20 Best Hotels in Bangkok, Thailand

On the riverbank close to Wat Pho, Chakrabongse Villas offers four Thai-themed luxury suites in reconstructed traditional Thai homes, along with four luxury studio apartments, on the grounds of Chakrabongse House, which was built in 1908 for Prince Chakrabongse. Run by his granddaughter, the urban resort is one of the city's most coveted addresses, so book well in advance. 

Set in a 40-story high-rise overlooking the posh Velaa Sindhorn Village shopping and dining complex, this sleek and sophisticated hotel is a short walk from Lumphini Park as well as BTS Chidlom. What really sets the hotel apart is its policy of welcoming all pets, no matter their size, weight, or breed, at no extra charge. The hotel offers pet beds, bowls, and assorted toys as needed, plus there's an ample grass lawn out front where you can walk your pooch. Rooms feature free-standing tubs and rainfall showers, plus yoga mats, minibars, and Nespresso machines.

One of Bangkok's most prestigious riverfront properties, the Shangri-La rivals even the more famous Mandarin Oriental. Crystal chandeliers illuminate the palatial marble lobby, and the adjacent lounge offers marvelous Chao Phraya views through floor-to-ceiling windows. The peace of the gardens is interrupted only by the puttering of passing boats. In the luxurious Krungthep Wing, a separate tower across the garden, the rooms are larger and quieter, with balconies overlooking the river—a rare treat in Bangkok. The hotel is a short walk from BTS Saphan Taksin.

With a blend of French panache and Thai gentility, this full-service modern luxury hotel offers spacious rooms with towering city views and upscale furnishings (including Bose surround sound). The five restaurants and bars includes one of the city's best rooftop bistros, Belga, which offers Belgian cuisine and an impressive selection of Belgian beers in bottle and on tap. The hotel has its own Skywalk bridge that connects the hotel directly to the nearby BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit stations, as well as the Terminal 21 shopping mall. The peaceful greenery at Benchakitti Park can be reached on foot.

The first hotel in Thailand to offer guests around-the-clock personal butler service, the St. Regis is all about pampering. The rooms are plushly furnished, with tremendous views of the skyline and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. The rooftop pool has views in every direction, and the spa offers a wide range of treatments. In the bar lavish afternoon tea and the age-old tradition of Champagne sabering create a happening atmosphere from day to night.

With beautiful rooftop venues and abundant flair, the ultraluxurious Tower Club section of Lebua, on the 53rd through 59th floors, has spacious rooms with stunning upper-floor views and prices to match. The fancier rooms come with full kitchens, washers and dryers, and private balconies. Tower Club privileges include free tapas, high tea, and cocktails in the Tower Lounge, along with priority reservations at any of the State Tower building's restaurants. The hotel is at the end of Silom Road near the river, convenient to most attractions.

The rooms at the Peninsula boast plenty of high-tech gadgets, among them bathrooms with hands-free phones and mist-free TV screens, and bedside controls that dim the lights and close the curtains. Because the hotel is on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, its spacious rooms have impressive Bangkok skyline views. A free shuttle boat takes you across the river to the nearest BTS station. Four restaurants serve Chinese, Thai, and international cuisine. There's a long swimming pool with private gazebos.

One of Bangkok's most elegant hotels, the Anantara Siam is not only popular with visitors but attracts local society for morning coffee and afternoon high tea in the palatial lobby, decorated with silk murals hand-painted by Paiboon Suwannakudt, Thailand's greatest living traditional muralist. A courtyard landscaped with lush tropical foliage is flanked by shops, restaurants, and Aqua Bar. The large rooms are decorated with silk-upholstered furniture. There are beautiful suites overlooking the hotel's tropical gardens, and the Kasara Club rooms include access to a lounge where complimentary food and beverages are served daily.

This snazzy urban-design property in the area's tallest building brings five-star luxury to the Thong Lor area. The soft-hued ultramodern rooms and suites are equipped with luxury bedding and pillows, ergonomic chairs, and soundproof windows. The facilities include a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a spa, and Octave, the swank rooftop bar with 360-degree city views. 

Though this hotel is one of the largest in Bangkok, the service doesn't suffer—the staff is attentive, and the beautifully designed rooms are perfect down to the smallest detail. Look for elaborate fabrics, plush furnishings, and light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel is connected to All Seasons Place, which has dozens of restaurants and shops. A free shuttle bus runs guests to and from the BTS Ploenchit station.

The JW Marriott's convenience to restaurants, businesses, and one of the city's biggest red-light districts will turn some travelers off and others on. Rooms have luxury amenities, with firm beds that make for a good night's sleep. The executive floor rooms have a separate lounge with complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails. The fitness center is superb, with saunas and the latest equipment. The main dining options include one restaurant serving Cantonese, two serving Japanese (sushi and teppanyaki), and a New York--style steak house.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.