The Rooftop Residence Hostel

The rooftop is breezy and a great spot to take in Bangkok and figure out the day's plans. Our room had what we needed, including a kettle, refrigerator, and fresh water, and they let us check in early. The whole place has a relaxed feel, and the staff are friendly and accommodating. A+ stay!

The rooftop dining hall has GREAT views, and there's a community kitchen just off it. The staff were super nice and accommodating, and my room had plenty of space, with two singles, a queen bed, and a private bathroom. It's in a neighborhood away from the busy streets, about a 10-minute walk to Chinatown center and another 10 minutes to the subway and train at the same station. There's a washer for 300 baht and a dryer for 100 baht. Breakfast is free, not great, but enough to get the day started. It's not five-star, but it's nice, and I'd stay here again for sure.

The hostel has a roomy, open setup and is generally clean and well organized. Check-in and checkout were easy, and the breakfast was better than I expected. The rooftop is a shared space with a fully working kitchen and a nice city view, good for meeting people. There's another common area on the second floor with loungers and two guest computers, plus free access to the building's gym on the main floor. The gym was too cramped and hot for me, though. The WiFi stayed stable with plenty of networks available. Staff were friendly, but could be noisy in the evenings, and the room and pod walls are thin. Getting there was tricky: it's down a narrow, crowded, poorly lit street in China town, where celebrations and ceremonies went on until 2 a.m. The train station and other amenities are about a 15-minute walk away. I wouldn't recommend it to inexperienced backpackers arriving at night or to families.

The staff were very friendly, and the property itself was clean. Backpackers will probably appreciate the open, fully equipped kitchen, and the overall concept compares well with some top European hostels. The area was harder to like: the narrow, dark alleys felt unnerving even to us as experienced travelers. There aren't restaurants around, though there's plenty of street food if that's what you want. Also, the "rooftop bar" is really a lounge. I preferred that, but it doesn't offer much of a social scene. We chose it for the family room while traveling with our 13-year-old. It wasn't what we expected, though it was an experience. Great for solo travelers and couples, but not ideal for families.