Spectacular Sala Ayutthaya in Thailand - a Boutique Design Hotel and a Weekend to Remember

Guestroom view from Sala Ayutthaya Boutique Design Hotel

Ayutthaya is a stunning historical city with such a spiritual richness, thankfully now saved as a Unesco World Heritage site.  Just 1 /2 hours’ drive northwest of Bangkok, this is a true jewel.  From Bangkok you can visit Ayutthaya by tours on a combination of bus and riverboat, which will provide you with a good introduction to the rich culture of Ayutthaya, but I highly recommend staying overnight to immerse yourself in this stunning place and explore the sites at your own pace.

Sala Ayutthaya is the most stunning hotel in Ayutthaya: a luxurious small, minimalist design-oriented boutique hotel with only 24 rooms located at the Chaophaya River opposite the old monastery Wat Putthaisawan in Ayutthaya, Thailand.  The minimalist architecture is a merging of the brick wall style of the ancient city with modern Thai style in keeping with the spectacular ancient surroundings. Throughout the hotel you can explore unique minimalist design detail elements, such as handmade brick embossed with SALA or bronze metal panels handstitched with red tread. The views at day and night are equally spectacular.

Meandering walkway to the river

The arrival sequence is a superbly choreographed experience:

1.       Starting with the arrival experience I was enthralled by a minimalist oversized exterior sliding door with the hotel name subtly accented and the simplistic short embossed metal ramp leading into the front entrance.

2.       The small and intimate dark reception area is a welcoming respite from the glaring baking sun and features a rose gold mirrored glass reception desk, which almost disappears while reflecting the neighborhood context, in front of weathered almost black bronze metal walls.  Dark patina wood ceilings seem reminiscent of old striking ceilings at a larger Wat across the river.

3.       From the lobby you transition into a large, serene whitewashed gallery space with contemporary Thai art, inviting the guest to quiet contemplation and art immersion.

4.       Take a right turn inside the gallery to walk along a striking walkway with dramatic curvilinear 2 story slanted rustic brick walls on both sides.  Very discrete entrances to access the guestrooms are off this walkway.  The shadow patterns vary greatly during different times of the day, almost creating a daily time measuring device similar to Stonehenge in England. This walkway is absolutely striking and is becoming a favorite backdrop to wedding pictures and movies.  A great place for architectural photography lovers.

5.       The walkway culminates in the bar/restaurant along the river.  Stepping out on the restaurant deck is simply mind blowing, in particular at dawn or dusk and even into the night as the temples opposite the hotel are an astounding backdrop to the river upon which Sala is located. During weekends the restaurants is very popular with Thai families for a very special afternoon tea or dinner, so make your dinner reservations during breakfast and tell the staff which table you prefer.  I recommend the tables closest to the river in order to fully enjoy the spectacular view.

6.       DeLuxe Riverview rooms on second floor offer splendid, breathtaking views across the river, especially at night when the lights of Prapang and Chedis are up, you feel like you are being transported back to the glorious formed Siamese Kingdom.

At this small boutique hotel I definitely recommend to splurge and book the Riverview rooms, as some of the other guestrooms offer no views and some offer very little privacy. The hotel has only 24 rooms and I recommend making reservations well in advance.

My Riverview room #10 was large in simple contemporary Thai design and at the very best location.  The room was spacious with a center glass enclosed structure with a circular bathtub and shower, offering splendid views to the Watt while taking a shower or bath, without privacy issues.  Poured concrete floors, white painted walls and an accent brick wall at the headboard wall are the secondary features, accented by all white bedding and daybed.  The headboard features a jumping embossed tiger on the black timber headboard.  Large comfortable tub chairs on the large balcony offer a serene day and night relaxation. The view over the Wat made this a serene and wonderful experience, which leaves lasting, unique and fond memories.

The pool is extremely small and the rooms facing the pool have no privacy or views, but seem to be attractive for families with kids, as this becomes almost a private pool.

The food is in my opinion excellent.  The hotel’s complimentary Ala Carte breakfast is good, with both Thai and foreign choices, although other Sala hotels offered better choices.  The lunch and dinner menu offers many great choices, both international and Thai cuisine, but the most memorable was the stunning view. During lunch the deck gets extremely hot, as only limited shade is available. The restaurant is very popular with Thai families and is often used for weddings and other celebrations. Do make dinner reservations ahead, preferably while you are having breakfast.  A night to remember, guaranteed!

Bicycling around offers you the best way to explore the archeological sites and local culture, but it is extremely hot most of the year. The hotel offers complimentary bicycles for your use on a first come first served basis.  You can instead choose to hire a local Tuk-Tuk driver, but you will miss out on a peaceful way of exploring the stunning ancient temples and stupas, such an amazing richness of sacral architecture!

Wishing we can all travel soon!

Writing and photography courtesy Zia Hansen-Rockwood