For my first trip abroad in three years, I chose Thailand; and for my first stay abroad, I picked the legendary Mandarin Oriental Hotel by the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
I have wanted to stay at this hotel for a long time. How could a fan of Mandarin Oriental miss out on the MO in Bangkok?
The hotel first opened in the mid-19th century (1876) when Thailand was still known as Siam. Initially called the “Oriental Hotel,” it was Thailand’s first luxury hotel.
It has weathered many storms and undergone rejuvenation. For over a century, it has been one of the world’s most legendary hotels.
Not long after it opened, it became a “royal guesthouse,” hosting numerous dignitaries, including the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II.
Later on, four famous writers—Maugham, Conrad, Coward, and Michener—took up long-term residence and created literary works at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
Even Leslie Cheung held a small concert at the MO in Bangkok.
Of course, the MO in Bangkok started as a small white two-story building. After numerous renovations and expansions, it attained its current form.
The hotel is known as the Mandarin Oriental because in 1985, Hong Kong’s Mandarin Hotel merged with Bangkok’s Oriental Hotel, forming the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
The Mandarin Oriental has always operated with a dual-flagship model, showcasing two gems: the Mandarin Oriental in Central, Hong Kong, and the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
No matter how many times you visit Bangkok, it would be a regret not to have stayed at the Mandarin Oriental.
The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is situated by the Chao Phraya River, the “royal river” of Bangkok, which runs through the entire city. Simply put, the best hotels in Bangkok are all located here: MO, Capella, Four Seasons, Peninsula, Siam…
Bangkok MO is the only hotel that spans both sides of the Chao Phraya River.
MO’s guest rooms, most dining areas, and pool are on the east side of the Chao Phraya River, while the spa, fitness room, cooking school, and kids’ club are on the west side.
MO provides a shuttle boat service for guests to travel back and forth.
Don’t think that the Bangkok MO is old; the Authors’ Wing and Garden Wing were refurbished in 2016, and the River Wing was renovated in 2019.
A recently renovated old hotel is precisely the most charming.
I have an aerial photo that clearly shows the relationship between the River Wing, Garden Wing, and Authors’ Wing.
Together, these three sections make the Bangkok MO a “garden oasis” in the center of Bangkok.
Sure, here is the detailed translation of the provided Chinese text into English, maintaining the original meaning and tone, and ensuring good readability. Each paragraph is separated by two line breaks.
—
First, let’s talk about the Authors’ Wing, which is the hotel’s most original building. It is named to honor the many world-renowned writers who have stepped into this place.
After the renovation of the Authors’ Wing in 2016, the original Nanyang style was preserved. This is the most photogenic spot in Bangkok’s MO.
The Authors’ Wing displays many photos, mostly of writers and celebrities who have visited.
The afternoon tea at the Authors’ Wing is the hardest to book in all of Bangkok. Anyway, I stayed at MO for two nights and couldn’t get a reservation.
I really don’t know how delicious it is, but just thinking about sitting leisurely for an afternoon, having afternoon tea in this Nanyang-style building built in 1876, feels very pleasant.
The newest building in Bangkok’s MO is the River Wing, which was completely renovated in 2019. Most of Bangkok’s MO rooms and restaurants are in the River Wing.
This time, I stayed in the Captain Andersen Suite at Bangkok’s MO. This is a rather special room type in Bangkok’s MO, the only one of its kind.
Recently, visiting Thailand has been really nice. Thailand is generally quite friendly to Chinese tourists, and it is necessary to build up the first wave of reputation.
The room is a mix of elegant European style and lazy Southeast Asian life. It’s not complicated, belonging to the simple and delicate yet exuding a sense of sophistication and vintage, which I really like.
Some room details are also quite well done. The reason why Bangkok’s MO is expensive is that a lot of thought has been put into the renovation.
Every room in Bangkok’s MO has a view of the Chao Phraya River, just with different angles. Moreover, most room types also have river-view balconies.
I didn’t visit the Garden Wing this time. Inside, there is the Michelin two-star French restaurant Le Normandie, and another wave of Loft guest rooms, called Chao Phraya River King (Double) Bed Rooms on OTA.
On the other side of the Chao Phraya River, MO also has an area designed as a riverside oasis.
This area has no guest rooms but includes the traditional Thai restaurant Sala Rim Naam (where you can dine while watching performances), the renowned Oriental Thai Cooking School, Bangkok’s only Forbes five-star Oriental SPA, as well as a gym, yoga room, and kids’ club.
You can take the hotel’s boat to get there, a three-minute journey.
Bangkok’s MO SPA is not expensive, over 3000 baht for 1.5 hours, and over 4000 baht for 2 hours. If you don’t want a SPA and just want a Thai massage, it’s even cheaper.
This price made even me, a blogger who doesn’t like SPAs, tempted.
Now, let’s talk about activities.
Every morning, Bangkok’s MO has an almsgiving ceremony (advance registration required). The hotel invites high monks to the hotel and prepares offerings for the guests to give to the monks.
The monks then chant and bless the benefactors.
—
I have been to Thailand many times, but this is the first time I experienced the morning alms-giving ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
Another iconic activity at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok is the cooking class.
Within the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, there is the Oriental Thai Cooking School, which has been offering classes for over 20 years.
On weekdays, they teach you how to cook Thai cuisine, and on weekends, they even take you to the local market to select ingredients for Thai dishes. At the end of the course, they even give you a graduation certificate.
This time, I didn’t have enough time (it takes 4 hours) so I couldn’t join. It’s quite a pity, but it’s also a good excuse for me to visit the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok again next time.
The dining experience is definitely a highlight at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.
There’s the two-Michelin-starred Le Normandie, the best French restaurant in Thailand; The Bamboo Bar, one of Asia’s Top 50 bars; Kinu by Takagi, the first restaurant in Thailand opened by Japanese Michelin-starred chef Kazuo Takagi; and other options like the riverside Italian restaurant Ciao Terrazza and the all-day dining restaurant The Verandah…
You must make dining reservations early at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. This time, I couldn’t get into Sala Rim Naam for the Thai cultural performance, Le Normandie, the only two-Michelin-starred French restaurant in Bangkok, or Kinu by Takagi for Japanese cuisine.
They say reservations are limited, and you should book at least half a month in advance. Even so, the other restaurants I dined at within the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok were still worth recommending.
My favorite restaurant was The Verandah, where I had three meals in two days (two of which were breakfast).
Having breakfast at The Verandah in the morning is very pleasant, enjoying the gentle river breeze from the Chao Phraya River as you eat. This is what a vacation should feel like.
I also had dinner at The Verandah one night, but all the riverside seats were taken.
The atmosphere was fantastic at that time, with romantic neon night views of ICONSIAM across the river. This place is perfect for a romantic dinner with your partner; neither the food nor the ambiance will disappoint you.
The Chao Phraya River at night is truly comfortable.
I also dined at Lord Jim’s, a restaurant named after the nautical hero from Joseph Conrad’s novel. It has been completely renovated and is praised as “the living room of Bangkok” because of its stunning appearance.
At Lord Jim’s, you enjoy a buffet, with most dishes made to order.
If you enjoy drinking, The Bamboo Bar is a great choice. It’s ranked among the Top 50 bars in Asia and has even held the Top 1 spot for several consecutive years.
