Riva Surya

Imagine Bangkok traffic and you’re probably picturing tuk-tuks and motorbikes zipping down congested roads, not wooden boats sailing at a quick clip along the river. But the city is laced with a network of canals that played an important role in trade and commerce during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of these waterways have been filled in, but a good number remain. Stay at a hotel like Riva Surya, situated right on the banks of the Chao Phraya River — something like the Grand Canal of Bangkok — and you’ll have easy access to the watery labyrinth that earned Bangkok the nickname “Venice of the East.”

The hotel’s design takes proper advantage of its waterfront position, featuring several terraces and an inviting wooden deck with a swimming pool. Guest rooms and suites all have river views, too, and beautifully tiled balconies. Inside, the look is sleek and the amenities thoroughly contemporary — dark wood and crisp white, 400-thread count sheets, spacious bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks — with a few romantic details, like potted flowers and rocking chairs, to warm things up.

There are two restaurants at Riva Surya. There’s Babble & Rum, an indoor-outdoor café inspired by the experience of visiting a traditional Thai marketplace, and the Garden, better suited to al fresco cocktails and small plates. Alternatively, stake out a chaise lounge by the pool and order a frozen drink, watching the boats go by. These waterways, of course, aren’t just for tourists: thousands of locals commute to work each day on public motorboats. But you’ll want to slow down and enjoy the view: a river cruise past the city’s teak houses and majestic temples, ideally ending up at one of its famous floating markets, isn’t an experience you’ll want to miss.