The best hotels in Bangkok
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With hundreds of hotels spread across dozens of distinctive neighbourhoods, finding the best hotel in Bangkok is no easy feat. There are timeless classics that have proven their appeal throughout decades, while boldly-designed new arrivals have started shaking up the conventions of Thai hospitality. They range from intimate boutique stays to ritzy resorts with handfuls of dining options, while their settings – from the banks of the Chao Phraya River to the skyscraper-studded business districts – each rub off on the guest experience.
From a private villa in Bangkok's little-visited Bangkok Noi area to a glossy new arrival from one of the world's most celebrated hospitality brands, these are the best hotels in Bangkok.
The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon
From whichever vantage point you gaze at the skyline, it's hard to miss the pixel-swirled King Power Mahanakhon towering 314 metres above Bangkok's central business district. Its tenant, the Asian flagship of Hollywood-born The Standard hotel group, is fittingly eccentric. Opened at the end of 2022, it eschews the typical straight-lined beige look of its competitors with an eclectic mix of eye-popping colours and curvy shapes by Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon. Rooms range from snug studios furnished with orb lights and retro-tinged sofas in mustard velours to penthouse-sized (after)party-pads with whirlpool tubs and balconies overlooking Bangkok's CBD. It's also one of Bangkok's most food-forward hotels: on the lobby floor, the Parlor lounge dishes out Thai comfort food, while the adjoining floors are home to NYC-style steakhouse The Standard Grill and Thailand's first outpost of Hong Kong-born dim-sum powerhouse Mott 32 (don't miss the applewood-roasted Peking duck). And just below the glass-floored viewing deck and the sky-high rooftop bar on the 78th floor, neo-Mexican restaurant Ojo grew into one of Bangkok's most sought-after tables just days after opening. Read our full review of The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon.
Address: 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
Starting your day with a buttery croissant and a plate full of intricately cut tropical fruits on the riverfront terrace of the Oriental, it's easy to see why this historic hotel along the Chao Phraya River has been a high-flyer haven for everyone from Audrey Hepburn to Somerset Maugham. Thanks to regular touch-ups and renovations (in 2019, rooms in the River Wing received a fresh, floral-tinged look), this grande dame aged gracefully and still attracts global glitterati. Its dozen bars and restaurants draw in well-heeled Bangkokians for kaiseki lunches at Kinu, a 10-seat extension from the two Michelin-starred Takagi in Kyoto, and elaborate seafood buffets at Lord Jim's. Even if you're not sleeping over, afternoon tea at crystal-chandeliered Authors' Lounge or a pandan-infused daiquiri at the jazzy Bamboo Bar are worth travelling for.
Address: 48 Oriental Ave, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
William FurnissThe Peninsula Bangkok
With its towering facade akin to a mothership in a 1970s Space Age movie, the Peninsula is a defining feature of the Chao Phraya River banks. And even though the hotel has been welcoming loyal guests since the late 1990s, it managed to stay relevant throughout the following decades. Its rooms, all done up in teak, cream and Thai silk, deliver some of the best views in all of Bangkok (thanks to the building's perch on the western bank of the river, they face the skyscraper-studded downtown), and amenity-wise, the 36th- and 37th-floor suites with hot tubs on their private terraces are hard to beat. But it's the experiential programming that sets this hotel apart: from artist-in-residence exhibitions to plant-based Chinese tasting menus and complimentary wellness activities (including Aquafit classes, mindfulness breathing workshops and sunrise yoga at a nearby temple), the Pen has its finger on the pulse of what's trending in travel.
Address: 333 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok 10600, Thailand
PanoramicStudioCapella Bangkok
This hush-hush haven of blonde woods and sand-coloured marble along the Chao Phraya River sits on the highest end of Bangkok's hotel spectrum. Even the entry-level rooms in this low-rise retreat feature river views (in fact, all areas do – from the lobby's Tea Lounge to the gym), spa-like bathrooms and spacious floor plans, but it only gets better from there: some of the suites come with travertine-clad plunge pools on their balconies, while the villas, pitched right on the river's edge, open to private tropical gardens, swimming pools, and cosy sala lounge nooks. On the food front, there's a Michelin-starred Mediterranean dining room by hot-shot chef Mauro Colagreco (of Mirazur fame) and a regional Thai restaurant dishing up no-holds-barred curries and stir-fries on one of the loveliest tree-shaded terraces anywhere along the river. Read our full review of Capella Bangkok.
