The Atlanta Hotel

The hotel is such an icon it deserves special mention.  

Very very central.  Very very cheap $NZ30 per night.  Very very basic, but clean and has all the absolute necessities.  It is a Bangkok institution being the only original hotel from the 1950's. A building that in those days would have been gorgeous.  Today it is character filled and fun.  You can read the full story here. http://www.theatlantahotelbangkok.com

My first impression left me a but stunned but the place quickly grew on me and in the end sad that I had booked somewhere else for my last few days in Bangkok. Now I would happily come back.

It is filled with quirks:

Dozens of cats.  At any given time there will,be four or five cats hanging out in the foyer. Mthey have a run and big garden out the back to play in as well.  There also a few dogs.

Photos and stories of the original owner are everywhere.  He died in 2002 and no mention is made of who runs the place now.

There are signs everywhere telling guests basically 'if you dont like the place then tough luck, at thismprice you ahve no right to complain'.

Many notices are around the walls, in the menu advising of the clean living expected in the hotel, with no hawkers, hookers or the like allowed.

The menu is a classic, full of quotes from the then owner reinforcing all the other notices but written in quite an abrupt and to the point way.  Also copyrighted so no way I could grab a copy and repeat it, which is a shame as there are some pearler quotes.  I would love to have met him.  He sounds awesome.

The hotel is run to provide a service and an experience for guests, not as a money making venture.  Awesome.  But I would,love to be able to turn it into a money making venture and titivate the place.  The building itself is beautiful and could be made very very special.

Rooms are very basic but spotless.  A nice but small tiled bathroom, bed, coffee table, chair, place to hang clothes and a side board.  The side board comes with a safe.  A steel box attached to the underside, with a flap on the front.  The flap and the bottom of the safe have holes in the front where you can attach your padlock and keep the flap closed.  There are also lockers in the foyer that you can use your own padlock on to keep things safe.

A lovely old door leads from reception to the garden.  The door doesn't open but you go in and out through the space where the glass used to be and there is now an empty void.  Classic. 

                                                   

One of the receptionists sings the most haunting, soft and gentle songs while. sitting at her desk.  Beautiful.  

The main waitress in the restaurant has been therre 30 years.  Only residents and their guests can dine at the hotel restaurant, but if she doesnt like the look of you then you could be barred from the restaurant or kicked out of the hotel.