Why Bangkok is Asia's capital of cool

With a raft of recent hotel openings, the Big Mango is ripe for the picking, says Carolynne Dear

A brand new building for a golden oldie hotel - Dusit Thani Bangkok

The luxurious Aman Nai Lert Bangkok opened its doors in the Thai capital this month, the latest in a long line of ritzy hotels keen to call Bangkok home.

Despite hitting the headlines recently when an earthquake sent tremors through the city, Bangkok is fast becoming the destination of the moment, with Michelin-starred restaurants, high end hotels and glittering new skyscrapers springing up apace.

Aman’s new property is the brand’s third ‘urban sanctuary’, a departure from its luxury resort-style offerings. The hotel is located in the leafy environs of Nai Lert Park and marks something of a homecoming for Aman as it joins the original Aman, Amanpuri, which opened its doors in Phuket 37 years ago.

The 36-storey all-suite hotel also offers branded residences, as well as an Aman Club, a stunning three-floor Aman spa and wellness centre (which also includes a medical centre) and various dining spaces. Meanwhile, the pool has been shaped around a century-old ‘sompong’ tree for shady afternoon swims. 

Making at splash at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok

Aman Nai Lert follows hot on the heels of the Andre Fu-designed Dusit Thani property at nearby Lumpini Park that opened last autumn. 

Fu was tasked with reimagining the original flagship hotel that boasted a 50-year heritage and the holder of happy memories for locals and travellers alike. The goal was to reaffirm the hotel’s status, with its ubiquitous golden spire, as one of the city’s most recognised landmarks but bring it into the modern era. According to Fu, along with Dusit’s creative team he dug deep into the history and heritage of the property that originally opened in 1970 and was demolished in 2019 to be replaced with a contemporary skyscraper. 

“The original Dusit Thani Bangkok was an integral part of the city’s identity,” explains Natapa Srijyuksiri, managing director of Dusit Estate. “We sought a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, echoing the spirit of the original hotel and reinterpreting its classic qualities through a modern lens. Andre Fu Studio’s meticulous attention to detail has brought this vision to life, from the bespoke furniture and lighting to the delicate embellishments that subtly reference the original property.”

The new-look, triple-height lobby recreates the grand arrival experience of the original property, with a waterfall garden featuring trees that were first planted at the original hotel. Artwork commissioned locally from Thai artist Sakon Malee is prominently displayed alongside pottery from Koh Kret, a small island on the Chao Phraya river. 

Cantilevered windows in the rooms ensure guests have uninterrupted views over Lumpini Park. “The four-metre wide window bay in a singular glass sheet is the most distinctive feature of the guest rooms,” says Fu. “Framing views of the park, we have recreated the spirit of Thailand’s traditional sala asai, a place for travellers to rest and reflect, with elegant day beds that stretch the entire length of the cantilevered windows, allowing guests to savour the unrivalled views.”

Andre Fu's rooms with a view at Dusit Thani Bangkok

Further facilities include an ‘urban wellness concept’ that features a 25m infinity pool, also overlooking the park, as well as a gym, yoga studio and spa.

And don’t miss the retro glam 1970 Bar on the 39th Floor. Described as a ‘tropical boudoir’ set against the city skyline, the cocktail bar channels the hotel's early days in the 1970s with a ‘1970 Martini’ as homage to legendary ‘70s jewellery designer Elsa Peretti and a Tina Turner-inspired ‘Acid Queen’ gin-based mix.

For more rooftop drinks fun, head to the monthly Amigos de Ojo brunch on the 76th Floor of the The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon hotel, with DJs, guest chefs and stellar views. The hip hotel opened in 2022 as the US brand's flagship Asian hotel. "We love the energy, style and culture Bangkok offers," remarked Standard International's executive chairman, Amar Lalvani, at the opening. Ojo, the hotel's rooftop Mexican-themed restaurant, takes in sweeping views of the capital.

Indeed when it comes to dining, Bangkok is no slouch. No fewer than 45 Bib Gourmand awards were handed out, many to street food stalls, at the recent Michelin Guide Thailand 2025 awards. The event saw Bangkok’s Sorn become the country’s first three-Michelin-star dining room, while Cote by Mauro Colagreco stepped up as a two-Michelin-star destination and Coda and Goat became the city’s newest one-Michelin-star holders.

Another major new addtion to Bangkok’s skyline is the One Bangkok building. With food and beverage destinations, retail podiums, serviced apartments and art galleries, the multi-billion dollar development will host two luxury hotels by the end of this year, the first of which, The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok, opened in December. The building’s facade maximises The Ritz-Carlton's views, also over Lumpini Park, with ascending open-air terraces. Inside the rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows frame the views and many of the rooms offer private loggias and terraces.

Duet by David Toutain has opened at The Ritz-Carlton Bangkok

There are three restaurants, including Duet by David Toutain, the Michelin-starred chef of Parisian dining space, Restaurant David Toutain; the dining space showcases meticulously sourced ingredients and artisanal produce. The hotel’s Ritz-Carlton Spa offers treatment rooms, a spa suite for couples, a relaxing pod and two pools, including, in a nod to visiting families, a dedicated kids’ pool. Youngsters can also head to the Ritz Kids Club.

Bangkok of course is currently host to the best hotel in the world, following Capella Bangkok’s winning streak at last year’s World’s 50 Best Properties awards. The decadent property on the Chao Phraya River opened in 2020 with lush gardens, elegant architecture and riverside suites. 

But it is Bangkok’s ‘grande dame’ that currently captures the zeitgeist. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok was the only hotel in the city to be used in the filming of series three of HBO's hugely popular The White Lotus. The legendary riverside property, which originally opened in 1876 as The Oriental, welcomed both show creator Mike White as well as cast and crew for footage that eventually appeared in episode five of the drama.

“When Mike White arrived at the hotel, the first thing he said was, “I’m home”,” recalls general manager Anthony Tyler. “That says everything about the enduring magic of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. For nearly 150 years we have welcomed luminaries, writers like Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad and John Le Carre, as well as visionaries from around the world.” White now has his own portrait on the wall of the hotel’s fabled Author’s Lounge.

The glorious lobby of the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok appeared in The White Lotus

And there's still more to come. The Langham is slated to open next year in Bangkok’s elegant 1888-built Customs House on the Chao Phraya river. The project is a restoration of the historic old building, which features teak floors and a four-storey entrance hallway. And later this year, Hyatt plans to open Andaz One Bangkok (also in One Bangkok), its first Andaz property in Thailand.

So whether you plan to eat your way around the capital, or can't wait to try one of the new hotels, it's safe to say that Bangkok is having a moment.

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is open for bookings now. The property will donate a portion of proceeds for every stay in April to charities assisting those in need following the earthquake in Myanmar on March 28.