Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
#Retro Luxury
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- Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, 48 Oriental Ave, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
- Price guide: $$$$$
- Official website
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is a living museum of luxury hospitality that continues to divide opinion nearly 150 years after its founding. Perched majestically on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, this grande dame offers 331 rooms and suites across two wings, with the spectacular river views being the undisputed highlight of any stay.
The property boasts 11 dining venues, including the Michelin-starred Le Normandie by Alain Rou. However, the restaurant designs curiously fail to match the caliber of the cuisine. The hotel’s facilities hit all the luxury benchmarks: a striking 80-foot riverside pool, the renowned Oriental Spa, and a laundry list of cultural experiences from Thai cooking classes to morning alms-giving ceremonies. The location, just 45 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, provides the perfect vantage point to experience Bangkok’s river life.
What you’ll either love or loathe is the hotel’s unapologetic commitment to its 1960s glory days. The retro atmosphere, formal service, and dress codes transport you to another era of travel, a time-machine effect that feels either refreshingly authentic or frustratingly dated depending on your perspective. The increasing focus on retail spaces and prioritizing events over individual guests will annoy seasoned luxury travelers, but the impeccable in-room service and unbeatable river setting might just make you forgive these modern concessions.
Best for history buffs who appreciate retro luxury and don’t mind paying premium rates for a slice of Bangkok’s glamorous past.
