Bangkok’s most characterful luxury hotel? Step inside The Siam

Located on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Praya river, The Siam blends refined design, Michelin-level luxury, and riverside tranquillity in the heart of Thailand’s bustling capital

Why stay here

The stylish, beautiful Siam is one of only eight hotels in Thailand to be awarded three Michelin keys (the highest hotel equivalent of Michelin stars for restaurants). It is located in the Dusit district about three kilometres north of the Grand Palace, near the Thai Parliament buildings, government offices and royal palaces. Thanks to the hotel’s very own private launch, guests can easily get to the CBD in minutes along the Chao Praya river – by far the best way to get to and from the city. After an afternoon of shopping, sightseeing and street food, guests can grab the launch from its jetty outside the ICONSIAM mall (to the envy of those queuing for the public boats) and glide back north in style, past the glittering riverside temples.

Design

The Siam is one of the chicest hotels not just in Bangkok, but in all of Thailand. Guests arrive in the main hotel building – with its monochrome floors and furniture – and colourful splashes of green and Thai mauve. They then stroll through the towering central atrium, which is a mini-botanic garden of palms and ferns flanked by calm, antique-filled rooms, including a library and screening room. A herringbone brick walkway punctuated by small lotus pools leads from the main building down to a gorgeous lap pool, sun-lounging garden and the Chon Thai restaurant, all right on the banks of the river. The hotel was designed by its owners – the local Sukosol family – and the famous Asian hotel designer, Bill Bensley.

In the room

The rooms and suites are expansive, starting at 80 square metres (Siam Suite and Garden View Suite) and going up to 130 square metres (Riverside Pool Villa and Courtyard Pool Villa). Each is immaculately designed and decorated, continuing the black-and-white theme and showcasing beautiful contrasts of colour in the mauve sofas, floral cushions, house plants and vases of chrysanthemums. My 100-square-metre Premier River View Suite on the second floor has floor-to-ceiling windows, a separate living area and a minibar with complimentary soft drinks and snacks. The bedroom features a black wooden floor, white walls with black wood panelling, a huge bathtub and carefully chosen Asian antiques dotted around the room.

Dining

Just when I thought this hotel couldn’t get any better I find myself on The Pier at sunset, sipping a delicious lychee and lemongrass martini and watching the river flow past. Then, it’s a banquet at Chon Thai restaurant. Every dish is exemplary, from the Tom Yum Poh Taek (Thailand’s answer to bouillabaisse, with prawns, seabass, mussels, lemongrass, kaffir lime and basil) to the Kratong Tong (raw, spiced tuna, shallot and coriander) and the Gaeng Chaploo Poo (yellow curry with blue swimmer crab, betel leaves and spices). Meat lovers will adore the Gaeng Massamun Nua (traditional Massamun curry using Tassie Cape Grim short rib steak).

In the hotel’s main building is a second eatery – the Story House – where guests can have an ultra-luxurious afternoon tea including such delights as truffled egg sandwiches, Peking duck rice paper rolls with hoi sin sauce, profiteroles with rosewater custard and candied pistachio, and scones and clotted cream. There’s a comprehensive list of teas including Kanomthai (or Thai dessert tea), an organic roasted green tea made from vanilla beans and rice from Chiang Rai.

I leave the best until last. Breakfast at Chon Thai is out-of-this-world delicious. Every single mouthful is incredible and I can’t think of a hotel breakfast in Asia or Oceania that has been as good as this. There’s a light and mouthwatering cured salmon bruschetta with soft-poached egg and horseradish cream, a truffle cheese toastie with gruyere and pesto, and a tiger prawn hash with asparagus, poached egg, hollandaise and herring caviar. For those with a sweet-tooth, there is French toast with caramelised figs and blueberry ricotta, and coconut waffles with candied banana, salted caramel, walnuts, crispy bacon and ice cream.

Special touches

The Siam offers unparalleled serenity in one of the world’s most famously chaotic cities. This can be found in the Library, where guests are invited to sit and read in peace; the Vinyl Room, where music fans play old records and – most serene of all – the Opium Spa. The latter is a true haven of tranquillity and offers world-class treatments, such as the indulgent Contouring Marine Body Wrap, which includes a Himalayan salt and green tea exfoliation and a warm wrap of marine extracts, plant essences and algae to suck out those nasty toxins.

If you want to upgrade

If you are going for gold then book a 130-square-metre Riverside Pool Villa, which comes complete with private pool, Art Deco-inspired bedroom (with steps up to a royal elevated bed), black-and-white tiled, industrial-chic bathroom with huge bathtub, and a private terrace overlooking the lap pool and the river beyond. It’s like having your own Thai villa in the heart of bustling Bangkok.

THE SIAM BANGKOK

Premier River View Suite
100m2
From AU$1500 per night (excluding taxes)
www.thesiamhotel.com