I am not a fan of Bangkok. The city is huge, loud and bustling. And everything in it is much more nervous than even in Moscow. Of course, Bangkok is interesting in its own way, multifaceted and in some of its manifestations is downright amazing. In which ones, I will not tell here, because this is not what my blog is about. My current mission is to share with the reader my experience related to Bangkok hotels and restaurants. In this post, I will talk about two of my favorite hotels and two of my favorite restaurants in the City of Angels…
First hotel is, of course, The Oriental, belonging to the famous tangerine group.
The legendary Oriental, grandiose and worthy of all praise. Every little thing is thought out, and all these little things together form an atmosphere of lightness and peace. The staff is ready to fulfill any whim of the guest. And everything-everything-everything here is simply impeccable: not a single scratch. Of the pleasant bonuses, of which there are plenty, I want to note two: wonderful outdoor pools and an authentic spa on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. With the most beautiful Thai massage, of course, and with a variety of therapeutic baths.
Another useful hotel service is transportation around the city and transfers (the hotel has its own fleet of three dozen BMWs). All rooms at The Oriental are artfully decorated, but the most luxurious rooms are certainly the Author’s Suites – a collection of “author’s suites” made in the 19th century colonial style and named after their past memorable guests Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener. Every time I stop in the next one. For example, the last time I lived in Maugham (pictured below), which seemed to me too catchy and pretentious, although very rich, of course … Noel Coward is just right.
And from the “non-author’s” my choice is the “Selandia” suite. The river view creates a very peaceful mood:
Second hotelone that I can confidently recommend is The Peninsula. The Oriental and The Peninsula hotels are located opposite each other on different banks of the Chao Phraya. But The Peninsula has one distinct advantage. This is a magnificent view of the city that opens from the windows of its 37-story wave-shaped building.
The Peninsula’s spacious suites are furnished with a spicy Asian-colonial flavor. The backyard features a 200-foot tiered swimming pool with traditional Thai-style cabanas on the sides, a superb fitness center with a gym, saunas and other great amenities.
You can have lunch or just have a glass of something sweet right there, in the River Café and Terrace, where a very pleasant atmosphere of comfort is created, complemented by excellent views of the river. I can sit here for hours and contemplate the slowly flowing waters of the river. The best suites of the hotel are Grand Deluxe Balcony and Deluxe Suite.
Now there are two restaurants. My choice! Firstly, this is Mei Jiang, a restaurant at the same The Peninsula hotel. It is definitely one of the best in Bangkok, at least among gastronomic restaurants – that’s for sure! And for sure, among the restaurants where you can taste traditional Cantonese (Chinese) cuisine, it has no equal.
Well, another interesting place. Bed Supper Club. A trendy and very artistic restaurant-club.
Of course, this is not only and not so much a gastronomic riot, but an orgy of ultra-modern Asian design that has come into close contact with elements of European pop art and hi-tech. Here you can easily meet representatives of the Bangkok youth elite and … find yourself in the same bed with them, because dinner is served right in a huge common sofa to the music of the city’s best house DJs. Great food and great atmosphere!
All four institutions – a solid five.
