Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok
For the ultimate in colonial-era romance, there is nothing like sleeping in a suite once inhabited by legendary writers Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham. With panoramic views, this five-star, 130-year-old hotel overlooks the Chao Phraya River, where water-borne commerce continues today as it has for centuries.
48 Oriental Ave.
Bangkok, Thailand 10500
(011) +66 2 659 9000
mandarinoriental.com
The Peninsula Bangkok
On the other side of the Chao Phraya River from the Mandarin Oriental (accessible via free ferry service) the equally posh Peninsula represents a more modern side of Bangkok, with high-tech meeting facilities and a dedicated helicopter pad.
333 Charoennakorn Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10600
(011) +66 2 861 2888
peninsula.com
Millennium Hilton Bangkok
Not far from the Peninsula, the Millennium Hilton is the newest major hotel on the river. Opened at the end of 2005, the cutting-edge hotel trumps the competition for views from the ThreeSixty Lounge that crowns its modern façade.
123 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan
Bangkok, Thailand, 10600
(011) +66 2 442 2000
hilton.com
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa
Further downstream, in its own idyllic oasis, this Marriott property feel like it is miles from the city, yet the bustle of downtown Bangkok is only a 10-minute ride away, aboard the resort's own antique rice barge.
257 Charoennakorn Road
Samrae Thonburi
Bangkok, Thailand 10600
(011) +66 2 476 0022
marriott.com
Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok
Back on the downtown side of the Chao Phraya River, the Shangri-La reflects the classic--if slightly fussy--tastes of the Bangkok elite. Not a high-rise like the others, it is the only river hotel that lies adjacent to a convenient SkyTrain station. Its riverside restaurant buffet is legendary among Bangkok expatriates.
89 Soi Wat Suan Phlu New Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10500
(011) + 66 2 236 7777
shangri-la.com
Royal Orchid Sheraton
This Starwood property was once the group's regional flagship but its five-star service has declined in recent years. Go in with four-star expectations (and a decent discount) and this riverside property can still impress.
2 Charoen Krung Road Soi 30
Siphya, Bangrak
Bangkok, Thailand 10500
(011) + 66 2 266 0123
sheraton.com
Siam City Hotel
One of the few five-star hotels in Bangkok that is owner-operated, the Siam City offers a true Thai-style retreat in the center of town, conveniently located near a SkyTrain station.
477 Sri Ayuthaya Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10400
(011) +66 2247 0123
siamhotels.com
Conrad Hotel Bangkok
This newer property is situated in the neighborhood of several embassies, including that of the United States, and a stone's throw from downtown shopping and Lumpini, the city's central park. Its ground floor features a jazz club and a dance club popular with Bangkok's upmarket hipsters.
87 Wireless Road
Phatumwan
Bangkok, Thailand 10330
(011) +66 2 690 9999
bangkok.com/conrad/
Banyan Tree Bangkok
Even if you don't stay at this upscale hotel, it's worth a visit, if only to enjoy a cocktail at Vertigo Grill and Moon Bar, the aptly named hotel restaurant that sits 61 stories in the air, atop one of Bangkok's tallest towers.
21/100 South Sathorn Road
Bangkok, Thailand 10120
(011) +66 2 679 1200
banyantree.com