Address: 300 2 Charoen Krung Rd, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Stephanie A.Park Hyatt Bangkok
Soaring over central Bangkok's ritzy Phloen Chit district like a giant metallic swirl, the Park Hyatt Bangkok rang in an exciting new era for Bangkok's high-end hotel scene when it opened atop the landmark Central Embassy mall in 2017. It came with serious pedigree: the rooms and suites, clad in creamy travertine, pale wood veneer and Thai-inspired accents in orange and black, were drawn up by the design big-shots of Yabu Pushelberg, while New York-based outfit AvroKO transformed the upper floors into a steampunk bar and grill with a hidden whiskey room stocking more than 150 rare labels. After breakfast, the triple-height Embassy Room on the lobby floor turns into chef Ferran Tadeo's culinary playground as he serves inspired tasting menus drawing on ingredients and recipes – Joselito ham, Galician octopus stew, trinxat (potato mash with egg yolk) – from his native Catalonia.
Address: Central Embassy, 88 Witthayu Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Bangkok Publishing Residence
Housed in an old printing factory along lively Lan Luang Road in the Old Town, this intimate but super-smart place to stay rivals the service of many of the city’s five-stars. Its picturesque lobby doubles as a museum (a publisher and his family once lived here), showcasing volumes of old magazines, antique printers and keepsakes. Guests are encouraged to browse around, and the friendly staff are more than happy to share stories about the place. Despite their retro appearance, rooms are decked out with mod-cons, including seriously comfy mattress toppers and Bluetooth speakers. The rooftop garden has a greenery-clad hot tub to unwind in after a long day in the Bangkok bustle.
Sven EllsworthThe Sukhothai
Plenty have tried, but few hotels in Thailand have managed to hit that sweet spot between classic marble-and-teak Thai and straight-lined modernism quite like The Sukhothai. This three-decades-old Bangkok stalwart, located just out of earshot from the city's cacophonous business district, has garnered a loyal following for its spacious rooms and Zen-inducing courtyards dotted with lily ponds and rain trees – all wrapped in a timelessly elegant design by the late architects Ed Tuttle and Kerry Hill. Between terracotta stupas and timeworn Buddhist wood carvings, the hotel's Celadon restaurant serves up excellent Thai cuisine (go for the 8-course tasting menu), while chi chi La Scala ranks high as one of Bangkok's best Italian restaurants. The hotel's plum position along Sathorn Road makes exploring both the Old Town district and the city's downtown a breeze, but the enormous green-tiled swimming pool makes staying in just as appealing.
Address: 13/3 S Sathon Rd, Khwaeng Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok
This urban offshoot from the beloved 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai is a bold departure from the nostalgic look of its northern sibling. Instead of rattan and teak, contemporary Thai art and chrome accents set the scene in the hotel's snug, living room-like residences taking over a gleaming tower in the central Phrom Phong district. But it's the suites you'll want to book. Spread over the top half of the building, they feature separate bedrooms and marble-trimmed bathrooms with bowl-shaped tubs the size of plunge pools. Suite guests also have access to the Baan Borneo Club on the 26th floor for intimate breakfasts and complimentary sundowners, plus exclusive use of one of Bangkok's most spectacular infinity rooftop pools on the 38th floor.
Address: 59/1 Soi Sukhumvit 39, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
The Siam
While its location, at least a 30-minute boat- or taxi trip away from Bangkok's downtown, doesn't quite work in its favour, The Siam more than makes up for that with one of Thailand's most dazzling interior designs. Spearheaded by hotel guru Bill Bensley, this Art Deco-styled riverfront retreat is studded with Buddhist art and all sorts of antiques from around the globe – most of it from the private collection of Thai rockstar and co-owner Krissada Sukosol Clapp. Its 39 suites, all monochrome hues and antique accents, are some of the roomiest in town, but the real showstoppers are the villas pitched closer to the river: their riad-like private courtyards come with swimming pools and lounge nooks in antique Chinese daybeds, plus swirling cast-iron stairs leading to rooftop sundecks with river views. The lobby's gift shop stocks a fascinating collection of retro knick-knacks and old-timey local art, but the Opium spa is the spot to hit up for the ultimate Thai souvenir: a hand-poked Sak Yant tattoo by a traditional Thai tattoo master.
