The courtyard of the Four Seasons Bangkok, one of the newest luxury hotels along the river.
When Tyler Branco thinks of luxury hotels in Bangkok, The Siam comes to mind. It’s a 38-room boutique resort on the banks of the Chao Phraya River — and it’s a place where nothing is left to chance.
On a recent visit, Branco experienced the hotel’s obsession with detail when he checked into his room and a butler greeted him by name and then helped him unpack his belongings.
« That gave us the precious gift of time — and immediate access to the splendid offerings of Bangkok, » says Branco, a travel advisor from New York.
In Bangkok, several distinct visions of luxury have recently emerged along what’s called the River of Kings, starting with The Siam, which opened a decade ago. Farther down the Chao Phraya, there’s the Anantara Riverside and its sister property, the Avani+ Riverside. And there are Bangkok’s two newest luxury resorts, the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and the boutique Capella Bangkok. All present a different vision of luxury in the Thai capital, which is fast developing a reputation for upscale travel.
« There’s a high level of competitiveness, » says Jens Johansson, who runs an airport information website and is a frequent visitor to Bangkok. « Many of the top chains have established properties in the city. The demand is driven by visitors from around the globe, particularly Asia, Europe, and increasingly, North America. »
In Bangkok, the river connects you to luxury accommodations
Not so long ago, if you wanted an upscale experience in Bangkok, you had to stay in the Pathum Wan district, where you could find luxury properties like the Anantara Siam Bangkok, the Grand Hyatt and the Kimpton Maa-Lai, among others. But some of the action shifted to the river about a decade ago. The trend accelerated just before the pandemic started.
« The whole riverside area has really started to develop in the last five years, » explains Michael Robinson, general manager of the Anantara Riverside. « A lot of people are now choosing to stay in this part of town. »
It’s easy to see why.
A Thai pavillion on the banks of the Chao Phraya River at Anantara Riverside.
Thai-inspired luxury at Anantara Riverside
The Anantara Riverside is all about first impressions. From traditional art to authentic sculptures and welcome drinks made from fragrant pandan leaves, this property welcomes guests as only a Thai property could. Like its sister property in Bangkok, the Anantara Siam, the Riverside property also has a distinctly Thai-influenced vision of luxury. The rooms are generous but not pretentious. They feature a contemporary Thai design with makha wood flooring, silk cushions and local artwork.
True to its name, the Riverside property takes its cues from the River of Kings. Guests can take a sunset cruise up the river to view temples and enjoy traditional Thai cuisine on an antique barge. They can also charter a private water taxi to tour Bangkok’s network of canals, where they can view historical riverside homes, a pepper factory, and Buddhist temples.
The Anantara Riverside is only a 15-minute drive from Bangkok’s signature shopping center, the Icon Siam. But guests of a nearby sister property, the Avani+ Riverside, don’t have to go that far to shop. The Avani+ is in the same building as a mall with three levels of indoor shopping, including several outstanding restaurants. There’s also a rooftop bar at the Avani+ with some of the best views of Bangkok.
Anantara’s vision of luxury, which extends across its brands in Asia and Europe, combines thoughtful design and attentive service. The hotel views life as a journey and each stay as an adventure.
The Four Seasons Bangkok with its river-inspired landscaping.
Luxury on the river at the Four Seasons
he Four Seasons and its next-door neighbor, the Capella, are the newest luxury hotels in Bangkok.
True to its pedigree, the Four Seasons is all about the personal touch. The hotel finds out what its guests want before they check in, from meals to room preferences, and then delivers it while making the whole thing look effortless.
« It’s our secret sauce, if you will, » says Dan Schacter, a spokesman for the resort.
Schacter says he’s seen an intriguing shift in the Bangkok hotel market in recent years. The city has developed a reputation for luxury hotels, particularly on the river.
« Bangkok has long been known as a cheap market and a backpacker’s paradise, » he adds. « But things are changing. »
Having opened during the pandemic, the Four Seasons got off to a slow start. But as travel demand bounced back, properties that cater to luxury travelers — with upscale restaurants, cocktail bars, art galleries, and designer boutiques — have experienced a surge in interest. The Four Seasons has been at the center of that resurgence, says Schacter.
The hotel itself is a work of art, featuring sculptures and paintings inspired by the Chao Phraya River. It also has its own art gallery, where you can currently see the works of Bill Bensley, the Bangkok-based architect and artist.
The Four Seasons’ view of luxury is highly personalized with a service culture that makes every guest feel like a VIP. But it’s also served with a Thai flair, which is evident in everything from the landscaping to the room service.
A room with a river view at the Capella Bangkok.
Capella’s boutique luxury concept
Right next to the Four Seasons at the Capella Bangkok, you’ll find yet another version of luxury. The Capella, with 101 rooms, has a staff-to-guest ratio of three to one, which means there’s always someone nearby to help you with a dinner reservation or directions. Most luxury hotels have a one-to-one ratio.
« Personalization can be executed at a much higher level, » explains John Blanco, Capella’s general manager.
The Capella offers a more intimate kind of luxury. For example, guests checking in are ushered into a private living room, where they’re served a sparkling wine and given their room keys. Everything from meals to morning yoga is highly personalized.
The staff recognizes guests and greets them by name. The hotel also has a dedicated culturists to help guests organize an itinerary based on their preferences in art, take them around to the neighborhood to different galleries, or guide them on a street food tour to sample some of the neighborhood’s best local bites.
Capella’s rooms are significantly larger than other luxury hotel rooms and each room, whether it’s an entry-level suite or a private villa, has a generous view of the river. And at the Capella, space is luxury.
« People want space, » adds Blanco. « One of the features of the hotel is that every room has some sort of outdoor space. They have balconies, and some of them have plunge pools. That’s a luxury in a very densely built city. »
Capella’s take on luxury is all about room and privacy. And that’s an important thing in a city like Bangkok, where space is at a premium.
The atrium welcomes guests at The Siam.
Eclectic luxury at The Siam
The Siam is one of the smaller luxury hotels along the river, but it leaves a big impression. « This is for guests who want to be themselves, » says Nick Downing, the hotel’s general manager. « It’s all about setting a tone that is not formal, and that’s why people come back. »
This resort is all about relaxed luxury. No two rooms are exactly the same, which is intentional. The accommodations are decorated with the owner’s private collection of art and antiques, which include maps of old Siam, 19th-century newspapers and vintage photos. The Siam also emphasizes large welcoming spaces, with a signature atrium that features a spacious pool, palm trees and skylights.
The Siam is unlike any other luxury property on the river. It even has a tattoo studio that practices the ancient Thai tradition called Sak Yan. Guests can receive a sacred tattoo and a blessing from a Buddhist monk while they are on vacation.
Siam’s vision of luxury has more of a vintage feel. If Indiana Jones were traveling to Bangkok, he would stay here. It’s functional, eclectic, but every guest is special.
A signature cocktail served at The Siam.
Which vision of luxury is for you?
Whether you want a luxury travel experience that emphasizes space, or a cultural experience, or adventure, there’s something for you along Bangkok’s River of Kings. And with a strong dollar, any of these luxury properties are also affordable. For example, rooms at the Anantara Riverside start at about $80 a night in early August.
Bangkok’s luxury hotel scene is developing rapidly. In part two of this series, I’ll look at some of the newest hotel developments in the city, some of which will be ready for your 2024 vacation.
