Following a dramatic transformation, a legendary Bangkok hotel has been reborn, once again redefining luxury in the heart of the Thai capital.

Left to right: Dusit Thani Bangkok as seen from the lush grounds of Lumpini Park; the hotel’s entrance.

Left to right: The Sky Lobby on the 39th floor; repainted by local artists, a pair of pillars from the original hotel now grace the new lobby.

Left to right: Daybeds line the hotel’s swimming pool; a Saneha Rom Kwan cocktail served at the Grand Lobby Bar.

When Bangkok’s Dusit Thani hotel opened in 1970, the property was a smash success, quite literally towering over Thai hospitality: its 510 rooms occupied the tallest building in the entire country. Crowned by a golden spire, this was the pioneering project of the first major homegrown hotelier, soon to grow into one of Thailand’s first global brands, spreading the Dusit Thani DNA around Asia and beyond. Dusit, in Thai, refers to the fourth level of paradise; Dusit Thani translates as the ultimate oasis: “A town in heaven.”

But time took its toll, even on an iconic property that for decades was undeniably the center of the Bangkok social scene, hosting royal soirees, state leaders, and celebrities. As the 21st century progressed, rooms that were lavish in their heyday—each with an outdoor balcony—had become dated, especially as Thai hospitality boomed. In comparison with Bangkok’s flashier new properties, the Dusit Thani now seemed cramped, hampered by low ceilings and outmoded facilities, recalls Dusit chair Chanin Donavanik. In 2017, he made the painful decision to pull the plug on the local landmark built by his mother, Dusit Thani founder Chanut Piyaoui.

Completely razed after half a century, the beloved local landmark roared back to life in late September with the highly anticipated debut of a completely new Dusit Thani Bangkok, rebuilt from scratch. To the great relief of fans in Thailand and afar, it has never looked as glamorous or felt nearly as luxurious.

And the reimagined Dusit Thani Bangkok is only the first structure to open in the ambitious Dusit Central Park project, which will add luxury Dusit Thani–branded residences, an office tower, and a Central shopping mall to the original hotel site along with additional land providing even more green space to complement the Roof Park, an elevated public park planted with an array of trees, flowers, and grasses.

Rebuilt on the old site overlooking Lumpini Park, a unique swath of urban greenery that is often compared to New York’s Central Park, today’s Dusit Thani Bangkok is about twice the size of the 22-story original, but features half as many rooms. Hence, even entry-level rooms (50 square meters) feel massive, and all face the park, filling every room with spectacular views through single-pane panoramic windows stretching five meters.

And what views! Guests can relax on a long comfy daybed tucked under their window (in corner rooms, it wraps around), soaking up scenes from the lively park, which celebrates its own 100th anniversary in 2025. The daybed was designed to reference the traditional Thai sala: outdoor pavilions famous for viewing rice fields and nature. They add an addictive way to spend hours lounging in the sumptuous new rooms, soaking up the mesmerizing views of Lumpini Park and the glistening skyscrapers beyond.

The swimming pool offers similar sightlines of the park, only closer and unencumbered by any glass barrier. The sleek infinity pool runs parallel to Lumpini, with deck chairs solely on the hotel side, so swimmers feel like seals paddling over the park. Behind the comfortable deck chairs and daybeds is a pool bar that serves juices and herbal cocktails along with Thai and Western treats. Next door, a brightly lit gold-colored gym offers the same dazzling park views in floor-to-ceiling windows, and is open 24 hours.

But the Dusit Thani Bangkok is about much more than park views and pools, however glorious. There is also the rich history of its revered predecessor, which is referenced throughout the design and showcased in vintage photographs and mementos on the hotel’s third floor, with its throwback black-and-white checkerboard floor and antique furnishings that recall the glory of the kingdom of Siam.

