Opened: Nov 29, 2010

Overview: So finally the long-awaited hotel on top of the bustling Central Festival Pattaya is ready for business, making it Sin City’s newest landmark and promising a view to die for.

The design: Despite a boring façade of wood sticks, the interior is stunning, thanks to a collaboration between August Design (Maduzi, Veranda the High) and the Department of Architecture (Sala Phuket, Zeavola). The space is heavy on ocean-themed details with lots of curvy lines, warm lights, aqua colors, bleached wood and sparkling mirrors, reminding you of the nearby dusitD2 Baraquada located a kilometer away. Blessed with a higher location than any other hotel in Pattaya, the Hilton offers elevated sea views from every F&B outlet and every room.

Food and drinks: Only four F&B outlets are in operation at this moment. Connected to the lobby is Drift where sofas are perched on little indoor ponds. Edge is where you have buffet breakfast as well as a-la-carte international lunch and dinner together with a sea view no matter where you sit—at the outdoor terrace or the air-con inside. One level above is Flare which serves up grilled meats and a seafood five-course dinner paired with your selections of wine, all in a dark-colored seductive setting. And lastly, there is a pool bar called Shore.

The good: If the view is your first priority, you’ll get Pattaya’s very best at this place. The infinity pool, adjacent to the lobby, will make you just want to take off your clothes and plunge in. Swim to the very far edge of the pool and you can gaze upon all of Pattaya Beach. The food at Flare is great, especially when you pair it with good wine recommended by the sommelier (who was previously at The Peninsula and Sirocco). The staff is very attentive and well-trained.

The bad: When you look closer at some details of the materials, you’ll be disappointed given that this is a five-star hotel. For example, the sink in your room bathroom is made from plastic and the room walls are so thin that you can hear your neighbors—not ideal for Pattaya. And with big-name designers, we didn’t expect to see a design that reminds us so much of other hotels. The worst thing is the parking situation: you need to compete with mall visitors as there is no space reserved for hotel guests.

Rates: From B6,500 per night, exclusive of breakfast, taxes and service charge. Top Koaysomboon