Luxury Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

For more than 130 years, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has lured royalty, dignitaries, artists, authors and discerning travellers to its absolute river front location in the heart of the city - and for good reason. Here’s why we love it. 

• Location: On The Chao Phraya River in the cultural heart of Bangkok. 
• Accommodations: The hotel has an impressive lineup of accommodation options including 271 spacious rooms and 60 lavish suites. The decor blends Thai styling with elegant modern touches and the latest of technology, all of which make your stay comfortable and seamless. There are also plenty of unique decor touches in each category, such as private butler service and twin or king size beds, and most have full or partial views of the Chao Phraya River.  
• Dining options: There are 10 restaurants and bars on site including the riverfront Riverside Terrace for al fresco dining, Le Normandie for contemporary French cuisine, Lord Jim’s for seafood, Ciao Terrazza for Italian fare, and the Thai restaurant, Sala Rim Naam, which is located in a waterside pavilion and accessed by the hotel’s traditional wooden boat.
• What else is there: Set among the beautiful gardens are two pools with private cabanas available for those looking simply to relax and unwind. There are also impressive fitness facilities including a flood-lit tennis court, a jogging track, yoga classes, and a fitness centre. However, a major draw card of staying at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is the lavish, renowned spa temple, which features an aroma steam room, a sauna and jacuzzi, a relaxation lounge, and a menu of indulgent treatments including Moroccan Rhassoul.
• What’s nearby: Located in the heart of Bangkok’s cultural district, ferries stop right outside the hotel to whisk guests to nearby riverside shopping centres, and it’s a short taxi ride to Sanam Luang, the political heart of Bangkok which is the home of the magnificent Grand Palace. It’s also only a short boat ride to the city’s famous skytrain and luxurious shopping at IconSiam.
• Why go: Besides its history, location and sumptuous luxury accommodations, the hotel prides itself on great service and it delivers. From the moment you arrive the staff are attentive to every need in true Thai style, making your Bangkok romantic getaway just that bit more special.

The Space

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok a hotel with a long history, a big reputation, and it is consistently voted as one of the best hotels in the world. When you first step into the magnificent lobby it can feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. Beyond the classic colonial-style interiors is a serene garden overlooking the Chao Phraya River which seems an impossible oasis in the frenetic heart of bustling Bangkok. But its beauty is more than just skin deep; everything is calm, and everybody seems relaxed. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok typifies the golden age of travel, yet has also embraced the best creature comforts the modern age can offer. The interior decor is fresh and vibrant with an original colonial feel and the rooms are surprisingly spacious with beautiful Thai style design touches. Add to that is the fact that it’s located in one of the best areas in this sprawling city, and you have a luxury hotel ideal for a romantic getaway, which ticks all the boxes for discerning travellers.

Where We Stayed

Our home for several nights was a Chao Phraya River Suite, a gorgeous, split level accommodation where a colonial-inspired design meets sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling windows of the gardens and the river. The suite had lovely, separate spaces including a living and dining room, a bedroom with a large marble bathroom, a balcony, and the perk of private butler service as you need it. The colonial-inspired decor had plenty of elegant touches embracing the hotel’s unique heritage and Thai culture, as well as rich coloured, polished wooden floors, luxury customised furnishings, soft grey walls, and plenty of natural light. The bathroom was especially large, with a separate, very deep bath, a spacious walk-in shower and a walk-in wardrobe to die for. To call it a home away from home was an understatement. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The river front location with lovely views.
• The magnificent spa facility.
• The top notch service and luxury accommodations.

Insider Tips  

• If you only have time to visit the spa once, do it. It was the first city spa to open in Bangkok, way back in 1993, and top of your list of treatments to try should be a traditional Thai massage which is truly amazing.
• Lovers of literary history should book a room or suite in the Author’s Wing. The hotel has welcomed luminaries for decades, including Somerset Maugham, Wilbur Smith and John Le Carré, and the wing is in the original hotel building with 30 rooms and suites, all of which were beautifully renovated in 2016.

The Details

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is located at 48 Oriental Avenue, 10500 Bangkok, Thailand, www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok.