Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
THE hotel legend
02/18/2021 Reading time: 3Minutes
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok has been the benchmark for the hotel industry for decades and has won every award there is to win in this field. Legends are often written for eternity, but they are not always contemporary.
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The Oriental has overcome this hurdle quite well. With the exception of the lobby, which has not been renovated for decades and is more reminiscent of the Oriental (nomen est omen) than the Asian, the hotel has undergone a gentle complete refurbishment in recent years. Today, plasma screens and Bose sound systems have been installed in the suites as a sign of the 21st century.
The light switches look deliberately antiquated. No modern touchscreen stuff, but toggle switches like 50 years ago. And well labeled too. Nostalgia in the details, so to speak.
The Oriental consists of 3 wings: River Wing, Author's Wing and Garden Wing. The latter looks very old-fashioned. The rooms in this wing also have different levels, i.e. some have stairs. However, they are said to be very popular with American honeymooners. The Superior River Rooms in particular are a bargain. They are well laid out, have a nice bathroom, a small walk-in wardrobe and a wonderful view of the Chao Phraya River. Excellent value for money! There are umbrella stands in the corridors with umbrellas for free use. At the upper end of the room scale are the Corner Deluxe and Author Suites, which have of course all been completely renovated, but have not lost their nostalgic charm. Everything really is just right.
And in front of the bed is a large old traveler's chest, which again represents the golden mean between modernity and tradition that the Oriental so successfully strikes. The deluxe suites are approximately 90 square meters in size, located in the River Wing, on the long side of the building facing the river and have evocative names such as "Barbara Cartland", "Graham Greene" or "Norman Mailer". All are decorated differently.
Good descriptions can be found on the Mandarin Oriental homepage. The four "Author's Suites" are located in the smallest and oldest (historic) part of the hotel. Each is approximately 100 square meters in size, opulent and partly decorated in original antique style. And for those who want even more luxury, there are the hotel's three top suites to choose from: Siam, Selondia and Oriental, between 140 and 300 square meters on the top floor of the River Wing.
In terms of restaurant technology, nothing is left out at the Oriental: the French "Normandie" is the most expensive restaurant in Thailand. Lord Jim's", which is already a design restaurant, is probably one of the best fish restaurants in the world. A garden café with Thai dishes and the famous evening buffet on the terrace round off the culinary offerings. The Bamboo Bar with live jazz is also a Bangkok institution. Fitness and wellness fans will of course not miss out either, although they will have to cross the river on the hotel's own Oriental barge. The spa is located opposite. You can choose between Thai, Moroccan or Ayurveda treatments. The Oriental's Thai restaurant is also located in the same wing above the river.
Conclusion: The location on the river is not really ideal for business, but it is spectacular. The Oriental is still a world-class hotel with a lot of charm, although the competition has become stronger. For newcomers to Bangkok on a sightseeing tour with a fantastic location, it is certainly the perfect choice.
Mag. Alexander Neuhuber
The light switches look deliberately antiquated. No modern touchscreen stuff, but toggle switches like 50 years ago. And well labeled too. Nostalgia in the details, so to speak.
The Oriental consists of 3 wings: River Wing, Author's Wing and Garden Wing. The latter looks very old-fashioned. The rooms in this wing also have different levels, i.e. some have stairs. However, they are said to be very popular with American honeymooners. The Superior River Rooms in particular are a bargain. They are well laid out, have a nice bathroom, a small walk-in wardrobe and a wonderful view of the Chao Phraya River. Excellent value for money! There are umbrella stands in the corridors with umbrellas for free use. At the upper end of the room scale are the Corner Deluxe and Author Suites, which have of course all been completely renovated, but have not lost their nostalgic charm. Everything really is just right.
And in front of the bed is a large old traveler's chest, which again represents the golden mean between modernity and tradition that the Oriental so successfully strikes. The deluxe suites are approximately 90 square meters in size, located in the River Wing, on the long side of the building facing the river and have evocative names such as "Barbara Cartland", "Graham Greene" or "Norman Mailer". All are decorated differently.
Good descriptions can be found on the Mandarin Oriental homepage. The four "Author's Suites" are located in the smallest and oldest (historic) part of the hotel. Each is approximately 100 square meters in size, opulent and partly decorated in original antique style. And for those who want even more luxury, there are the hotel's three top suites to choose from: Siam, Selondia and Oriental, between 140 and 300 square meters on the top floor of the River Wing.
In terms of restaurant technology, nothing is left out at the Oriental: the French "Normandie" is the most expensive restaurant in Thailand. Lord Jim's", which is already a design restaurant, is probably one of the best fish restaurants in the world. A garden café with Thai dishes and the famous evening buffet on the terrace round off the culinary offerings. The Bamboo Bar with live jazz is also a Bangkok institution. Fitness and wellness fans will of course not miss out either, although they will have to cross the river on the hotel's own Oriental barge. The spa is located opposite. You can choose between Thai, Moroccan or Ayurveda treatments. The Oriental's Thai restaurant is also located in the same wing above the river.
Conclusion: The location on the river is not really ideal for business, but it is spectacular. The Oriental is still a world-class hotel with a lot of charm, although the competition has become stronger. For newcomers to Bangkok on a sightseeing tour with a fantastic location, it is certainly the perfect choice.
Mag. Alexander Neuhuber
