest room or around the pool.
Wireless internet is available in the guest rooms and public areas. The hotel also provides concierge assistance, a 24-hour reception, and complimentary on-site parking.
Address
65 Sukhumvit Soi 1, Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
A peaceful address just off Sukhumvit
Ariyasom Villa is situated at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 1, in the Khlong Toei Nuea area of Watthana. The location puts it within reach of the commercial and shopping districts around central Sukhumvit, while the hotel itself sits behind the main road in its own leafy setting.
BTS Phloen Chit, approximately 1 kilometer away, is the nearest Skytrain station. The station provides access to the wider Sukhumvit and Siam shopping areas, making it useful for getting around without relying entirely on road transport.
Bumrungrad International Hospital is also close by, a notable point for visitors who have appointments there or are accompanying someone receiving treatment. The hotel is consequently a useful option for more than just conventional sightseeing stays.
The location also makes it possible to combine time in Bangkok’s busy central districts with a hotel that has a much more traditional, garden-oriented character.
Useful details before you book
Check-in
From 2 p.m.
Check-out
By noon.
Restaurant
Na Aroon serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant opens from 7 a.m., with last orders at 9:30 p.m.
Spa
Som Sen Spa is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Appointments are recommended.
Parking
Complimentary on-site parking and valet parking.
Internet
Wireless internet is available in guest rooms and public areas.
Pets
Pets aren’t permitted.
Reservations
Room bookings and restaurant enquiries can be made through the hotel’s official website.
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