The Chao Phraya Edit: Bangkok's Best Riverside Hotels
From heritage grandes dames to Bill Bensley's boldest work, here's why Bangkok's hotels never stray far from the Chao Phraya.
Image: The Peninsula Hotels
Bangkok's grandest hotels firmly occupy spots along the Chao Phraya River, with this years’ awards only cementing their reputations. Most recently, Capella Bangkok placed second in the World's 50 Best Hotels, while Mandarin Oriental Bangkok also secured a spot inside the top ten. Beyond this, six Thai hotels now hold Three Michelin Keys - several of them within a few minutes of each other on the water. If you're deciding where to stay, the river is a good place to start.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, the grand dame of the group, has been defending its position in the Bang Rak district since the 1880s. Its 331 rooms and suites, the two-Michelin-starred Le Normandie, and a private river shuttle to the spa on the opposite bank have kept it near the top of every serious Bangkok list for well over a century.
Image: Four Seasons
A short way downriver in Sathorn, Capella Bangkok and Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River sit almost side by side on Charoenkrung Road. Capella brings Bill Bensley's theatrical style to the water's edge with a scattering of private pool villas, while Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, on the historic Charoenkrung side, pairs Jean-Michel Gathy's courtyard architecture with one of the largest hotel spas in the city.
Beyond that trio, here are three more luxury hotels to consider for your next stay.
The Peninsula Bangkok
On the opposite bank in Thonburi, The Peninsula puts the waterway front and centre no matter what room you’re in. Its distinctive W-shaped tower was designed so that all 367 rooms and suites face the water.
The location, a short drive from Sathorn Bridge and directly across from Saphan Taksin BTS, puts the whole of Bangkok within easy reach by road or by boat. A private ferry runs guests across the river throughout the day, and the view back towards the skyline at dusk is one of the best reasons to book a room here.
Image; The Peninsula Hotels
Image: The Siam
The Siam
Further upriver in the old royal quarter of Dusit, The Siam is at the opposite end of the size scale. There are only 39 suites and villas across three riverfront acres, each filled with exquisite antiques from a private collection, and the whole property feels closer to a family home than a hotel.
Bill Bensley worked alongside Thai musician Krissada Sukosol Clapp to create the black-and-white Art Deco interiors, and the grounds include Connie's Cottage, a teak house that once belonged to Bangkok socialite Connie Mangskau and now operates as one of the hotel's most requested places to dine. A private speedboat connects guests to Sathorn Pier, from where the BTS collects the rest of Bangkok.
Anantara Riverside Bangkok
Further along the Thonburi bank, Anantara Riverside is perfect for those searching for a refined, resort feel. Spread across 11 acres of tropical gardens, this is the largest riverside resort in central Bangkok, with 376 rooms split between low-rise buildings that separate it from the city’s high rises.
Image: Anantara Hotels & Resorts
Nine restaurants and bars cover everything from a Polynesian tiki bar to riverside Thai barbecue, and a restored rice barge shuttles guests to the BTS at Saphan Taksin throughout the day.
The Langham, Custom House
Image: Langham Hotels
The newest name to join this stretch of the river is The Langham, Custom House, which is opening this December in the Bang Rak district.
The 75-key hotel occupies a meticulously restored 1888 customs building, once the country's official gateway to the world, with a contemporary wing added alongside it. It marks Langham's first property in Thailand, and reservations are already open for stays from 20 December
Still need more choice? Sala Rattanakosin is on the boutique side and looks straight across the water at Wat Arun, offering one of the best cocktails spots in Bangkok for a sunset drink. For another old-timer, Shangri-La Bangkok, near Saphan Taksin, is one of the city's longest-standing five-star addresses, with 802 rooms and a riverside spa that regulars have been returning to for years.
