BANGKOK GUIDE
Bangkok hums with contrast - temple spires beside glass towers, quiet riverfronts beside neon-lit streets. For the design‐minded traveler, choosing the right hotel becomes a lens through which you view the city. Two of the city’s most compelling options are The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok and The Siam Hotel - each offering a distinct experience of luxury, design, and place.
All imagery in this article was captured exclusively through the lens of Splendid Magazine.
Where to stay
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok
The Ritz-Carlton sits gracefully in the heart of Bangkok’s prestigious One Bangkok and Wireless Road district, with sweeping views over the green expanse of Lumpini Park. The setting strikes a rare balance - placing you at the centre of the city’s cultural and commercial heartbeat while offering a serene, leafy outlook that feels worlds away from the bustle. Step outside and you’re moments from embassies, galleries, and luxury shopping, yet inside the hotel, the atmosphere shifts instantly to one of calm, composure, and quiet refinement.
On arrival, the lobby greets you with polished marble, reflective surfaces, and soft lighting that washes the space in a warm glow. Designed by acclaimed Thai studio PIA Interior, the space feels both grand and deeply personal - every material, texture, and proportion thoughtfully chosen. At its centre is a striking art installation inspired by lily ponds - an elegant sculptural feature that pays homage to the Thai tradition of placing lily ponds at the entrance of a home to welcome guests and bring a sense of peace. Here, it becomes a modern statement piece, casting shimmering reflections across the polished floor and inviting you to pause.
“Inspired by the ‘Meeting of Two Civilizations’ philosophy, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok artfully blends classical Thai heritage with contemporary sophistication, creating an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of a private residence. Bathed in natural light, each space is enriched with curated art and cultural treasures, while sweeping views over Lumpini Park and the strategic location within One Bangkok anchor the hotel as a true urban sanctuary at the city’s cultural and commercial heart.” — Tina Liu, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok
The effect is immediate: the bustle of Bangkok fades, replaced by a sense of calm and connection. Proportions are generous, finishes are luxe, and the overall mood is curated to feel both elevated and deeply hospitable - a contemporary sanctuary with roots in Thai culture.
Marigold Suite – Our Stay
During our stay, we had the pleasure of staying in the Marigold Suite - one of the signature suites in The Ritz-Carlton’s collection. What struck me immediately was how seamlessly the designers combined opulence with comfort: wide floor-to-ceiling windows framing leafy views of Lumpini Park, rich textures - silky fabrics, warm woods, soft-cut carpets - and bespoke lighting that shifts mood gracefully from day to evening. The layout offers generous living spaces, a separate sleeping chamber, and a bathroom that feels like a private spa retreat. Every detail, from the discreet placement of switches to the quality of bed linens, felt intentional and elevated.
One of the highlights of our stay was the in-room dining breakfast, as beautifully choreographed as it was delicious. Service was perfectly timed, with everything arriving fresh and at the ideal temperature. The table was set with care, transforming the suite into a private dining room. From flaky pastries and tropical fruit to perfectly cooked eggs and fresh juice, every bite was exceptional. The view over Lumpini Park, bathed in soft morning light, made the moment even more special. The staff’s warmth and attentiveness turned breakfast into a serene ritual.
Design Elements & Dining
The Ritz-Carlton doesn’t merely decorate; it layers. Expect artful lighting, refined decorative motifs inspired by Thai geometry, and material contrasts - stone, wood, textile, leather. The Club Lounge, especially, is a masterclass in discreet luxury: outdoor balcony spaces, plush seating, and a sense of design that flows without shouting.
Dining is one of the hotel’s strong suits. Multiple culinary concepts mean you can shift mood: light afternoon tea, more formal fine-dining at Duet by David Toutain, or elegantly reimagined classics at Lily’s. The pool bar, the in-lounge offerings, and international touches are balanced by Thai influences. The Ritz-Carlton Spa is subtle, using light, scent, and touch to create restorative spaces.
Why The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok Appeals to Design Lovers
Because everything about The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok is intentional design in motion. From the moment you step into the lobby, the polished marble and reflective surfaces set a tone of quiet grandeur — but it’s the details that make it special. The lily pond–inspired art installation isn’t just décor, it’s a nod to Thai tradition, a gesture of welcome that turns the lobby into a space of contemplation rather than mere transit.
Discover more or book your stay on the The Ritz-Carlton website.
The Siam Hotel
Nestled along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok’s historic Dusit district, The Siam Hotel is less a hotel and more a curated narrative of artistry, antiques, and intimate luxury. With just 38 rooms and villas, each space is a statement: infused with personal collection pieces, design-led flair, and an ambiance that feels quietly opulent yet irrepressibly alive.
Design & Interiors
From the moment you arrive at The Siam, the design registers. The hotel was conceived by creative director Krissada Sukosol Clapp together with architect Bill Bensley, who bring a blend of global influences, vintage glamor, and local craftsmanship into each detail.
