Katie Milton reviews the Garden Suite at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.
The Garden Suite
To commemorate the hotel’s 140th anniversary, the original Garden Wing underwent a complete renovation in 2016 with the two floors gutted and transformed into 12 spacious Garden Suites with enormous white marble bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge and bedroom frame the Chao Phraya River, and ornate details recur in the floral silk accents, gold framed oriental artworks and fresh orchids spread throughout the suite.
Locale
A grand colonial icon in the heart of Bangkok, the flagship Mandarin Oriental is set on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. A long-tail boat ride to the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Bangkok’s bustling night markets, and a short walk to the city’s famous Skytrain, this five-star hotel is the perfect base from which to explore.
Look and Feel
Outfitted in colonial-era traditional Thai pants and a Pith helmet, the doorman was the first hint of the hotel’s impeccable standards. Designed to embody the concept ‘one foot in the past, one in the future’, the hotel’s grandeur is spoken in the high ceilings, elaborate chandeliers and fresh flowers curated by the in-house floral team. There are 324 rooms and 44 high-end suites, and the foyer is always humming with a mix of business travellers, families and local guests.
Eat in
Buffet breakfast at The Verandah is served riverside beneath green umbrellas. When the sun goes down, the Riverside Terrace serves an international barbeque buffet while French, Thai, Chinese, Seafood and Italian speciality restaurants are also on site. A stay at MO Bangkok isn’t complete without a cocktail at Bamboo Bar or high tea at the Authors’ Lounge; a newly restored glass-roofed garden cafe that has hosted numerous literary icons.
Treat Yourself
I woke up early on Saturday morning for the complimentary group yoga session and caught the MO long-tail boat that ferries guests to the hotel gym and spa on the other side of the river. Housed in a converted mansion, the award-winning spa offers a mix of Ayurvedic treatments, signature massages and beauty treatments.
Special Touches
Renowned MO service included lemongrass and lime tea on arrival in my room, as well as an offer to unpack my luggage.