Look, I’m just going to say it upfront: The Narathiwas Hotel & Residence is like that friend who’s absolutely perfect except for one annoying habit you can’t quite overlook. In this case, the “habit” is being nowhere near the BTS. But hear me out, because I keep coming back to this place, and there are very good reasons why.
I used to live here for almost a year some 10 years ago. But recently i have returned and stayed for 2 weeks in one of the 2-bedroom apartments. They have studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments. There is also a 3-bedroom one but i have not seen it available for booking this time so not sure if it is still available. The building consists of two towers A and B. You go from one to the other in the lobby or at the pool floor.
Location: The good, The bad, and The “Why is Chong Nonsi so far?”
The Narathiwas residence sits in the YanNawa area of Sathorn, at Narathiwas soi 24, which is basically Bangkok’s version of a quieter suburban neighborhood. It is still busy but less so then the Sukhumvit area. It’s about 3.7 kilometers from the city center, tucked away in a non-touristy residential pocket that feels wonderfully peaceful after dealing with Bangkok’s usual chaos. When i say non-touristy the Narathiwas soi 24 where the hotel is located is the most touristy street in the area 🙂 There are several hotels and condos popular with foreigners plus and international school across the street so there are western amenities in the area but also the full on Thai neighbourhood experience is close by.
Here’s where I need to be brutally honest: the public transport situation is… not great. Chong Nonsi BTS station is a 10-minute drive away. Not walk. Drive. When I first saw “near BTS” in the listing, I laughed out loud when I arrived. The nearest MRT station, Lumphini, is about 1.5 kilometers away, which sounds walkable until you remember this is Bangkok and you’ll arrive looking like you just ran a marathon. There is the BRT bus station not far from the start of the street but still not ideal.
The hotel does offer a free shuttle to Chong Nonsi BTS and nearby malls, which is nice of them. On my last visit this was a hit and miss. I just wish they’d run it every 15 minutes instead of… whenever they feel like it. You’ll become very familiar with the Grab app during your stay. Consider it a cultural experience. You can just grab a taxi outside on the street and if you are feeling brave there is also a motobike taxi always on stand-by. Could get you to the BTS in 5 minutes.
But here’s the thing, the neighborhood itself is actually pretty convenient for daily life. There’s a 7-Eleven literally 100 meters from the front door (I may have made midnight snack runs more times than I care to admit), and three more within walking distance if that one runs out of your favorite instant noodles. A small food hub next door has everything from Vietnamese to Japanese to pizza, and the street food vendors in the area serve some genuinely delicious cheap eats. I’ve had some of my best pad krapow near this hotel.
Central Rama III mall is about a 5-10-minute drive or 15-minute walk if you’re feeling ambitious. Tesco Lotus is nearby too, perfect for stocking that full-size fridge in your room. So while you’re far from the BTS, you’re not exactly stranded on a desert island.
The Rooms: Finally, an actual apartment that doesn’t cost your firstborn
This is where The Narathiwas redeems itself completely. These aren’t “rooms”, they’re legitimate apartments, and I mean that in the best possible way. Studios start around 50 square meters, which is massive compared to the shoebox-sized hotel rooms you usually get in hotels for similar money.
When I walked into my studio for the first time, I did a little happy dance (okay, maybe a big one). You enter and there’s a proper kitchenette immediately to your right, then a living area with an actual sofa and dining table where you can sit like a human being, and finally a separate bedroom area. It’s basically a real apartment that someone decided to rent out as a hotel.
The hardwood flooring is what really got me. Real wood floors! In a warm, honey color that makes you feel like you’re staying in someone’s nice apartment rather than Hotel Room #247. Most Bangkok hotels give you tile or carpet that’s seen better days, but here you get actual wood floors you’d be happy to walk barefoot on.
Each room has two air conditioning units (thank you, hotel gods) and two flat-screen TVs, one in the living area, one in the bedroom. This is genius design because it means you can watch your Netflix in bed while your travel companion watches their K-drama on the sofa. Relationship saved.
The kitchenette isn’t just for show either. Full-size refrigerator, microwave, electric kettle, and basic cookware. I’ve made everything from midnight instant noodles to actual breakfast in these rooms. There’s also a safe, desk, and ironing facilities, which I’ve used exactly twice in all my stays (I’m more of a “wrinkles add character” person).
The beds are genuinely comfortable and I’m picky about beds. None of that rock-hard mattress nonsense you sometimes get in Asia where you wake up feeling like you slept on concrete. The sofa in the living area is also decent for lounging around in your underwear eating delivery food. Not that I’ve done that. Multiple times.
