49 Best Hotels in Bangkok, Thailand

The expansive marble lobby is your first clue that this hotel is head and shoulders above others in its price range. Rooms have pleasant furnishings and spotless baths. There's a rooftop garden for sunbathing, and a small indoor pool next to the lobby. The best asset, though, may be the friendly staff. Many Asian tour groups stay here. The Skytrain is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

Lording over the Chao Phraya, this flagship Hilton designed with modernist flair competes successfully with Bangkok's other hotel giants but often offers lower rates. The infinity pool hangs like a waterfall off a cleverly fashioned deck, with an urban beach overlooking the city skyline. The rooms are on the small side, but river and city views from every room compensate. The hotel is reached via a free hotel boat shuttle from a pier near BTS Saphan Taksin.

This hotel prides itself in its Thai heritage and has been very well maintained since it was built in 1970, playing up its old-fashioned aesthetic. Prices are fair considering the area, rooms are spacious and comfortable, and there is a large pool and a well-equipped fitness center. An in-house fortune-teller will read your palm and consult your astrological parameters for a small fee.

Convenient to shopping, dining, and entertainment, this sprawling hotel is a short walk from the BTS Siam station, which puts much of the city within reach. The rooms are comfortable and functional. Despite the hotel's size, staff members are always around to help you.

Located in the airport complex itself, the Novotel has no set check-in time, so you can check in any time of day or night and check out 24 hours later. Amenities include four restaurants, a pool, a gym, and a spa. You can also book a shower at the fitness center from 6 am to 9:30 pm for B750 or a day pass for the fitness center and swimming pool during the same hours for B800. 

Ideal for travelers seeking an artsy off-the-beaten-track experience, this cute boutique guesthouse is in the old Phra Nakhon district. The owner is an artist and it shows in the colorful hall spaces, the retro-casual rooms' individually painted murals, and the soap-carving, cooking, and sewing classes held for guests. 

This unique hotel started life in 1917 as one of Bangkok's first cinema houses, and the art deco stained-glass window and original theatre marquee have been preserved, along with an original 35mm projector and screen. The location, on a short alley off Charoen Krung Road, is superb for exploring the shops and street eateries nearby. There are only three suites, plus four dorms for budget travelers.

This luxurious boutique hotel overlooking the Chao Phraya River is all about elegant modern furnishings, perfect for couples seeking a romantic escape. The two suites with outdoor Jacuzzis are in high demand, and most rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows and little balconies against the water. There is also a rooftop restaurant with a wide list of cocktails and fancy Thai dishes.

Of the luxury hotels along the riverfront, this 28-story palace is most popular with tour groups. All the well-appointed rooms face the river, but standard rooms tend to be long and narrow, making them feel cramped. Thara Thong is a standard Thai restaurant, with subtle classical music accompanying your meal. A glassed-in bridge leads to the adjacent River City Shopping Complex. The hotel runs a free shuttle boat service to the BTS Saphan Taksin station every 30 minutes.

This hotel with four restaurants of its own is situated for exploring Dusit, the Old City, and Chinatown, and it's a short taxi ride from riverside eateries. Gardens flank the tranquil lobby. The rooms are tastefully decorated in subdued colors setting off the dark-wood furnishings, but the bathrooms are on the small side. The main downsides are that the restaurants are merely okay, the hotel is far from Skytrain and subway stations, and come evening the neighborhood is virtually deserted.

Hidden down an alley filled with shophouses, this upcycled building features lovely rooms in modern minimalist style with views of Wat Arun across the river. A rooftop eatery serves a buffet breakfast as well as cocktails and light bites later in the day, making for an excellent breezy reprieve after sightseeing.

The Sheraton soars 33 floors above the noisy city streets, and the upper-floor suites get tons of natural light. Standard rooms are formulaic—don't expect any Thai-influenced accoutrements—but they're comfortable and pleasant. In the afternoon you can enjoy tea or cocktails in The Living Room, a large open-plan lounge that hosts some of the world's top jazz musicians at night. On the third floor, the health club and the serpentine swimming pool are in a lovely garden. A covered walkway connects the hotel to Terminal 21 mall as well as to the BTS Asok station and the MRT Sukhumvit subway station. This is a favorite hotel for visiting international film crews and actors as well as musicians.

The family that runs the Siam Heritage has created a classy boutique hotel with a purpose—to preserve and promote Thai heritage. Each room is individually furnished, mostly with pieces from northern Thailand. The bedrooms have teakwood floors, and the bathrooms have stonework in place of tiling. The attention to detail is seen in the painted elevator doors, colorful woven bedspreads, and other touches.

The palatial Siam Kempinski combines sheer elegance with the feel of an escapist resort in the middle of the city. Luxuriously over the top and eminently splurge-worthy, the marble-columned hotel adjoins the glitzy Siam Paragon shopping mall. Rooms here are extremely spacious and furnished with class. The best ones have direct access to the giant free-form pool dominating the property's large garden. Notable on-site restaurants include the Thai molecular-fusion champ Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin and the handsome Brasserie Europa.

This boutique design hotel is definitely where the cool kids stay, but even those traveling with actual kids will feel welcome. The beautiful rooms are decked out in mod furniture in shades of orange, lemon, and plum. There are wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and well-lighted writing desks, and many rooms have wall-to-wall windows letting in light. The comfy PH1 restaurant serves Thai and international bites all day. There are also lobby, mezzanine, and rooftop lounges.

Spread over 6 landscaped acres on Sathorn Road, the Sukhothai has numerous courtyards that make the hustle and bustle of Bangkok seem worlds away. Standard rooms are spacious and furnished with teakwood and Thai-silk touches. The one-bedroom suites, by contrast, are exquisite, with oversized teak paneled baths and dual washbasins and mirrors. The hotel's Colonnade restaurant, where breakfast is served, is set in a pavilion on an artificial pond. Both the Thai restaurant, Celadon, and the Italian restaurant, La Scala, are outstanding.

From gigantic sparkly Muay Thai boxing gloves on room beds to a swimming pool with an underwater sound system and twinkly LED lights, the high-flying W is loaded with snazzy design and high-tech touches. Rather than standard or deluxe rooms, here they're called "wonderful" or "spectacular." The hotel is a nightlife hot spot, known for its annual Songkran pool party and weekly ladies' and guys’ nights with free-flow bubbles at Woo Bar.

Most of the guests at this hotel on Surawong Road are from Japan, perhaps because of the many Japanese businesses in the immediate area, but its location near Lumphini Park, Patpong's night market, and Silom Road makes it an appealing option for anyone. Standard rooms are small and windowless, so make sure to ask for one of the deluxe rooms. There's not much of a view, however. The hotel offers traditional Thai massage, and there is also a row of traditional massage centers on the street. Sarika Cafe, at the mouth of the soi, is a good little restaurant if the hotel's coffee shop doesn't do it for you.

Fancy with sleek surfaces and neon lighting, the Westin is very convenient to Sukhumvit shopping and nightlife—Robinson Department Store and Terminal 21 are just out the front door. The rooms come with huge flat-screen TVs, ergonomic chairs, and the comfortable beds the chain is known for; but the room decor overall could use a modern touch-up. The rooftop saltwater pool makes for a refreshing stop after a hot day. The 24-hour fitness studio is well-equipped and offers free classes in Latin dance, Muay Thai, yoga, and other activities, plus gym clothes for rent if needed.