Overlooking the Chao Phraya River as it runs through Bangkok. — The bright lights of Bangkok flank the Chao Phraya River.

As the sun sets on another Bangkok day, the city enters its own. It’s clear to see why this city has just been voted the best in the Asia-Pacific region at the 2025 DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards. The savory scent of marigolds fills the air as nimble fingers create garlands for temple worshippers. Herds of gold-painted elephants are stacked in a lorry, transporting luck to other parts of the country.

Above the skyline, the gleaming spire of the Dusit Thani Bangkok glints in golden light. This new hotel for the modern traveler is firmly and proudly rooted in its past, from the pillars at the entrance to the safekeeping of its original spire, encased in the new—more golden than the last. Spire Rooftop Bar offers an enviable view across the city, while one floor below, 1970 Bar is a modern marvel of architecture (both interior and exterior).

Across Lumpini Park, the newly opened The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok rises majestically above the trees, offering a front-row view of the park and its many shades of green. The number of morning runners subsides as the heat rises, returning in the evening in the cool of the night. The hotel, blending Thai tradition and global influence, is at the center of the new One Bangkok development, where international brands rub shoulders with the quiet efficiency of embassies, the tree-lined streets slick with traffic.

The question is, why has it taken The Ritz-Carlton so long to make Bangkok home? Brad Edman, Market Vice President for Thailand, Cambodia & Myanmar said that Marriott International has always been keen to introduce The Ritz-Carlton brand to Bangkok, but such a premium concept requires a truly unique development—an iconic landmark in a prime location in the heart of the city. “These are not easy to find, so we had to wait for the right opportunity, but we are truly delighted with The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok. One Bangkok is a transformational project that will redefine the city’s business, leisure, and hospitality landscape, and we are delighted to play a role in shaping Bangkok’s future.”

Edman recognizes that Bangkok’s luxury sector was originally largely centered around the riverside area, with a small number of established hotels dominating the market. Of course, there were exceptions, such as JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, but the city really started to evolve in the 2010s with a surge in ultra-premium retail and residential projects rising in the commercial heart of Bangkok.

Today’s Bangkok has so much to offer it’s hard to know where to start, from the bright newness of One Bangkok and the reinvention of the Dusit Thani Bangkok to the intriguing side streets of Chinatown where old icehouses rub shoulders with new bar concepts in heritage hideouts.

The city seems to have come of age. It is no longer happy with being a slightly edgy teenager, proud of being on the outside looking in. Today, that intriguing edginess is still there, but it is matched by a slicker, grown-up feel, where international luxury travelers can enjoy signature Thai hospitality in a world-class setting.

Bangkok Smiles Bright

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