The two-bedroom apartments are absurdly spacious at 120+ square meters. I shared one with friends and we basically each had our own wing. Each bedroom gets its own bathroom (no morning bathroom wars!), and the dining table could seat six people comfortably. For families or groups, this setup absolutely destroys the “let’s book three separate hotel rooms” plan.
Now the rooms have seen better times and if you are here for the luxury this might not be it. You should probably look into something like Ascott Sathron that is not too far and also offers studio – 3-bedroom apartments and is right next to the BTS but also has a much more premium feel and a much more premium price. Both these hotels are very guest friendly meaning you can bring guests to your room – apartment during the day or night without any questions asked.
Bathrooms: Great showers, slightly worn everything else
The bathrooms come with shower facilities, hairdryer, slippers, bidets, and complimentary toiletries. The shower pressure is fantastic and honestly the best shower I had during my entire Thailand trip. The water gets actually hot, not that lukewarm disappointment you sometimes get. I may have stood under that shower for an embarrassingly long time.
Now, some rooms definitely show their age in the bathroom department. I’ve had rooms where the toilet paper supply was running suspiciously low, and some fixtures look like they’ve been there since the hotel opened. The place is old and could use some updating, but nothing was actually broken or unusable. Just… vintage. Yeah, let’s call it vintage.
Facilities: Two pools, One gym, Mixed results
The hotel has both an indoor and outdoor pool, which sounds fancy until you actually use them. The indoor pool connects to a warm jacuzzi that feels absolutely divine after walking around Bangkok all day. I’ve spent many evenings just soaking in that jacuzzi feeling very pleased with my life choices.
The outdoor pool is bigger with a decent view. Here’s where things get complicated as some guests (including me on good days) find both pools perfectly fine and clean. Other guests report the outdoor pool as having broken tiles, questionable water quality, and loungers that have seen better days. I think it depends on when you catch it and what your standards are. Mine are apparently pretty low because I’ve been happy with it. The big pool is also shared with some condo buildings so it is not for hotel guests only while the smaller but still very nice pool is for hotel guests only.
There’s also a sauna, steam room, and hot tub, which is great when they’re actually working. The sauna was broken during one of my stays, and I wasn’t the only one disappointed about it. The gym is decent but nothing that’ll make fitness influencers excited, but better than many Bangkok hotel gyms. They also have tennis courts and a kids’ club, which makes this genuinely good for families.
Service: Lovely people, occasionally slow systems
The front desk staff are genuinely wonderful humans. Paul at reception has helped me out more times than I can count, and check-in usually takes about five minutes unless there’s a tour group ahead of you. There is a 1,000 THB deposit when you check in but you get it back when you check out. Not sure what damage they could cover with 1,000 THB which is less than 30 Euros but they still ask for it 🙂 The staff are friendly, helpful, and will arrange shuttles, help book Grabs, and respond quickly when you call asking for extra towels because you used all of them.
The breakfast staff are particularly sweet, always smiling even at 7 AM (how do they do that?) and they’ll accommodate special requests without making you feel like a burden. Not a lot of choice but ok for a simple breakfast.
Here’s the one annoying thing: I’ve read online that some guests report issues with deposit refunds after checkout. The hotel charges THB 1,000 as a damage deposit when you check in (collected in cash, because apparently we’re living in 2005), which should be refunded at checkout. Some people report delays or the money going into some kind of administrative black hole. I’ve never had issues personally, but keep your receipt they give you when you do the deposit.
Breakfast: If you like asian Food, you’re golden
The breakfast at Nara Cuisine is heavily Asian-focused with Thai, Chinese, and some Continental options. Eggs, sausages, and bacon are made to order, which means everything comes out fresh instead of sitting in buffet warmers getting sad and rubbery.
If you love Asian breakfast food, you’ll be thrilled. If you’re looking for an extensive Western breakfast spread, you might be disappointed. The breakfast staff will try to accommodate requests though, so just ask nicely and they’ll usually make something work.
Vegetarians might struggle unless you ask them to prepare something special. Breakfast costs about THB 350 per person if it’s not included in your rate, which is reasonable for Bangkok hotel breakfast standards.
Pricing: This is why we’re all here
Okay, let’s talk money because this is where The Narathiwas becomes extremely attractive. Current rates run from approximately THB 1,300-2,400 per night depending on season and room type. Most bookings average around THB 1,600-2,000 per night.
Let me put this in perspective: you’re getting 50-120+ square meters of actual apartment space with a kitchen, separate living area, hardwood floors, and two TVs for what many Bangkok hotels charge for a room barely bigger than a walk-in closet. This is not a small difference. This is a “holy crap, where has this place been all my life” difference.
I have found the best prices on Agoda, they run a 2 bedroom aparments for the pice of the studio and i paid as low as 36 Euro per night for the smaller 83m2, 2 bedroom apartments.
