Moxy, a playful and youthful brand under Marriott International, has made its Thailand debut with Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, also Asia Pacific's largest Moxy, at the same building where The Market Bangkok is located, bringing much-needed vibrancy and traffic to the latter.
Accessible via elevators on the ground floor of The Market Bangkok, Moxy guests can check in at the spacious open lobby on the ninth floor called "The Welcome". The reception counter/bar is marked by an old-school cinema marquee with the word Moxy written in Thai fonts.
The industrial lobby, with exposed pipes and vents, is full of vibrancy and spaciousness. Colourful murals featuring cultural icons such as masked dance khon and the scene of Hanuman holding Phra Ram's pavilion and his entourage in his mouth (it's a long story) from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha coexist in contrast to modern furniture and decor.
You can easily spot pops of pink here and there — from giant plant pots and lockers to punching bags in the gym — as it is the brand's signature colour. More playful details such as shophouse grilles and messages hidden between the stairs may amuse you.
All facilities are packed on this floor. You can find a gym, an ironing room, a library, a lounge, a restaurant and an outdoor terrace, which can be a great spot for outdoor cinema or even a seasonal beer garden. Through floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy a view of the city against the sunset sky. The best vista at Moxy is yet to come as their rooftop on the 32nd floor is a work in progress.
The 504 rooms are categorised into six types from Moxy Queen to Moxy Deluxe. There are no balconies but guests can enjoy a city view through huge glass windows. Moxy Queen starts modestly in terms of size at 18m². If you don't pack light while travelling you may struggle with where to put away your stuff a bit but there are all the essentials you need during a stay, including a foldable luggage rack and a foldable working chair.
A group of four can bundle up inside 20m² of Moxy Loft for a no-frills dorm vibe. Moxy Deluxe, the biggest accommodation, comes in at 36m² and has a corner view of the city.
Moxy takes playfulness rather seriously as evidenced by in-room decors from a dial-up phone, a bright orange Bearbrick-esque figure to a pink wall hook in the shape of an elephant head.
Start your day with plenty of breakfast choices at all-day dining Moxy Restaurant & Bar from Eggs Benedict served on smoked salmon, made-to-order Kuay tiew and Pathongo, in addition to the usual hotel breakfast items.
Getting lunch or dinner here won't disappoint too as they serve Thai dishes with creative twists and playful names such as Flanky Rock; spicy beef salad with cucumber ribbons, Oops! Oh Belly; som tam with crystal ice plant in place of papaya, Cheesy Chubby; a spring roll with moo hong (Phuket-style braised pork) stuffing, Cat Or Fish; unadon-inspired dish with Thai catfish instead of Japanese eel, and Tom(a) Pork; kare raisu-inspired dish with panang curry instead of Japanese curry.
Given the hotel's location, staying in all day isn't the best way to spend time as there are countless things you can do and experience within walking distance — easily half a day at CentralWorld on the other side of the street to begin with — as well as along the BTS and MRT train lines as the hotel is less than 10 minutes by foot from BTS Chit Lom.
Should you want to check out the Hanuman scene mentioned earlier with your own eyes, you can do so — and visit many attractions on Rattagosin Island while you're at it — by getting off at MRT Sanam Chai. Moxy encourages guests to be explorers too with their "Moxy Madness" promotion, which is available until the end of September. The 24-hour stay comes with a BTS 1 Day pass and B500 F&B credit per stay. In addition, guests can also earn Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points for up to 5,000 points per night. The hitch is that you need to book a minimum of two consecutive nights. Visit Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong's website.
