Park Avenue meets flawless Thai Luxury, in this NYC-inspired property. Swathed in marble and brass, with silk fabrics, a chic dusty colour palette, slick design and huge light-filled spaces that optimise the outlook, this property oozes the signature Waldorf Astoria class. Guests arrive by limo, are greeted by immaculately turned-out doormen and receive a warm Thai reception. Welcome to THE place to be in the Ratchaprasong district of Bangkok.

Big Apple Sensibilities

The property, inspired by the iconic Waldorf Astoria in New York, features a design collaboration between Far East-based architect André Fu and New York-based studio AvroKO. This fusion of art deco aesthetics with local textiles, bespoke furnishings, and artisanal craftsmanship beautifully blends timeless Park Avenue elegance with Thai culture. The hotel boasts over 2,000 art pieces meticulously curated for a high level of detail.

The main part of the hotel, designed by André Fu and AFSO, combines classic Astoria style with Thai artisanal traditions, offering a captivating visual journey. Meanwhile, the top three floors, designed by AvroKO, feature soothing neutral colours for a relaxed ambience, interspersed with grand-scale elements that pay homage to the hotel’s legacy and standards.

Waldorf Astoria The Brand

Waldorf Astoria is one of the most iconic hotel brands in the world. With over 100 years of history, the brand has built a reputation for luxury and excellence. From the original Waldorf Astoria in New York City to locations around the globe, each hotel provides an unparalleled level of service and amenities.

Read our reviews of the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian the Rome Cavaliere and the Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre.

High-Rise High-Life

The hotel is situated in the heart of Bangkok’s bustling downtown area, in the upscale Ratchaprasong district, just a ten-minute walk from the Chit Lom BTS Skytrain station, the Erawan Shrine is just a few minutes walk away and a further five minutes away is Central World and Siam Paragon, provide shopping on an unimaginable scale.

The hotel itself is found within the Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard building, on floors six to 17 and 55 to 57 of the 60-storey skyscraper. As such, it enjoys uninterrupted views over the Bangkok Royal Sports Club, Lumphini Park and the city’s skyline.

Guests are greeted at the entrance by a throng of smartly dressed doormen, who open the car door, bags are whisked away and guests are led into the lower ground lobby. Since the hotel is located over two sections of the building there is a lower lobby and an upper lobby with the upper lobby being the area where guests check in.

Park or City View Accommodations

171 bedrooms and suites are found from levels six to 15. All have floor-to-ceiling windows with a park or city view, 400 thread count sheets, espresso machines, pillow menus, ergonomic workstations, Japanese electronic toilets and a plethora of amenities in the bathroom.

Book a King Deluxe Suite for a separate bedroom, living and dining area, or one of the King Two-Bedroom Waldorf Suites, with a foyer leading to a living and dining area lit by a wall of windows. The best room in the house is the Royal Suite, with two bedrooms, a separate living room and a dining room for eight, a kitchen and a bar.

Our Bedroom During Our Stay – Deluxe City View (King)

We stayed in a beautiful Deluxe City View room with King beds. Facing out to the city and looking up towards Central World and the Erawan Shrine, presents the most incredible view. The room is generous in size at 50 square meters and is equipped with an in-room espresso machine, complimentary WiFi, a well-stocked personal bar, a signature Waldorf Astoria king-sized bed, lots of closet space and a separate dining table.

Bedroom

There are changing points for USB as well as plug points that will take UK plugs on both sides of the bed.

Personal Bar

A well-stocked personal bar is at hand offering paid drinks and snacks as well as complimentary water and complimentary coconut water too.

Pillow Menu and Desk

Bathroom

The elegant marble finished bathroom is L-shaped and runs off the bedroom and features a separate bath, a rain shower with views out to the city, double sinks and a curated collection of opulent bathing essentials. Additional amenities include a spacious walk-through closet and a Japanese toilet with a remote control.

