Arriving at Aman Nai Lert, the latest Aman Group property, it’s easy to forget that you’re in the middle of a metropolitan area numbering roughly 17 million people. It’s not the serenity of its location in the private, seven-acre Nai Lert Park in Bangkok’s bustling core that does it, nor is it Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy’s richly detailed yet minimalist design. It’s the preternatural service of Aman Nai Lert’s staff, which begins the second you step out of your car, that lets guests forget the world, and if they so please, themselves.

Indeed, it sometimes feels as if Aman Nai Lert’s staff knows you better than you know yourself. Upon arrival, they greet you by name (preceded by the Thai honorific “Khun”) before whisking you away to the serene ninth-floor lobby, where a cold towel and warm tea await to refresh weary travellers. From there, until you check out (receiving your parting fortune from the receptionist as you do), Aman Nai Lert’s staff guarantee a stay that lets you forget the world around you, flitting at the periphery of your experience and ensuring that every want and need is delivered so you can focus on what’s most important: you.

Aman Nai Lert marks a return to the beginning for Aman, being the resort group’s second property in Thailand, where the brand was born in 1988. It was at Amanpuri, in Phuket, that Aman set its soaring standards of service and initiated a revolution in luxury hospitality. At the time, the economy of the tiny island province was transitioning from tin mining to tourism, with backpackers flocking to its pristine beaches and verdant forests in search of stunning views and utter tranquility. It was this milieu that caused Aman Group founder Adrian Zecha, who was planning to build a holiday home on his large swath of private land, to pivot and build Amanpuri, seeing an opportunity for upscale hospitality in one of the world’s most unusual ecosystems, far from the worries of the world and its prying eyes.

To this day, Amanpuri remains the crown jewel in the Aman portfolio. Frequented by stars such as Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Angelina Jolie, as well as “Amanjunkies,” as the group’s loyal fans are called, it has transcended the anonymity that brought Zecha to Phuket, yet the pride it instils in guests and staff alike remains unchanged. The 84 polished-teakwood villas and guest pavilions in the traditional Thai style, some of which offer views of the Andaman Sea from their private pools, remain otherworldly in their luxury.

Beyond the walls of these private retreats, a short stroll accompanied by birdsong along the boardwalk meandering through Amanpuri leads to equally impressive amenities, including Buabok, the Thai restaurant, and The Sunset Terrace, with its sweeping views and authentically Thai cocktails, as well as the technically-not-but-in-practice-private beach, where loungers and an impressive bar provide relaxation along with the metronomic crashing of waves. The wellness centre offers an extensive menu of beauty and spa treatments that can be complemented by visits to the infrared sauna, cold plunge pool, juice bar, and more, while the gym, with its nearly 360-degree views from the property’s highest point, is outfitted with the latest Technogym equipment and hosts private and group fitness classes, including pleasantly exhausting muay Thai instruction with local pros.

The challenge then was to evoke a similar sort of natural serenity and thoughtful programming at Aman Nai Lert, smack dab in the middle of one of the world’s great megalopolises. Melding Thai heritage with contemporary amenities, Gathy’s foremost influence when designing the 52 luxuriously appointed rooms, six bars and restaurants, 16,145-square-foot Spa & Wellness facility, and the areas in between was the historic Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, now a museum, that stands next to the hotel. Details gleaned from the house are incorporated throughout Aman Nai Lert, including the distinctive pattern of the hardwood floors and the triple-layered ceilings in the rooms, inspired by the house’s roof. In the lobby, a 12-metre-tall tree sculpture adorned with more than 6,000 gold leaves is the spitting image of the massive rain tree that has been growing on the property for over 100 years, and which now pierces through the middle of the serene ninth-floor pool, providing shade from Bangkok’s powerful midday sun.

The culinary offerings are of both the quality and diversity to tempt diners to stay in even though one of the best food cities in the world lies just outside the hotel. Arva, Aman Group’s pan-property Italian concept, treats guests to expertly crafted pizzetta and pasta along with an impressive and ever-expanding selection of wines from Italy and beyond. Adjacent to it, 1872 features classic Thai fare, a selection of western dishes, and creative cocktails. On the 19th floor, Sesui seats just eight for its elevated omakase dinners, while Hiori’s comparatively expansive 14-seat bar treats diners to a teppanyaki feast.

Among the largest of any luxury hotel in Bangkok, Aman’s keys range from 990 square feet for the corner and premier corner suites to 7,675 square feet, the full expanse of the three-bedroom Aman Suite that occupies the entire 18th floor. From large to simply massive, each suite is outfitted with furnishings and amenities tailormade for sleep, calm, romance, or any other desired mood or state. An iPad controls the nearly infinite lighting, climate, and privacy settings, and is equally handy for ordering a nightcap.

Hot on the heels of Aman’s Tokyo and New York properties, Nai Lert is the latest instalment in the brand’s impressive push to transport its signature style of hospitality from the country to the city. With addresses in Dubai, Miami Beach, Beverly Hills, and Singapore in the works, it’s only the beginning. And as with Amanpuri in 1988, it’s a delightfully auspicious one.

Photos courtesy of Aman Group.

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