Best Hotel Bets in Bangkok
Thailand's capital has hotels to suit all occasions and tastes. What follows are our favorites.
Best Hotel in the World: Mandarin Oriental
Like Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward, and many other writers of old, I would love to lay my hat at the Oriental for months at a time. It’s timeless. Founded in 1876, the Oriental has long been regarded as one of the greatest hotels in the world—a testament to Thai history and a tribute to the Thai sense of personal service and harmony.
Best Flashback to 19th-Century Siam: The Eugenia
This intimate hotel has just three antique-filled suites, making it feel more like an old-time home than a hotel. Well, a home with a restaurant and spa attached. What could be better?
Best for Affordable Romance: Ibrik Resort
"Resort" is pushing it for this tiny, three-room hotel. But the rooms are romantic, stark white with pops of color from brightly colored pillows and rugs. And we have to say that the four-poster beds, with billowy white chiffon curtains, are divine.
Best for Cocktails by the Swimming Pool: Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort
Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the Anantara (formerly the Marriott) is like a tropical beach resort with its exotic pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, and open-air spa. It’s for those who don’t want to stay right in the big city but are happy to have access to a convenient free shuttle ferry to the SkyTrain.
Best for Riverside Dining: The Peninsula
This award-winning east-meets-west hotel is five-star in every way. The marble lobby is exquisite, the service is subtle and refined, and the Asian cuisine is sumptuous.
Best Views at Sunrise: Chakrabongse Villas
If someone else paid, I would live here! Formerly a royal residence, these traditional Thai-Chinese-style wooden chalets look over the Chao Phraya River towards the Temple of Dawn. It’s an ideal spot for eating breakfast and reading the morning newspapers. Book well in advance.
Best Hotel in the World: Mandarin Oriental
Like Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward, and many other writers of old, I would love to lay my hat at the Oriental for months at a time. It’s timeless. Founded in 1876, the Oriental has long been regarded as one of the greatest hotels in the world—a testament to Thai history and a tribute to the Thai sense of personal service and harmony.
Best Flashback to 19th-Century Siam: The Eugenia
This intimate hotel has just three antique-filled suites, making it feel more like an old-time home than a hotel. Well, a home with a restaurant and spa attached. What could be better?
Best for Affordable Romance: Ibrik Resort
"Resort" is pushing it for this tiny, three-room hotel. But the rooms are romantic, stark white with pops of color from brightly colored pillows and rugs. And we have to say that the four-poster beds, with billowy white chiffon curtains, are divine.
Best for Cocktails by the Swimming Pool: Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort
Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the Anantara (formerly the Marriott) is like a tropical beach resort with its exotic pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, and open-air spa. It’s for those who don’t want to stay right in the big city but are happy to have access to a convenient free shuttle ferry to the SkyTrain.
Best for Riverside Dining: The Peninsula
This award-winning east-meets-west hotel is five-star in every way. The marble lobby is exquisite, the service is subtle and refined, and the Asian cuisine is sumptuous.
Best Views at Sunrise: Chakrabongse Villas
If someone else paid, I would live here! Formerly a royal residence, these traditional Thai-Chinese-style wooden chalets look over the Chao Phraya River towards the Temple of Dawn. It’s an ideal spot for eating breakfast and reading the morning newspapers. Book well in advance.