"Reached by a teakwood-trimmed boat upriver to Dusit, this art-deco–tinged retreat feels like a cabinet of curiosities filled with retro rockstar memorabilia (a nod to the co-owner’s music background), 16th-century glass-encased Buddha sculptures, and ancient Thai stilt houses once owned by Jim Thompson that now serve as the riverfront Thai restaurant. Designer touches by Bill Bensley give the property a collectible, museum-like quality, and the 39 lofty standard rooms—decked with quirky antiques, cloud-soft beds, and freestanding bathtubs—are unusually spacious for Bangkok; eleven riverside villas raise the bar further with rooftop sundecks, apartment-size bathrooms, bamboo-fringed courtyards, and private plunge pools." - Chris Schalkx