What It's Like To Stay At The Bangkok Hotel Rumoured To Be The Next 'White Lotus'- International Traveller

This year, the behemoth urban oasis on the banks of Bangkok’s emblematic Chao Praya River is the ultimate in contemporary luxury hospitality.

At 2023’s inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels award ceremony, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River was named the third-best hotel in the world. Here, we make sense of the enviable reputation this property has been steadily building since it opened in early 2020.

The famously fresh-faced Passalacqua at Lake Como and the legendary Rosewood Hong Kong climbed higher on the World’s 50 Best Hotels ladder, but it’s clear that Bangkok has something special on its hands with this expansive iteration from the renowned luxury brand.

Given Four Seasons as a brand has become synonymous with modern luxury, thanks to its starring role across seasons one and two of HBO’s The White Lotus, the success of this Bangkok property feels like an important evolution for a name that has been around since 1960.

First impressions

Statement-making art pieces and lavish chandeliers. On paper, the lobby at Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River sounds like any other ostentatious five-star hotel. But there’s something effectively simple about the way Jean-Michel Gathy-led architectural firm Denniston has designed the entrance, first dabbing the eye with tasteful water features and petal-like glass discs before opening up to a relaxed series of spaces, dotted with a varied art collection.

guests relaxing on sun loungers at the outdoor pool in Four Seasons Bangkok — Reflective pools look over the actual pools at Four Seasons Bangkok. (Image: Four Seasons)

Each of the larger art pieces has individual lighting to make sure everything is displayed optimally, playing around with scale across the collection with textured pieces that mimic various features of Bangkok’s topography and Thai culture. Beautiful white elephant motifs can be found throughout the property, while the indoor-outdoor courtyard of lush greenery and reflective pools looks over the actual pools and one very large spa bath that could easily fit at least 20 guests comfortably.

Visually, the most impressive feature to me is a tall lacquered art piece just before the entrance to the award-winning Cantonese restaurant Yu Ting Yuan, textured with what seems like an undulating golden ribbon falling in a sea of blackness. I’m told this was made to mimic daylight dancing off the Chao Phraya.

an aerial view of Four Seasons Bangkok — Four Seasons Bangkok sits on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. (Image: Four Seasons)

The room

Soft, tasteful design contrasted against impactful river views give the room a stunning first impression.

My deluxe river view room is generously sized at 50 square metres and, true to its name, offers an exciting perspective of the murky Chao Phraya River. The massive picture window pulls the on-water action in to help give guests a real sense of place. At night, many of the river’s long-tail boats are covered in lights, zipping past the window like shooting stars set in slow motion.

the Deluxe River View room at Four Seasons Bangkok — Settle into the deluxe river view room. (Image: Four Seasons)

Fine Thai silk, faux ostrich leather and luxurious marble are used to work up an elegant, understated escape. The room is much calmer in aesthetic than the hotel’s lavishly designed restaurants and bars. The bathroom is particularly noteworthy with its separate tub and rain shower, as well as the slick double vanity that’s big enough for couples to have their own space.

the bathroom with a separate tub and rain shower at the Deluxe River View, Four Seasons Bangkok — The room has a separate tub and rain shower. (Image: Chris Singh)

As for the bed, it was one of the most supremely comfortable I’ve slept on in years. The brand’s standards have never led me astray when it comes to sleeping well, so I’m not surprised when I immediately sink into those pillows as if I were falling back onto a cloud. A comprehensive pillow menu is available for guests who want more support.

