Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Some hotels lose their luster after a while. Others, like the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, only get better with age.

Originally a 12-room affair, this world-famous hotel now has 393 rooms and suites over several wings, multiple restaurants and bars, a spa with a global reputation and a riverside terrace restaurant serving what is arguably Bangkok’s best breakfast.

This hotel is loved for its grandeur, exceptional restaurants (from dim sum to Michelin-starred French cuisine) and superb staff, many of whom have worked here for decades. Breakfast on the terrace is one of the world’s finest hotel experiences, where you can watch rice barges drift by while tucking into Thai noodles or truffle scrambled eggs.

A long-time reader favorite, this heritage property traces its history back nearly 150 years — but offers the contemporary amenities today’s travelers demand, including a dozen restaurants and bars, a terrific spa, and thoughtfully curated excursions (a bike tour in the nearby neighborhood) and activities (fitness classes with a muay Thai expert).

Bangkok's first hotel is still, despite some extremely stiff competition from any number of more recent arrivals, its best as well as one of the finest examples anywhere on earth of a grande dame that knows exactly how to grow old gracefully.

Do pull on some fancy gear for dinner at the gloriously camp, newly revamped La Normandie, before promptly disrobing for a before-bed QMS facial at the sultry new spa. To paraphrase Noe?l Coward: 'It is a lovely place and we are fonder of it than ever.'

As Bangkok's grande dame gets ever more ravishing with age, its stunning waterside spa does facials that leave you with the complexion of a toddler... All in all, the Mandarin Oriental offers a masterclass in growing old gracefully.

The city's oldest and best-known hotel has been frequented by Thai royalty and glitterati, as well as a long roster of sports and film stars... though it's facing some stiff competition from recently opened luxury hotels, this venerable place just seems to get better with age.

It would be a shame for any visitor to come to Bangkok and miss the splendor of the Mandarin Oriental.

With views of Chao Phraya river, this two-bedroom suite offers respite from the city’s bustle. The 1,862 sq ft suite has a private elevator and makes for easy entertaining with its living room and fabulous butler service.