The Chao Phraya Jewel

There are hotels that have nothing left but their mythical name. And there are those which improve, year after year, like a good wine, and which continue to perpetuate a tradition of exceptional hospitality while adapting to a younger clientele. The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok is clearly one of them.

Our fifth stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, has confirmed the exceptional quality of this hotel and its ability to renew itself while continuing to provide seamless service to its customers.

Greeted at the door of the hotel, we are immediately shown to our rooms where check-in runs with speed and simplicity. The hotel has recently undergone several renovations among which its large terrace and its new pool with river view. It is now the turn of the River Wing rooms to be renovated. Their original style is preserved and the result is generally very successful even if we would have expected a little more originality in the tones used. The stylish access corridors to the rooms surely rank among the finest hotel corridors. We particularly recommend the deluxe stateroom, overlooking the river and decorated with dark woods in a Thai style that is reminiscent of the house of Jim Thomson.

But it is the service that fully justifies the reputation this hotel enjoys. Many luxury hotels chains communicate on the butler supposed to enhance your stay but whom you never see. Although Mandarin Oriental does not boast a butler service for rooms, he is definitely there! Whenever you leave your room or return, you meet him. He is omnipresent, attending to your comfort and always ensuring that your are perfectly satisfied.

Some tips for a successful stay :

1 - Use the transfer from the airport : you will be welcomed by a chauffeur in white gloves and immediately immersed in tradition.

2 - Take an afternoon tea in the Authors' Lounge. The setting is both beautiful and intimate. The colonial charm of the room with its white shutters, large bamboos and its comfortable rattan furniture makes it the ideal place to enjoy an afternoon tea which would make many London hotels envious. The quality of the sandwiches, pastries and scones is just remarkable.

3 - Dine at Sala Rim Naam : the restaurant on the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River welcomes customers on a terrace with a refined and romantic atmosphere. With its high quality Thai cuisine, the restaurant is surely now one of the best in the capital. Dishes may sometimes seem a little too hot for some but this is authentic Thai cuisine, not altered to suit the western taste. For unconditional lovers of French cuisine, the hotel also boasts one of the most renowned restaurants in South East Asia, the Normandie, which is set in a refined decor at the top of the Garden Wing with superb views of the river or the city.

4 - Start the day on the main terrace of the hotel. The Chao Phraya River is vibrant with its huge barges, hotel shuttles, longtail-boats and river buses. A magical sight. Breakfast on the river front is a memorable experience.