Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

A Legendary Hotel by the River

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Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is one of those places we keep going back to. It’s not just because it’s luxurious—everything runs so smoothly, and the staff always seem to remember your name. The hotel sits right by the Chao Phraya River, in a quiet part of Bang Rak. From the riverside rooms and the outdoor restaurants, you can see IconSiam glowing across the water. Boats come and go all day, but the hotel always feels peaceful.

A Hotel With a Long History

This isn’t just another 5-star hotel. Mandarin Oriental has been here for more than 140 years. It opened in 1876, and some parts of the original building are still used today. Over time, it has hosted kings, world leaders, and many famous writers. The hotel manages to feel elegant without being too formal, and it mixes modern comforts with a deep sense of heritage. You see it in the old wooden floors, the photos in the corridors, and the careful attention to detail.

The Famous Author’s Lounge

One of the most iconic spots inside is the Author’s Lounge. It’s a bright, white room with a glass roof and classic furniture. It’s famous for afternoon tea, but it’s also a nice place just to relax for a moment. The lounge pays tribute to famous writers who stayed here, including Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham. It’s quiet and calm, and the setting feels like something from another time.

The Rooms

We stayed in the Graham Greene Suite, one of the hotel’s beautifully kept Author’s Suites in the River Wing. It’s high up, and the view from the living room stretches across the Chao Phraya—calm in the morning, golden just before sunset. Inside, it feels more like a refined apartment than a hotel room. Polished wooden floors, silk-panelled walls, antique-style lamps, and a few subtle vintage pieces that bring the space to life without trying too hard.

It’s warm, quiet, and a little nostalgic—exactly the kind of place you imagine a writer settling into. The suite is named after Graham Greene, the British author and journalist best known for novels like The Quiet American and The End of the Affair. He stayed here often during his travels through Asia, and there’s something fitting about this particular room carrying his name. It’s not flashy, just thoughtful and discreet, like a well-written page.

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Dining Options at Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok offers a surprisingly wide range of restaurants and bars for a riverside hotel. There are nine main venues, each with its own style, and several are open to both guests and non-guests. You’ll find everything from formal French cuisine and classic Thai dishes to Italian favourites and casual café-style meals. The hotel also has two bars: the elegant Bamboo Bar, known for live jazz, and The Authors’ Lounge, where afternoon tea is a tradition. The full list includes:

Le Normandie (French fine dining)
Sala Rim Naam (Thai cuisine with dance show)
Ciao Terrazza (seasonal Italian by the river)
The Verandah (riverside all-day dining)
The Authors’ Lounge (afternoon tea and light snacks)
The Bamboo Bar (cocktails and live jazz)
Kinu by Takagi (kaiseki-style Japanese cuisine)
Lord Jim’s (seafood and grill with river views)
Riverside Terrace (buffet and BBQ with river view, mostly open for events)

During our stays, we had the chance to try four of these restaurants, and each one offered a different kind of experience.

Le Normandie

Le Normandie is the hotel’s fine dining French restaurant, located on the top floor of the old wing. The room is elegant, with large windows facing the river, and service is very formal. The tasting menus are creative and beautifully presented, but it’s also the quiet atmosphere and attention to detail that make it special. It’s one of the few restaurants in Bangkok with two Michelin stars, and it feels like a real occasion every time we go.

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Sala Rim Naam

Sala Rim Naam is across the river from the main hotel, and you get there by boat. The setting is a traditional Thai-style house, and it’s known for its evening dance performances during dinner. The menu focuses on classic Thai dishes, and the atmosphere feels very local and refined. It’s a great way to experience Thai food with a touch of theatre, especially if you’re visiting with first-timers.

Ciao Terrazza

Ciao Terrazza is the hotel’s Italian restaurant, right by the river. It’s only open in the cooler months, usually from November to March. The open-air setting is casual and romantic, with views of the water and boats passing by. The menu is classic Italian—pizza, pasta, grilled seafood—and it’s a nice change if you’ve been eating Thai food for days. It’s perfect for a quiet dinner with a view.

The Verandah

The Verandah is where we usually go for breakfast, but it’s open all day. It’s located at the river’s edge, under a shaded terrace with fans, and you can watch the hotel’s boats come and go. The menu covers both Thai and international dishes, and everything is very consistent. Service is always fast and friendly. It’s also a good place for a light lunch or coffee break if you’re staying at the hotel.

A Riverside Breakfast to Remember

Breakfast at Mandarin Oriental is something we still talk about. It is served by the river, and the selection is huge. Fresh juice, made-to-order eggs, Thai dishes, baked goods, everything is good. The staff are fast and friendly, and they always remember your coffee order by the second morning. It’s one of the few hotels where we look forward to waking up early.

Spa Across the River

To get to the spa, you take a small wooden boat across the river—there’s one every few minutes. The Oriental Spa is in a restored teak house and is one of the best we’ve tried in Bangkok.

Why People Keep Coming Back

What makes Mandarin Oriental special is not just the location or the history—it’s the way they take care of every detail. The service is consistent and never pushy. The rooms are quiet and comfortable. The riverside setting is beautiful at any time of day. After each stay, we always leave with the feeling that everything just worked. That’s why we return.

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