The Millennium Hilton is an ideal getaway with restaurants and facilities for individuals, families and business travellers When you need a break from the stress and strain of daily life, but don't have the time to travel to a distant hideaway, a city resort is an ideal compromise. The Millennium Hilton Bangkok, in the fashionable Thonburi district, is the city's latest haven of luxury. 'Your trip to your personal oasis begins as soon as you step on board the complimentary shuttle service,' says general manager Thomas Hoeborn. 'Then you can really start to unwind and leave the stresses of the city behind.' Sound advice on how to approach the all-too-brief boat ride to the west side of the Chao Phraya River and the stylish 32-storey landmark. Boats run to and from the hotel's private pier every 20 minutes until late in the evening, providing access to the River City shopping complex and the BTS Skytrain at Saphan Taksin, which can take you to renowned shopping attractions such as CentralWorld, Emporium, Mah Boon Krong, Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon, or further afield to the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market. The extension of the Skytrain service to the new Suvarnabhumi Airport should be completed next year. The city has become appreciably easier to navigate with the introduction of the Skytrain, Metro (MRT) and thousands of brightly coloured metered taxis, supplementing the ubiquitous tuk-tuks, buses (air-con and non air-con) and an assortment of water taxis carrying visitors to the popular temple sites of Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Management at Bangkok's newest riverfront hotel - it opened in May 2006 and was recently named one of the Top Three Best New Business Hotels in Asia-Pacific by Business Traveller magazine - has vowed to 'put back a little bit of what life takes out'. It lives up to that promise too, providing top-of-the-line leisure and business offerings in accommodation, dining, entertainment, spa and meeting facilities. Nothing has been left to chance, from the design - a mix of contemporary western sensibilities with a touch of traditional Siam, and the use of earthy tones and a water theme contributing to a feeling of serenity and peace - to the fact that all of the 543 guest rooms and suites offer views of the river. ThreeSixty on the 32nd floor, Bangkok's trendiest rooftop jazz bar, offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the city's dramatic skyline and snaking klongs, while you savour the flavours of a range of classical and innovative cocktails. Yuan offers contemporary Chinese fare cooked in the open kitchen by Hong Kong-born chef Chow Chun-chuen. The restaurant offers the nut-flavoured white tea, Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) from Fujian province, and the dark, smoky-flavoured Oolong tea from Taiwan's Ali Shan mountain range, among its rare collection. Flow, an all-day restaurant on the ground floor, highlights varied cuisine in its four display kitchens. The buffet includes abundant supplies of fresh seafood or an array of roasted meats, European speciality breads, Mediterranean selections, Thai delicacies and a mouth-watering dessert display. Flow also offers cheese gourmet experts the city's first Cheese Room - on Fridays and Saturdays for dinner - featuring an intoxicating array of international cheeses in a buffet style, accompanied by dried fruits, home made jams and freshly baked breads. A special Wine Flight, consisting of five different international wines, has been carefully selected to complement the extensive selection of cheese. The mood at Zeta Bar, the international boutique bar popular in London, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, is forever evolving from chill-out lounge to pulsating house, hip-hop and funk, courtesy of guest DJs. The cutting-edge lounge bar changes from a bar to a club every night. The Lantern, an alfresco riverside cafe, offers a selection of speciality coffees, salads, sandwiches and desserts in a laid-back setting. The Lounge is also the setting for serene afternoon concerts featuring contemporary Thai music by young Thai musicians as part of a production by artiste/lecturer Patravadi Mejudhon. Visit the fully equipped Health Club offering cardio and resistance workout facilities, an aerobic room, plunge pools and saunas, or head to the adjoining 20-metre infinity pool at The Beach, complete with white sand, sun-tanning deck and stunning river views. The Hilton also offers a wide range of facilities for meetings. With 10 boardrooms occupying the entire 30th floor, each with wall-to-wall windows that offer panoramic views, they are ideal for business meetings and conferences.