Hong Kong designer André Fu has deftly managed to create a luxurious new property that references much of its unique heritage. Various historical relics were retained, most prominently the rooftop spire, now encased in glass, which was originally inspired by Wat Arun, probably the most recognizable temple in Bangkok.

You can spot that distinctively Thai stupa shape throughout the hotel, in overhead lighting, screen patterns, and marking elevators. Fu’s design leans heavily into traditional Thai imagery, motifs, and colors. Rooms feature green panels carved in a manner popular among local wooden houses in the early 1900s. Bathroom doors replicate the cutouts used by the original Dusit Thani’s fences. And the light green scheme references the celadon glaze used by master potters upriver from Bangkok in Koh Kret.

It’s a pleasant surprise from a designer acclaimed for colorful modern properties like the Upper House in Hong Kong and Fullerton Bay in Singapore. Fu hasn’t really done a heritage project, and nothing with so much connection to Thai culture and history. Not that this was a typical heritage renovation project.

“Heritage does not need to be all about the bricks and mortar,” he says. “It’s more emotional. It’s more the spirit of the hotel, how it integrated into the community of Bangkok and Thailand as a whole. That, for me, is an even stronger piece of heritage.”

Inside the Devarana Wellness spa; Bar; pad thai goong mae nam (stir-fried rice noodles with river prawns and tamarind sauce) and ha gao kai pla (steamed shrimp dumplings with ebiko) at Pavilion. — *Left to right:* Inside the Devarana Wellness spa; Bar; *pad thai goong mae nam* (stir-fried rice noodles with river prawns and tamarind sauce) and ha gao kai pla (steamed shrimp dumplings with *ebiko*) at Pavilion.

Fu first visited the hotel as a tourist two decades ago and returned soon after the decision was made to tear down the old Dusit Thani and begin anew. He walked floor by floor, getting a feel for spaces and the design, as he began to catalog what could be saved and utilized in the new property. The standout relics are a pair of massive, truncated pillars that have been repainted by prominent local artists. They stand like a gateway in the Dusit Thani Bangkok’s lobby, a lofty space subdivided by screens of fabric and metal. The central space is occupied by the snazzy Grand Lobby Bar, offering colorful cocktails and vibes nightly, with afternoon tea served at adjacent tables, with a nifty twist. There are the familiar tea-time towers, but packed with dumplings and puddings in garish cartoon colors of purple, blue, and yellow. It’s afternoon tea, Thai-style, with savory local specialties and plenty of sweets.

On the ground floor, underneath the lobby, is Pavilion, a restaurant serving a wide selection of Cantonese and Thai-Chinese cuisine revered by locals for a half-century. There are also modern twists on traditional dishes like Massaman Curry (meat and potatoes in a rich peanut sauce, but substituting in premium Wagyu) as well as favorites from the original Dusit Thani’s Benjarong restaurant. The outdoor terrace features another familiar landmark: a fountain that spills over nine levels, exactly like at the original hotel restaurant, including the same trees planted over a half century ago by founder Chanut. They were relocated during the rebuilding to a Dusit property down the coast in Hua Hin, along with fish from the ponds, which are also set to return soon.

November saw the opening of signature restaurant Cannubi by Umberto Bombana, famed as the King of the White Truffles and for his 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong, the first Italian restaurant outside Italy to receive three Michelin stars. And still to come are the suites and 39th-floor club lounge and reception area, to which guests will be whisked to start their stay. The top floor has 360-degree views over one of the most bustling and beautiful parts of Bangkok. Catch the sunset at the Spire Rooftop Bar, with space for over 100, or marvel at the bright lights of the city from the exclusive glass box that houses 1970 Bar, named for the founding year of what had been, a half-century ago, Thailand’s tallest building. It’s all part of the second coming of this heavenly Bangkok gem. —By Ron Gluckman

To learn more about Bangkok’s reborn icon, visit dusit.com/dusitthani-bangkok

This article was brought to you by DestinAsian and Dusit Thani Bangkok.

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