Other costs to know about:
- English breakfast: THB 350 per person
- Rollaway/extra bed: THB 1,200 per night
- Kids under 12 sharing existing beds: THB 250 per day for breakfast
- Airport shuttle: THB 1,500 per vehicle one-way (fits 3 people)
- Damage deposit: THB 1,000 cash (refundable)
For long-term stays, monthly rates start around THB 23,000, which works out to roughly THB 767 per night. That’s absurdly good value for apartment living in Bangkok. Not sure how you can book this though as getting in touch with the hotel via email seems impossible. I supposed you could call them but that is very inconvenient when you are on the other side of the globe. These are the rates i got when asking directly at the hotel. Few years ago I used to pay 60,000 THB monthly for a 2 bedroom so the prices have gone down a lot since then. But also the hotel is not as nice as it was before but still a great place to stay unless you are a posh bastard that moans about everything 😀
Who this hotel is perfect for:
Families will absolutely love this place. The two-bedroom apartments give everyone their own space (which is priceless when traveling with kids), both pools keep children entertained, there’s a kids’ club, and having a kitchen means you can avoid the “I don’t want Thai food again” meltdown. The quiet neighborhood also feels safe for families.
Budget-conscious travelers who value space over convenience are the ideal guests. If you don’t mind the BTS being annoying and you’re planning to use Grab for most trips anyway, you’re saving massive amounts of money compared to centrally located hotels.
Long-term visitors – anyone staying weeks or months will appreciate this more than anywhere else. Having a kitchen, proper dining area, and real living space makes extended stays actually comfortable instead of slowly going insane in a tiny hotel room. The free shuttle helps offset the location issue when you’re here long enough to learn the schedule.
Groups and friends splitting apartments get incredible value. A two-bedroom apartment divided among four people costs less per person than hostel beds, with about 100 times more space and infinitely more privacy. Plus you can all hang out in the living room without sitting on someone’s bed.
Anyone seeking peace and quiet will enjoy The Narathiwas. You’re staying in an actual Bangkok neighborhood rather than a tourist circus. No one’s vomiting outside your window at 3 AM.
Who should run away screaming
First-time Bangkok visitors should probably stay elsewhere. That BTS distance will absolutely frustrate you when you’re trying to see all the major sights and don’t know the city yet. Stay in Sukhumvit or closer to Silom for your first trip. You can graduate to The Narathiwas on your second visit.
Travelers with limited time need to be near transit. If you’re only in Bangkok for 2-3 days, spending 30+ minutes commuting to/from BTS each day will eat into your sightseeing time. Every minute counts on short trips.
Anyone expecting boutique hotel vibes will be disappointed. This place is dated. The furniture is older (though maintained), some areas show wear, and the design is firmly stuck in the 2000s. If you need Instagram-worthy interiors for your grid, keep scrolling.
Business travelers needing to be in central Bangkok or near meeting venues will find the daily commute annoying. That 10-15-minute drive to Chong Nonsi sounds fine until you’re doing it twice daily in Bangkok traffic while stressed about being late. And the 10-15 minute can double in the rush hour.
Solo travelers looking to meet people should probably book a hostel or hotel in a more social area. This is a residential property and you’re not stumbling into rooftop bars full of backpackers or making friends at the pool. It’s chill, which is great if that’s what you want, but terrible if you’re hoping to meet travel buddies.
Final Thoughts: It’s complicated, but i keep coming back
The Narathiwas Hotel & Residence Sathorn Bangkok is like dating someone who’s perfect except they live in the suburbs and don’t have a car. Frustrating? Yes. Worth it? Also yes, if you know what you’re signing up for.
I keep returning because the value proposition is just too good to ignore. When I’m in Bangkok for extended periods, having an actual apartment with hardwood floors, a full kitchen, separate living space, and powerful showers matters way more than being five minutes from BTS. The staff are genuinely lovely, the neighborhood is peaceful, and I can cook instant noodles at 2 AM without judgment.
Does the location annoy me sometimes? Absolutely. That 15-minute drive to Chong Nonsi BTS adds up, and I wish the shuttle ran more frequently. I’ve definitely cursed at my phone while waiting for a Grab during rush hour. But the shuttle exists, Grab is cheap in Bangkok, and honestly, the quiet neighborhood provides a welcome mental break from Bangkok’s usual intensity.
If you understand the trade-off, older apartments with fantastic space and service in an inconvenient location than The Narathiwas delivers solid value. Just don’t expect trendy design or easy BTS access, and you’ll probably love it as much as I do. Or at least like it enough to keep booking it despite complaining about the location every single time.
Great place for families but also if you want to bring home a new friend you met on ThaiFriendly or on your night out. No judgements here 🙂
