LiveZen Bangkok

Very good stay. Nadia at the front desk went an extra mile to change my room (which was too close to the street, and hence noisy). Really great service and hospitality. Would go again anytime! Daniel

Before booking this hotel, understand what you're getting into, because we expected one thing and got something completely different. We thought the "Japanese style" just meant sleeping on a low bed, but the entire place is built around this concept, and it is definitely not your standard hotel. ​I’ll start with the good: The location is unbeatable. It's right off Sukhumvit and a very short walk to Phrom Phong BTS station, which makes getting anywhere in Bangkok super easy. The building itself looks modern and well kept, and having a 24-hour front desk is convenient. Also, credit to the staff for at least trying to help when we complained. They moved us away from the street noise and brought an extra topper for the bed. ​Now for the bad: The layout is weird. It feels like an identity crisis between a hotel and an apartment. You get daily housekeeping, but there's a kitchen in the room and another communal kitchen on each floor. Right in the middle of the room there’s a raised platform seating area where you can't wear shoes. For Western travelers, having house rules inside your private room just feels annoying when you only want to relax. ​On top of that, there was a weird, persistent smell from the lobby all the way to the rooms, nothing like a fresh hotel scent. The bed was on the floor in a corner and rock hard. We woke up with terrible back pain after night one. Even with the extra topper, it was easily the least comfortable bed we had during our entire 40 days in Thailand. ​We realized right away it wasn't for us, but both the hotel and Agoda refused to cancel or refund anything. If you specifically want a Japanese apartment setup, maybe it works for you. But if you’re expecting a regular, comfortable hotel room, look elsewhere.

The staff was very friendly. Dental kits would be provided upon request, and you could get free sleeping eye masks at the reception. There was a kitchen at the floor where I lived, I didn’t use it but I guess people can store drinks in the fridge and use the dining utensils there when necessary.

First off, the location is easy to find and use as a base. There’s a washing machine in the room, too. There’s a common area on every floor with a kitchen. So there’s a modicum of convenience. The staff were all kind. Now, the issue of comfort. Upon registering you will be greeted by a box with eye covers and ear plugs. The reason why will be readily apparent when you bed down. Street noise is omnipresent and the materials used on finishing the windows and balcony doors do little to keep it out. The walls between suites suffer the same fate. You will hear your neighbours sneeze. It is a traditional Japanese tatami room. If sitting on the floor and scrambling over the body of your partner to make it to the WC, sound like irritants, then this is not the place for you and yours.