Bangkok, from the river to Ratchadamri
Luxury hotels in Bangkok
18 hotels
Bangkok keeps its luxury in two places: on the Chao Phraya and in the green center around Ratchadamri. On the river the first hotel of the country still stands and the newest ones have joined it along Charoen Krung and the Thonburi bank; in the center the towers of Ratchadamri, Ploenchit and Wireless Road look over Lumpini Park and the racecourse. Silom and Sathorn add two low-rise gardens in the business district. We list eighteen houses, each one written at exactly the tier it holds, with a concierge behind every stay.
The neighborhoods
Riverside — Chao Phraya
The river and its banks, with the first hotel of the city and the newest ones. It takes in Charoen Krung and the old trading houses, the Thonburi side with Wat Arun and ICONSIAM, and the piers of Saphan Taksin; the Dusit district lies upstream.
Ratchadamri & Ploenchit
The green center on the Skytrain line, with Lumpini Park and Nai Lert Park. Ratchadamri runs along the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Ploenchit and Wireless Road open onto the two parks, and the malls of Siam and the Erawan Shrine complete the district.
Silom & Sathorn
The business district of Sathorn and Silom, with two low-rise gardens hidden inside it. Its towers rise along both roads and Lumpini Park lies at its edge; the night market of Patpong and the piers at the river end of Silom are part of it too.
Good to know
Which are the five-star hotels in Bangkok?
Four. The five-star hotels we list in Bangkok are Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, the first hotel of the country, on the Chao Phraya; Capella Bangkok, on the river at Charoen Krung; The Peninsula Bangkok, on the Thonburi bank; and The Siam, the riverside estate of the Dusit district. Fourteen more houses hold four-star standing: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Rosewood Bangkok, Park Hyatt Bangkok, The Sukhothai Bangkok, The Okura Prestige Bangkok, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, The St. Regis Bangkok, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, COMO Metropolitan Bangkok, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, Shangri-La Bangkok and Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok. Each has its own page, reached from the list above, with a concierge behind every stay.
Which part of Bangkok should I stay in?
The river for the old city and the views: Charoen Krung and the Thonburi bank put the temples, Chinatown and the boats at the door, and the Skytrain at Saphan Taksin. Ratchadamri, Ploenchit and Wireless Road for the center: Lumpini Park, the malls of Siam and the Skytrain line under the windows. Silom and Sathorn for the business district, ten minutes from both.
When is the best season for Bangkok?
November to February, the cool and dry season, is the high season; March and April are the hottest months, with Songkran in mid-April; the monsoon from May to October brings short, heavy afternoon rains and the lowest rates. The river houses fill first in December and over Chinese New Year.
How do you get to Bangkok – and do I need a visa?
Suvarnabhumi Airport is about forty-five minutes by car from Ratchadamri, an hour from the river; Don Mueang serves the regional flights. Most visitors from Europe and the Americas enter without a visa for a short stay – the rule changes, so check it before you fly. Inside the city the Skytrain and the river boats beat the traffic.
How do I reserve a stay?
Search your dates on the hotel's page to see reference rates, then send the concierge a request. The concierge confirms exact rates and availability with you before anything is booked, and any payment and its timing are set out before you confirm.
