Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

It’s a rare hotel indeed that remains at the top of its game for close to a century and a half. But in this and other ways the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is one of a kind. The original Victorian-era hotel, now just one wing among three, played host to the likes of Joseph Conrad, Graham Greene, and W. Somerset Maugham, and later such glamorous folk as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Noël Coward. Today, the renovated and restored historical hotel is looking as elegant as ever, and it’s joined by two 20th-century additions; together they make up what might be Bangkok’s most storied hotel, and one of the Mandarin Oriental group’s most historic.

As such it’s still frequented by the leading lights of Thai society as well as visiting Western luminaries; more to the point, it’s an ornately detailed and thoroughly well-equipped modern luxury hotel. The newer wings put their elevation to use offering impressive views over the river; lavish comforts like butler service are universal throughout. Of particular note are the extraordinary array of restaurants, including the one-MICHELIN-Star Le Normandie by Alain Roux, as well as the famous Sala Rim Naam, a traditional Thai restaurant featuring an immersive culinary experience; it’s set across the river, along with the hotel’s spa, and is reached via a brief but memorable shuttle boat ride.