From left: Kaiseki
From left: Kaiseki dining at Kinu by Takagi at Mandarin Oriental; Lennon's lounge at the Rosewood hotel You can see a rooster crowing in front of you while gazing up at a tall skyscraper river, the hotel can be very personalised in helping guests plan their days. “More and more people don’t want to hide away in the city’s hotels – they want to get lost and explore,” says the hotel’s general manager, John Blanco. “They are looking for accidental tourism and things that aren’t available anywhere else.” Some of the private experiences Blanco organises include a multi-hour bar tour with Anuman in Chinatown; a Muay Thai class with champion kickboxer Kru Toom; and a dancing class with a supremely charming yai (Thai grandmother) – among many others. “There are so many different communities across Bangkok,” enthuses Blanco. “You can always find something extraordinary.” Bedding Down Both new, Capella Bangkok (capellahotels.com) and Four Seasons Bangkok (fourseasons.com) sit side by side: choose the former for privacy and views, the latter for public spaces. Up the river, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok ( mandarinoriental.com) underwent a refurb in 2019 and still sparkles – a true icon. Also opening in 2019, Rosewood Bangkok (rosewoodhotels.com) lacks the brand’s defining “sense of place” but has spacious, elegant rooms and an unbeatably central location. The Siam ( thesiamhotel.com) is a design-led hideaway tucked in a residential neighbourhood that is worth the journey for aesthetes. Top Tables International flavours are dominating the city. Don’t miss Chef Pam at Potong (restaurantpotong.com) in Chinatown. For more traditional Chinese fare, try Nan Bei at Rosewood Bangkok. Mexican cuisine reaches spectacular heights at Ojo (standardhotels.com), which sits on the 76th floor at The Standard (the neighbouring lounge has nibbles from the same kitchen and even better views). Villa Franztén (villafrantzen.com) might be the best Nordic cuisine in Asia, while just down the street Sühring (restaurantsuhring.com) offers two-Michelinstarred German dishes. It’s chef’s table only at Gaggan Anand ( gaggananand.com) near the new Soho House, a truly otherworldly experience. For Thai cuisine, try historic dishes with a modern twist at Aksorn (aksornbkk.com), chef David Thompson’s latest venture, and elevated street food at Samlor (@samlor.bkk). PHOTOS FROM LEFT: © FOUR SEASONS, OWEN RAGGETT 46 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
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