Address: The Siam 3, 2 Thanon Khao, Vachirapayabal, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
Napat RungsrithananonSiri Sala
If you have a big budget and it's privacy you're after, Siri Sala is just the ticket. This five-bedroom villa, located along the quaint Bangkok Noi canal across the river from the Grand Palace, only opens to one party (of up to 12 guests) at a time. That means you and your crew will have the lounger-lined lap pool, the indoor-outdoor spa, and game room all to yourselves, and a private chef who whips up Thai and western comfort food at the drop of a hat. The villa is a passion project of its Thai-Filipino owners, who took five years to thoughtfully rebuild and renovate the trio of derelict teakwood homes they bought on this riverside lot. While two of them were damaged beyond repair, their floorboards and wall fixtures now live on as upcycled furniture – the third one has been meticulously restored as a jazzy, exclusive-use cocktail bar at the back of the property. With its little-visited temples and ramshackle riverfront homes, this corner of Bangkok feels frozen in time – an historian-guided canal tour on board Siri Sala's teak-clad boat is an unbeatable way to dive deeper into this fascinating district.
Address: 8, 28, 34 Charan Sanit Wong Rd, Arun Amarin, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Chris Schalkx1905 Heritage Corner
It took four years to restore the historic shophouse this small B&B is set in, but the wait has paid off; few hotels can match the charm, character and atmosphere of 1905 Heritage Corner. The three bedrooms have been done out in polished wood, metro-tiled bathrooms and old-school furniture, while the Chinese antiques in the public spaces nod to the building’s former function as a tearoom. From the artisan soap menu that is emailed to you before your arrival to the lavish breakfast which includes Thai khanom snacks, the attention to detail is impeccable. The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant, but thanks to its plum position at the Phraeng Phuton piazza, some of the city’s best-known street food stalls are right around the corner.
Address: 1905 Heritage Corner, 66-68 Phraeng Phuthon Road, San Chao Por Suea, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The Mustang Blu
Pitched around the corner from Chinatown's buzz-hub Soi Nana, Bangkok's coolest neighbourhood, The Mustang Blu is one of the city's quirkiest boutique hotels. Set in an early 20th-century Chinese medicine dispensary-turned-bank building-turned naughty massage joint, this 10-room bolthole unfurls like a cabinet of curiosities and brims with timeworn European antiques and exotic taxidermy (including a glass-encased horse and ostrich skeleton in the lobby). Fittingly for a building of this age, none of the room's floor plans are the same. Some have large marble-clad bathrooms, others come with roll top tubs and snug balconies. The only con: the rooms aren't exactly sound proof and tuk-tuks start clattering through the street from the early morning – pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper.
Address: 721 Maitri Chit Rd, Khwaeng Pom Prap, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Amdaeng
This is probably the most romantic hotel in Bangkok. The vermillion-red façade and all-red swimming pool set the tone, followed by a lobby with an opulent mishmash of antiques, faded mirrors and shimmering chandeliers. Most rooms have antique furniture, roll-top bathtubs and showers big enough for two, and the river-facing balconies are a great setting for a romantic sundowner. The Sino-chic Lhong 1919 community space is just steps away, offering some fantastic places to eat within walking distance.
Address: Amdaeng, 12/1 Chiangmai Road, Khwaeng Khlong San, Khet Khlong San, Bangkok
CHANN
You’ll have to follow through a dizzying maze of alleyways to reach CHANN, a sleek riverside retreat in the historic Bangkok Noi community, but your trek will be rewarded with a hidden-away escape at the intersection of the mighty Chao Phraya and Bangkok Noi canal. With 18 rooms and four suites spread over several teakwood villas, this is one of the biggest hotels on this list, yet it has a delightfully intimate vibe. Rooms are kept intentionally simple with lots of warm wood, natural textiles and a touch of mid-century-modern design. On-site restaurant IMM sticks to comforting classics such as roasted crispy pork and massaman curry, and its waterside terrace is a lovely dinner spot.
Address: CHANN, 30/1 Wat Dusitaram Somdej Phra Pin Klao Road, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok