Stay here: The Peninsula Bangkok review

What’s the deal?

Set on the western banks of the Chao Phraya River, The Peninsula Bangkok  is a city icon. One of the few ultra-luxurious hotels in Thonburi, this towering property gives you access to all angles of Bangkok. An antique junk serves as a complimentary shuttle that connects you to Iconsiam and other shopping centres, the BTS metro station, night markets and other tourist attractions on the eastern side. 

Expect impeccable signature Peninsula hospitality, world-class dining and spa treatments that rank among the best of Bangkok hotels. The tone for each day is set by the famous al fresco breakfast on the riverfront at River Café & Terrace, watching all the boats drift by.

At least one meal at Thiptara is a must: with its riverfront setting shaded by majestic banyan trees, this stunning restaurant that instils a uniquely beautiful atmosphere. Although rain kept us from dining by the water, we were seated in a traditional teakwood sala, a semi-private space that still felt connected to the energy of the restaurant. Listening to raindrops fall against foliage created a cosy, tropical cocoon in the heart of Bangkok. 

Despite inclement conditions, the team handled everything admirably, delivering seamless service that made the experience even more impressive. We chose the set menu, which featured wonderfully fragrant and flavourful Thai dishes – from an organic pomelo salad with tangy tamarind sauce to crispy, peppercorn-hot snow fish, every plate was balanced and delivered to an exceptional level.

Why stay?

A standard upheld across the Peninsula group, staying at The Peninsula Bangkok means entering a world of effortless, understated luxury. The hotel’s decor leans traditional, evoking the grandeur of Thai royalty that pervades from the grand entrance and lobby to the accommodation. Rooms and suites are uniformly high-ceilinged, offered hard-to-match views of the river and cityscape. We stayed in a Deluxe Suite Room, featuring a spacious living area with a separate dining space, a dedicated dressing area, a classic double-vanity marble bathroom and a guest powder room – even the latter came with a knockout view. 

It wouldn’t be The Peninsula without a signature Peninsula Spa  – here, it’s a three-storey temple of wellness entirely befitting of a nation so famed for its relaxational therapies.

For something different to the ubiquitous traditional Thai massage, we opted for the herbal compress massage. We were glad we did: it left us in a total state of calm, which continued post-treatment as we sat gazing out over the pool while sipping ginger lemongrass tea. 

The best encapsulation of The Peninsula Bangkok is an “oasis” – of outstanding cuisine, hospitality and wellness, with everything on your doorstep. We’ll never need to wonder where to stay in Bangkok again.

Cathay Pacific editors say…

“Don’t miss out on exploring the weekly selection of wellness activities. You can move with sunrise yoga, find calm in soothing singing meditation or join a traditional morning alms-giving ceremony for monks.  

I joined the sunrise yoga session at the historic Gong Wu Shrine, a beautiful Chinese temple just 15 minutes upriver from the hotel. At 6am, a small group of guests gathered and boarded one of the hotel’s elegant shuttle boats for a serene sunrise ride to the shrine. Upon arrival we were greeted by an impressive yoga setup complete with Peninsula amenities, ready for a beginner-friendly 45-minute practice. Afterwards, we enjoyed a peaceful 30-minute stroll through the adjacent Princess Mother Memorial Park.

Keen cooks can also partake in a Thai cuisine masterclass, where you’ll learn how to create local dishes or healthy everyday favourites. If you’re like me, it’s a schedule you won’t be able to resist getting stuck into.”