View

We had a view out to the city, but other rooms also offer views out to the park which are equally as appealing.

French, Thai and Steakhouse Dining

Bull & Bear is the 56th-floor steakhouse boasting enviable skyline views, where it’s all about the grilled seafood and meat (delicacies like Wagyu beef appear on the menu). For fine dining take a table in the Front Room in the lower lobby. This restaurant provides set and à la carte menus, made up of Thai specialities. Its centrepiece is a breathtaking light installation, with its design influenced by the annual Loi Krathong Lantern Festival.

The Front Room

The Front Room in the lower lobby offers an authentic Thai dining experience with a menu curated by the talented team, featuring eight distinctive flavours of Thai cuisine inspired by childhood memories. The ambience is reminiscent of a comfortable front room and is adorned with a stunning lighting installation by architect Andre FU, resembling the floating lanterns of the Yi Peng Festival in northern Thailand, with over 200 glass lanterns suspended in bronze frames.

Dishes like Seared Hokkaido Scallops with Lotus Stem and Pomelo, Grouper with Shallot and Fermented Fish Oil, and Squid and Tiger Prawn with Bitter Bean and Salty Seafood Oil are highlights.

The Front Room features on our guide to the best fine dining in Bangkok, the food is incredible and we highly recommend dining here – whether you are staying at the hotel or not.

Breakfast

Breakfast here is one of the best hotel breakfasts I have ever had, an almost never-ending loop of serving stations making food fresh to order with everything you can imagine from Western to Thai, Chinese and Japanese, it’s incredible, make sure you visit with an appetite, this will surely set you up for the day!

Peacock Alley

Peacock Alley, is a renowned tradition at any Waldorf Astoria hotel. The name ‘Peacock Alley’ originally referred to the daily gathering of prominent individuals who strolled through the connecting colonnade between The Waldorf and The Astoria hotels in New York City.

This rich tradition endures to this day, and Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is located on the 70th floor The interior exudes an atmosphere of understated elegance and relaxed sophistication, achieved through the use of heavy bronze, vibrant colours, and warm wood accents, offering a range of delights, from exquisite afternoon tea and pastries to light meals and sophisticated evening beverages.

The Loft – Cocktails on the 56th Floor Bar

Elegant, enchanting, and steeped in the allure of Art Nouveau, The Loft is a bar inspired by the essence of New York City. Accessible via a striking spiral staircase, this establishment draws its inspiration from the legendary 1935 Waldorf Astoria Bar Book. Here, skilled artisans craft unique spirits and rediscover forgotten cocktails, tailored to suit the modern palate, all using a diverse array of house-made ingredients. These libations are thoughtfully paired with gourmet bar snacks.

Stepping into The Loft evokes the sensation of entering an artist’s atelier from a bygone era, thoughtfully curated to showcase the artist’s creative process. Infused with the vibrant energy of a SoHo loft, it transforms into a haven of bohemian glamour. Vintage paint tools adorn the shelves—tins brimming with brushes, art tool carousels, collections of pastels, pencils, and watercolours, alongside elegant bottles of tinted glass inkwells.

You can read more about the cocktail menu (at the time of our visit) here.

To Infinity and Beyond

The hotel’s most prominent feature (and a daily Instagram feature) is its teardrop-shaped rooftop swimming pool, situated on the 17th floor. It offers breathtaking 360-degree city views, and the pool area includes sunbeds and cabanas, evoking a resort-like atmosphere, while the canopy offers the ideal amount of shade to hide from the midday Bangkok sun.

When finished whiling away the hours in the sun, guests can get a workout in the 24-hour fitness centre’s Technogym, sweat it out in the steam room and sauna, or book some treatments at the large spa complex.

Final Thoughts

This was Southeast Asia’s first-ever Waldorf Astoria, having opened in 2018 and the opulent facilities it offers are right at home in this upmarket pocket of the city. We can’t think of a better place to stay when in Bangkok’s city centre.

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