COMO Metropolitan, Bangkok

The staff uniforms—baggy Comme des Garçons ensembles and Calvin Klein sneakers—are a dead giveaway that the COMO Metropolitan, which opened in 2003 and is spearheaded by legendary hotelier Christina Ong, is all about stylish urban design, rare in a city where most of the upscale properties riff on a more traditional aesthetic.

• Complimentary yoga classes daily
• Contemporary décor with open layouts and sleek furniture
• Helpful and attentive staff
• The bold and flavorful take on traditional Thai dishes at the hotel’s award-winning Nahm restaurant

At first glance, the building that the Metropolitan occupies, a former YMCA, is less than inspiring, even a bit depressing. But the interiors masterfully blend minimalist chic with laid-back comfort (the hotel is the sister property of the COMO Metropolitan in London).

The 169 rooms are modern and airy and have long windows, open layouts, sleek furniture made from Thai Makha wood, oversized king-size beds and a subdued, earthy color scheme. All come with Wi-Fi and large flat-screen televisions as well as spacious, limestone-clad bathrooms. Go for one of the spacious Metropolitan rooms on the top floors (the smallest measures a very comfortable 550 square feet) and ask for a view of the pool. Celebrities and headliners book duplex Penthouse Suites with private access and 24-hour butler service.

As at all COMO properties, there’s a serious focus on wellness, as evidenced by the yoga mats in the rooms’ closets (there are free daily classes), the organic restaurant Glow and the Zen-inspired COMO Shambhala spa, an oasis of holistic pampering. The pool is attractive enough, but it’s located in the hotel’s courtyard, right behind the main dining room, so it feels a bit exposed (I like to do laps in the morning but wasn’t thrilled by the idea of walking in a bathing suit past a row of breakfasting fellow guests). The excellent Nahm is a good choice for a special dinner.

Unlike those at some other design hotels, the staff has absolutely no attitude and could not be more attentive or helpful (on a recent stay, our misguided idea of taking a taxi to a restaurant in another neighborhood during rush hour was sweetly but firmly reconfigured; we ended up taking the Sky Train). For leisure travelers, the Metropolitan’s location isn’t ideal, as the nearest Sky Train station (Saladaeng) is a good ten-minute walk, but the hotel is close to some great restaurant options (Eat Me and Celadon, as well as the in-house Nahm) and the Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

Style seekers and design aficionados who prefer their hotel rooms sleek and contemporary; business travelers.

Families: there’s a decidedly grown-up vibe here.