Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok opened on the banks of the Chao Phraya in 1876, and in 2026 it marks 150 years as the city's most storied address. The original historic building, now the Authors' Wing, welcomed literary figures including Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene, and later Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Noël Coward; that literary legacy lives on in The Authors' Lounge. Two 20th-century wings use their height for broad views over the river, and following the largest renovation in the hotel's history, butler service now extends to every room and suite. Dining is another great draw. On the fifth floor, Anne-Sophie Pic and her head chef, Tamaki Kobayashi, hold a two-MICHELIN-star rating at Anne-Sophie Pic at Le Normandie for contemporary French cuisine above the river. Across the water, Sala Rim Naam celebrates traditional Thai cuisine, while Baan Phraya brings a more intimate expression of Thai dining to a beautifully restored heritage house. The Bamboo Bar and The China House by Chef Fei complete a diverse culinary line-up. The hotel's teak boats cross the river to the Oriental Spa and the Thai Cooking School, and connect guests to IconSiam and Saphan Taksin for the Skytrain. Two pools and tennis courts sit within the grounds.