The city's place to see and be seen

Word to the wise: If you're planning a stay here, plump for one of the Metropolitan or Terrace Rooms: they're larger and more luxurious but not much costlier than the City Rooms.

Tipple of choice: Sip martinis with the rich and famous at Metropolitan's members- and guests-only Met Bar.

London's Metropolitan hotel may have lost some of its allure among the ever-fickle glitterati, but the Bangkok outpost still manages to attract celebrities like a magnet. When the bold and the beautiful need a place to stay in the city, Metropolitan offers all the understated elegance required. What's more, it's still pretty affordable for a five-star hotel, making it a hit among mere mortals, too.

Each of the contemporary guestrooms—decked out in luxurious natural fabrics and furnishings—adopts a highly minimalist approach to design. Beds are low-slung Makha wood numbers and bathrooms come kitted out in sleek limestone. Because there's just no rest for the wicked, each room also comes with digital scales and a yoga mat.