I’m impressed by how seriously the hotel takes its mini bar. It really is your very own bar, with instructions on how to create some of BKK Social Club’s cocktails using the premium craft spirits on display. And even if you don’t want to try your hand at mixology, the bottled cocktails go down smoothly when you’re sipping them on the lily-white chaise, peering over the river.

the room at Four Seasons Bangkok — Bed down at Four Seasons Bangkok. (Image: Chris Singh)

Dining

“We also want to be part of the community," the PR manager says as he hands me a plate of exceptional smoked pancetta ravioli. The Italian-accented Riva Del Fiume Ristorante is one of several kitchens that make up the property’s definitive culinary offering. The other two major ones are Yu Ting Yuan, the aforementioned Cantonese diner that has already picked up a Michelin star, and Palmier by Guillaume Galliot, the resident French restaurant where oysters are flown in from Paris and the pan-fried sole grenobloise with capers and lemon reiterates one thing for me: this hotel understands food in a way most city hotels don’t.

Yu Ting Yuan at Four Seasons Bangkok — Yu Ting Yuan is Michelin-starred. (Image: Four Seasons)

A hotel’s dining scene is still one of its most important plays, and there’s a clear attempt to balance price and quality. Chef Andrea Accordi of Riva Del Fiume, for example, has worked with local farmers to teach them the Italian way of growing certain ingredients.

This is so the kitchen is playing with the right textures and tastes for these authentic dishes, limiting the amount of produce that needs to be imported and keeping things as fresh as possible. This also reduces cost, hence why the Four Seasons team deals with just as many locals and hotel guests.

the elegant dining of Riva Del Fiume, Four Seasons Bangkok — Pull up a chair at Riva Del Fiume. (Image: Four Seasons)

Having solid ties with local farms is just half of the play, and it’ll pay dividends as growing seasons become more potent. The other is cost. While I’d by no means call Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River an affordable hotel, a night out on this expansive property is at least attainable.

It’s also mostly delicious. Palmier by Guillaume Galliot, the hotel’s casual French concept, is by and large more satisfying than the steam-obsessed Yu Ting Yuan and the otherwise vibrant Riva Del Fiume.

Palmier by Guillaume Galliot exterior at Four Seasons Bangkok — Head to Palmier by Guillaume Galliot for delicious French food. (Image: Four Seasons)

However, the most valuable player at this extravagant urban oasis is the resident cocktail bar. Not only has Yu Ting Yuan’s nod from the Michelin Guide done wonders for the property’s reputation, but the Argentian-flavoured BKK Social Club was rated the single best cocktail bar in all of Asia in 2023.

It’s not hard for me to taste why as soon as I sip on one of the team’s flawless Champagne cocktails and work my way through a serving of rich chicken satay. The fattiness of the chicken pairs well with the sweetness of a Bananazo, a cocktail built with bourbon, salted ripe banana, chocolate bitters and caviar. For something so premium, the drink is deceptively simple.

the bar at Four seasons Bangkok — Sip on flawless cocktails at BKK Social Club. (Image: Four Seasons)

The comprehensive buffet breakfast takes place riverside at the relaxed Riva Del Fiume. However, a better rise-and-shine option would be the oversized pastries of Cafe Madeleine, a gorgeous French patisserie selling high-end produce.

Underneath Riva Del Fiume, directly by the river, will be a Thai BBQ concept that wasn’t yet open on my visit in December 2023. Given the quality on offer, I would assume it’s all about refined street food classics to help anchor the hotel in the world’s most visited city.

A surprising local iteration of Tokyo’s famous Sushi Saito is also onsite, but I’m told that it’s independently operated so it isn’t considered part of the Four Seasons despite its physical presence just a stone’s throw from the hotel’s series of outdoor pools.

Overkill? The range is typical for a hotel of this calibre – Italian, French, Japanese, Cantonese, Thai – but, as with all the hotel’s touchpoints, the success of this Four Seasons isn’t about reinvention, it’s about refinement.

Riva Del Fiume at Four Seasons Bangkok — The success of this Four Seasons isn’t about reinvention, it’s about refinement. (Image: Four Seasons)

The facilities

Wellness is the future of the hotel industry and these higher-end properties are in a great position to offer more than just a state-of-the-art gym. Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River takes it much further by having an entire wing dedicated to restoration and self-care.

a woman doing yoga at the pool, Four Seasons Bangkok — Power through the day with a morning yoga at the pool. (Image: Four Seasons)

Not only does this include said state-of-the-art gym, but also studios for aerial yoga and muay Thai, a lap pool looking over the inner courtyard, a nail salon and a barber. There’s also the requisite underground spa with several treatment rooms, a tiny hydrotherapy pool and a relaxation room.

