Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel

Often the grandest and most luxurious hotels lack a little something in the personality department, but that’s not the case with the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. The building that it occupies, right across from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club in the heart of downtown, was formerly a Four Seasons, and before that a Peninsula. But now, as the flagship of the Bangkok-based Anantara group, it’s evolved into its final form: an opulent, colonial-style grand hotel that’s quickly become a favorite among upper-crust locals.

With 354 rooms and suites, its scale is as grand as its atmosphere, though it spreads out rather than up, and feels splendidly secluded despite its urban setting. The rooms are contemporary in style and in color, though they’re full of authentic old-world Thai detail, and in terms of comfort they’re the equal of just about any modern luxury hotel.

You can expect the full complement of services as well, from the Anantara Spa and the lovely outdoor pool to an astonishing eight food-and-beverage venues. These range from the lobby, with its all-day menu and afternoon tea service, to the upscale Japanese Shintaro, the Tony Chi–designed Madison steakhouse, and the venerable Spice Market, one of Bangkok’s most famous high-end Thai restaurants.