What makes The Siam so nice and different is it’s a big property with very few rooms. Like forty-percent public space, whereas others are more like ten-percent. You feel a bit more special, not like a nameless guest. - Bill Bensley
No two suites or villas are alike - each is individually furnished around a theme, with antiques, artworks, decorative pieces sourced personally, and thematic touches of Art Deco, traditional Thai motifs, colonial influences, and river-house elegance. High ceilings, polished wood floors, ornate wood carvings, vintage photographs, and soft natural palettes (creams, silvers, occasional dark accent) create a sense of timelessness.
Public and shared spaces carry equal design weight: there’s a lobby atrium with graceful light, garden courtyards, pool villas with private gardens, and river piers at golden hour. The aesthetic has been pulled together so that antiques don’t look tacked on, and modern amenities feel seamless rather than forced.
Dining, Experience & Atmosphere
The Siam’s culinary program matches its décor in its depth and character.
Chon Thai Restaurant: This is riverside dining in restored teak Thai houses, evocative of old Thailand but elevated - both in food and experience. The flavour, presentation, and ambiance combine to offer a vivid sense of place.
The Story House & Bar: Located by the entrance courtyard, this offers international-inspired comfort food with flair, housed in individually designed dining rooms that feel more like sitting in someone’s elegantly designed drawing room than in a hotel restaurant.
Private dining and experiences: are available: the cooking school, culinary workshops, river-pier dinners, and intimate settings make meals more than sustenance - they’re moments.
Amenities & Unique Touches
What sets The Siam apart is how many unexpected, beautifully crafted experiences are interwoven: A well-curated library with rare, first-edition books on Thai history, collected by the owner. Unusual facilities: a vinyl room, a Muay Thai training ring, a small private cinema screening room. These aren’t gimmicks - they feel meaningful in the overall aesthetic of place. Spa & wellness fashioned with equal care: treatments that draw on natural themes, a riverfront serenity, pace and atmosphere that encourage deep restoration.
Why The Siam Appeals to Design Lovers
Because The Siam doesn’t merely position itself as luxury - it lives in design stories, art, personal touch, and heritage. It’s for travellers who want their hotel to feel like an inspired home rather than just a place to sleep. The architectural layers, the evolving art, the antique pieces beside contemporary comforts - all these render each stay unique.
Our Editors’ Top Picks | Bangkok’s BEST RESTURANTS
Nobu Bangkok
Perched high above the city in The Empire tower, Nobu delivers far more than flawless Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, it offers a full sensory experience. Imagine dramatic city views through floor-to-ceiling glass, ambient lighting that softens the skyline, and a carefully curated menu including Nobu's signature miso-black cod, Yellowtail Jalapeño, and artful raw bar selections. Service is attentive and polished, with staff who anticipate your needs without being overbearing.
Address: The Empire, 1 S Sathon Rd, Yan Nawa, Sathon, Bangkok
Website: noburestaurants.com/bangkok
lebua at State Tower — Sky Dining
The restaurants and bars high up in The Dome by lebua afford some of Bangkok’s most stunning skyline panoramas. Culinary offerings here are matched by equally spectacular design: sweeping views over the Chao Phraya River, modern interior touches with luxurious finishes, and rooftop settings that make every dinner feel like an event. Whether you're sipping cocktails at Sky Bar or dining under the stars at Sirocco or Mezzaluna, the combination of elevated views, well-crafted food, and refined atmosphere make it a must for design-minded travelers.
Address: State Tower Bangkok, 1055 Si Lom Rd, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok
Website: lebua.com/restaurants
Sorn (ศรณ์) — Southern Thai Fine Dining
For something entirely distinct, Sorn offers a journey through Southern Thailand on a plate. Run by Chef Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri, this three-Michelin-starred establishment is housed in a restored mansion in Sukhumvit, with interiors that feel both intimate and elegant. Expect a tasting menu that moves through 20-plus courses of Southern flavours, sourced almost entirely from the south - every ingredient lovingly chosen. Spicy, fragrant, precise, visually striking, and deeply rooted in Thai culinary tradition. It’s not just a meal - it’s a feast for anyone who cares deeply about texture, flavours, and storytelling.
Address: 56 Sukhumvit 26, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khlong Toei, Bangkok
Website: sornfinesouthern.com
A Splendid Lens on Bangkok
"I can't get to the bottom of Bangkok, and I never will,"– Lawrence Osborne.
Bangkok isn’t just a city you traverse, it’s one you live in for moments. Its intersections of old and new, bright bustle and quiet riverbanks, ground you even as they elevate you. A stay in the Marigold Suite at The Ritz-Carlton or time lost in the calm corners of The Siam will leave you with more than images, you’ll carry design, atmosphere, and memory.
Come for the temples and neon, stay for the details, and leave inspired by a city where design is everywhere.
- Team Splendid ✧