Bangkok’s only “Colonial Fusion” Hotel is Asia’s Newest Member of Relais & Chateaux

The Eugenia, an all-suite 12 room property located in suburban Bangkok, has become the latest member of Relais & Chateaux. 

Catering to a maximum of just 24 guests, offering highly personalised service as a hallmark of the hotel, the ultra boutique hotel already recognised for its arresting architecture, distinguished décor and superlative service joined the exclusive marketing group yesterday as only R & C’s 11th hotel member in Asia.

Opening in early 2006 on leafy Soi Sukhumvit 31 (between the Ashok MRT Station and the Prom Pong Skytrain Station), The Eugenia has been called Asia’s only “colonial fusion” hotel.

The distinctive 3-story neo Victorian building conceived by its Taiwan-born but Bangkok resident owner, Eugene Yu-Ching Yeh, The Eugenia has also been likened to The Strand Hotel in Yangon, the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo and, of course, The Raffles in Singapore.

While The Eugenia is far from being comparable in size to any of these colonial veterans none of these well known hotels were created from the ground up by a designer “with a dream” who then stocked his creation with antiques personally acquired during trips to India, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and China.

The Eugenia is filled with Victorian era antiques and while the Tiffin carrier and a delicate marble fountain came from India and a trophy was brought in from Burma, Eugene scoured other destinations for specific products.  Shower cages came from France, wooden refrigerators came from Brazil while bed linen was imported from Flamant Belgium.

Some items were even custom produced for The Eugenia.  The colonial style black and white Sino Portuguese tiles were locally made in Bangkok.  The reproduction claw foot bathtubs were made from hand hammered aluminium by skilled Indonesian craftsmen to an original design and size, Eugene said.

Light switches and fittings – some found tucked away in dusty warehouses in Bangkok’s Chinatown – are of various vintages.  The antique British Colonial four poster beds, settees, dressers and desks found in all suites are mainly from India and Burma.

The old wood flooring brought in from north Thailand was saved from a fiery destruction.  One door panel came from San Francisco while other doors and window panels were collected locally mostly from old school buildings or old government offices.

The result is an architectural style that could be described as a French Colonial/British Colonial fusion blended with African Colonial and a touch of Asia.

The Asian influence is not only seen in the décor but also on the ‘Iron Chef’’ menu which features such delicacies as Wagyu Pho, Thai Bouillabaisse, calamari with squid ink miso and Toro Tartar.

Guests coming from Bangkok’s new multi billion dollar airport can opt to arrive in luxurious style or tour the city in a beautifully restored 1952 or 1958 Mercedes, 1953 or 1964 Jaguar or the 1971 DS 420 – just one of around 10 in Bangkok as an added extra.  All carefully maintained vehicles are part of Eugene’s collection of vintage autos.  

“Everything beautiful that caught my eye has become part of The Eugenia,” said Eugene, a visionary who has a dream to create a chain of “colonial fusion” hotels in Asia.

A package including one night suite accommodation at The Eugenia, complimentary mini bar, Internet access and local phone calls, a gourmet a la carte breakfast and service charges and taxes starts from Baht 5400 (about $195).

Tel (66 2) 259 9019, E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.theeugenia.com

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Correspondent.