This boutique establishment provides a comforting stay in the heart of chaotic Chinatown. Modern, minimalistic design calms the senses, but a slew of in-house events, such as drag shows and art-focused showcases, energize the body and mind.
One signature element of a traditional Thai house is chan, or the terrace that connects small rooms or buildings together into a cluster residential structure. This architectural element is partly the inspiration behind the name of a new boutique hotel—Chann Bangkok Noi, which is situated by the mouth of Bangkok Noi canal, right before it runs into the Chao Phraya River.
“We call [the hotel] Chann because we’ve created four houses [that are] interconnected with this chan. “Chan,” however, could also imply the spot that connects, bonds the relations between family members,” explains Luchan Suewongprayoon, owner and restaurant manager. His family, who is behind many successful real estate developments in Khon Kaen and Bangkok, spent a long time looking for the perfect spot to build a riverside hotel. “We were looking everywhere—Charoenkrung, Charoen Nakhon—before we got here. When we first got here, there was almost nothing, only an abandoned structure. But once I climbed up to the second level of the structure, which is now the first floor, and got to see the view, I made the decision to build the hotel here,” the young owner relates.
"Chan, however, could also imply the spot that connects, bonds the relations between family members."
There are many reasons to love Chann Bangkok Noi. Its location, for one, is special: right at the intersection of the Bangkok Noi canal and the Chao Phraya. Second, the hotel boasts unbeatable views: the peaceful riverside community on the right, the Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital and Museum in front across the canal, and the Chao Phraya and Thammasat University on the left. You can gaze upon all these sights from the hotel’s private riverfront promenade (another reinterpretation of the word “chan”). The charming wooden structure has 22 cozy rooms and suites, each of which is carefully furnished with elements that were used to decorate old Thai houses. Imagine yourself back in time when waterways were the city’s veins and Bangkok was nicknamed the Venice of the East. Breathe in the peaceful atmosphere away from the hustle of downtown Bangkok. As far as staycation choices go, Chann is a no-brainer. The service is another highlight. “At Chaan, we guarantee you’ll be pampered with services and facilities that you can find at four-star hotels, except we’re a lot smaller and more private,” Krating affirms.
"We believe that, for Thais, quality time is the meal you spend with family, eating samrap. We’d like to celebrate that idea."
You don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the delights of Chann Bangkok Noi—the first floor is also home to a Thai restaurant called Imm. “The concept for Imm revolves around samrap, a meal comprised of assorted dishes. We believe that, for Thais, quality time is the meal you spend with family, eating samrap. We’d like to celebrate that idea. We present old-school Thai food, not the royal type,” explains Krating. He adds that he and his kitchen team have developed the recipes by learning from their guests. “Conversations with our older guests have led to old dishes we don’t normally see in other Thai restaurants, like mee krob som sa (deep fried noodle with som sa citrus) or chamuang curry.”
To get to the hotel, visitors would have to take a five-minute walk. But Chann Bangkok Noi is soon offering a shuttle service from the nearby pier to its private pier.
