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Luxury travel inspiration from the Asia-Pacific region

DestinAsian

<h5><strong>Why stay? </strong></h5>
<p>The Siam is an oasis in the sprawl of the city, an ideal getaway far from the urban hustle and bustle without ever leaving Bangkok. The hotel’s direct access to the Chao Phraya means that it’s also a perfect starting point for exploring the communities and attractions along the majestic river that is still the city’s backbone.</p>
<h5><strong>The neighborhood</strong></h5>
<p>Dusit is located in one of the oldest parts of Bangkok, and includes Dusit Palace, the residence of the Thai king. There are many ministries and government offices in the area as well. Other attractions include the stunning Wat Benchamabophit made of Carrara marble. Think busy and hushed, remote yet connected.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-132791 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-6.jpg" alt="Inside a River View suite at The Siam hotel." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-6.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-6-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>The feel</strong></h5>
<p>The Siam is lush and green, even in the lobby. Throughout this Bill Bensley–designed property, there’s a definite retro flair, with traditional-style Thai houses, local antiques, and black-and-white art deco bathrooms, though the overall aesthetic has a resolutely modern vibe. The individual butler service strikes a perfect balance of warm and personal, without being intrusive (and those flowing waist-coated, purple-lined <em>Matrix</em> meets <em>The Remains of the Day</em> uniforms win the prize for best butler outfits anywhere).</p>
<h5><strong>Guest quarters</strong></h5>
<p>Divided into 28 suites and 10 pool villas, the accommodations sport soaring ceilings and measure in from 80–130 square meters. The riverside villas all have private pools in an open courtyard that feels more like a mini-Moroccan <em>riad</em> than it does a contemporary urban hotel. They also feature mezzanine balconies with daybeds facing the river. With the capacious bathtubs, the raised bed area, cozy sitting spaces, and more, why would you ever want to leave your room?</p>
<h5><strong>Food and drink</strong></h5>
<p>Blair Mathieson, who was The Siam’s opening chef a decade ago, has returned as culinary director. He oversees both dining venues at the hotel. Chon Thai Restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining right on the river with a variety of Thai favorites with contemporary twists, like duck confit and mango salad. The Story House in the lobby serves up crowd-pleasers including Hokkaido scallops on a bed of sweet corn purée and fine vegetarian dishes like a roast pumpkin and kale salad. A shout-out for Chon Thai’s à la carte breakfast menu: the <em>cilbir</em> (Turkish poached eggs) is outstanding.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-132792 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-7.jpg" alt="Poolside at The Siam; Chon Thai Restaurant’s gai yang (grilled marinated chicken)." width="1200" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-7.jpg 1200w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Siam-7-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></p>
<h5><strong>Wellness factor</strong></h5>
<p>At the oh-so-exclusive Opium Spa, you can be massaged, toned, and exfoliated to your heart’s content. Treatments here use chemical-free Sodashi spa products. For the ultimate in wellness, book a multi-day well-being experience to rejuvenate or detoxify, for example. Personal trainers, yoga instructors, and muay Thai practitioners are on hand to offer their expertise, and it’s possible to arrange private appointments with a guru for everything from Ayurvedic therapies and pranayama breathing exercises to meditation sessions.</p>
<h5><strong>Family matters</strong></h5>
<p>The Siam goes above and beyond to please its younger guests. There are facials, manicures, pedicures, and massages on the kids’ and teens’ menu at the Opium Spa; activities like muay Thai classes can also be geared toward kids. A riverside children’s pool and the screening room (complete with popcorn) draw families as well.</p>
<h5><strong>Sustainability cred</strong></h5>
<p>The hotel is part of the Refill not Landfill initiative, providing water canisters that can be topped up at any participating site. Solar-powered pumps irrigate the lush gardens; recycling and waste reduction take paramount importance in the back-of-house areas. Philanthropic efforts by the hotel’s owners, the Sukosol family, include regular fundraising events and annual charity concerts for beneficiaries from local hospitals and the Thai Red Cross to elephant conservation NGOs.</p>
<h5><strong>What else?</strong></h5>
<p>Bill Bensley’s immense creativity is on full display at The Siam. Not only did he design the hotel and the spinning sculpture in the lobby—a recently opened upstairs gallery showcases a changing roster of his artworks. Guests in search of a lasting, spiritual souvenir of their stay will want to get inked at the on-site Sak Yant Tattoo Studio. And the Red Light Lab is setting up shop in the hotel, producing vintage-look glass plate portraits that will beat a selfie any day.</p>
<p>Reviewed by <strong>Vincent Vichit-Vadakan</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thesiamhotel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thesiamhotel.com</a><br />
+66 2 206 6999<br />
<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/DZ11QF7uk4LajSkC9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3/2 Thanon Khao, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand</a></p>


The Siam’s Chon Thai Restaurant is housed across two restored heritage houses on the riverbank.

The Siam

Bangkok Hotels

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