This was published 1 year ago
Hotel Review: Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River offers riverside luxury
CHECK-IN
Take me to the river. Actually, more to the point, take me directly to the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (as much a mouthful as that can be). This glamorous, relatively new, self-styled urban resort is set smack bang beside a sizeable section of the exotic Thai capital's aquatic artery. It all seems successfully calculated to apply some chic contemporary five-star water torture-like competition to certain other establishments riverside. To some degree overlooked by visitors as a location for a Bangkok stay, to its admirers, this elongated oasis of a river represents the (albeit befouled) essence of this sprawling, hopelessly unplanned South-East Asian behemoth.
THE LOOK
Above ground level, the hotel's architecture is not especially inspiring, with much of the aesthetic attention from go-to Belgian designer Jean-Michel Gathy wisely devoted to its uncommonly extensive river-facing spaces. Shallow polished rock and lotus-scattered pools, interspersed with table and chair-set islets shaded by towering columns, lead seductively down to the Chao Phraya. Closer to the riverbank and promenade is the larger, deeper and totally swimmable resort-like pool. Indoors, the suitably tall-ceilinged, mutedly-toned hotel lobby is adorned with bold, curated artwork by talented Thai artists drawn from leading local galleries and with carefully selected and lavish coffee table tomes for guest perusal.
THE ROOM
FOOD + DRINK
OUT + ABOUT
While we've been gone, Bangkok's edgy, so-called creative district has become a smash hit with locals and now returning tourists. Hugging some riverside hoods not far from the Four Seasons, shoved full of galleries, restaurants, cafes, bars and street art, it's the antithesis of Bangkok's fleshpots. Shrewdly eager to align itself with this cool part of the Thai capital and with its own fully-fledged art gallery in collaboration with the Bangkok Museum of Contemporary Art, the hotel offers guests paid tours of the creative district as well as to the historical Thai-Portuguese Kudeejeen neighbourhood.
THE VERDICT
A large vote of confidence in the Chao Phraya River and its underappreciated allures, this exceptionally well-conceived and well-run luxury hotel delivers a memorable experience for the Bangkok visitor who can afford it.
ESSENTIALS
Deluxe rooms with courtyard views start from THB13,500 ($530) a night. 300/1 Charoen Krung Road, Khwaeng Yan Nawa, Khet Sathon, Bangkok, Thailand. Phone +66 2032 0888. See fourseasons.com
Anthony Dennis stayed a guest of Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River.
OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE
★★★★★
HIGHLIGHT
The extensive, unrivalled riverside setting and amenities is a sanctuary from the still chaotic city beyond
LOWLIGHT
A befuddled tuk tuk driver deposited us at the location of the former Four Seasons in the centre of the city
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