The Spa's vitality pool at Four Seasons Bangkok — Soak in the spa’s vitality pool. (Image: Four Seasons)

Given so much attention has been given to wellness in the past few years, I feel like this Four Seasons is making a statement that luxury properties need to think holistically if they want to refine the inescapable travel trend. After all, wellness is made up of those aspects of a trip that genuinely feel like a holiday. As they say in the hotel industry, check-in to check-out. The Four Seasons team take that very seriously.

A surprising addition is the hotel’s art gallery with ambitions to showcase local artists in regularly rotating exhibitions. The space itself is more than an afterthought, wedged amongst the line-up of restaurants near the riverfront with a few distinct spaces including a section for video works. The hotel’s only ATM being shoved down here feels a bit jarring, but the machine is squashed towards a dimly lit corner where the gallery ends.

Woman in pool at Four Seasons Bangkok — Spend your day lazing by the pool if you wish. (Image: Four Seasons)

Getting there

Four Seasons Bangkok is spread along the banks of the Chao Phraya. Historically, this section of Bangkok has been largely ignored by modern hotels, with the central areas of Sukhumvit and trendy Thonglor preferred by locals.

Bangkok’s traffic may be famously frustrating, but getting around this chaotic city is very easy with the BTS stations. Four Seasons Bangkok is a 40-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Traffic is wildly unpredictable, so if time isn’t on your side, take a train to Saphan Taksin BTS and walk a few minutes to the property.

Note that Four Seasons Bangkok is right next to Capella Bangkok and shares the same entrance off Charoen Krung Road.

Woman and man in pool at Four Seasons Bangkok — Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River was named the third-best hotel in the world in 2023. (Image: Four Seasons)

The verdict

Four Seasons is leading Bangkok’s luxury binge, acting as the authority on what a luxury hotel should be in the 2020s.

Doubling down on wellness options with an entire wing dedicated to the body, mind and spirit is a major part of the success, while the other is held up by a healthy spread of destination restaurants and bars. Tying that all together is a great sense of balance with design, dramatic while also working in a lot of calm. Art plays a big part, but so do the smaller details like luxury linens and high-end Byredo bathroom amenities.

Woman and man in lobby at Four Seasons Bangkok — Four Seasons is leading Bangkok’s luxury binge. (Image: Four Seasons)

This is a great example of a contemporary luxury hotel that’s firing on all cylinders, learning from those that have come before it and offering more while still coming across as uncomplicated and simple. Such design is an art in itself.

Location: 8/10

The banks of the Chao Phraya is set for some of Bangkok’s most exciting lifestyle developments, plus it’s easy to get around with both a pier and a BTS Skytrain station nearby.

Style/character: 9/10

Symbolic soft furnishings find creative ways to tell the story of Thai culture, mixed with impressive art pieces and slick interiors for both restaurants and rooms.

Service: 8.5/10

Can be a stickler for “rules" (I wasn’t allowed to eat my croissant from Cafe Madeleine at the lobby bar), but the staff are friendly, very efficient, and well-versed on all things Bangkok. Who needs a concierge?

Food and drink: 8/10

The collection of restaurants and bars gives some of the world’s most historic luxury hotels a swift lesson in modernity, although not everything is worth tasting.

Value for money: 8.5/10

Staying at Four Seasons Bangkok will set you back around $683 per night. The reasonable food prices and access to wellness options help justify the cost, alongside comfort and location.

Green courtyard at Four Seasons Bangkok — A stay here is well worth it. (Image: Four Seasons)

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Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

What it’s like to stay at the Bangkok hotel rumoured to be the next ‘White Lotus’