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"Compared with many of its rivals, this Bangkok stalwart doesn’t have a location that’s wildly convenient: The postcard sights need a boat transfer, and most top tables are more than a 30-minute taxi ride away. But for the legions of loyal fans of this monochrome masterpiece by hotel guru Bill Bensley, that’s the point. Pitched up on a lush riverside plot in the hushed Dusit district, The Siam feels like a portal to a bygone Bangkok. Even though it opened over a decade ago, it’s easy to imagine it as a plush playground for the city’s erstwhile big guns: the midcentury movers and shakers whose heirlooms—vintage Pan Am posters, tattered travel trunks, and chipped ceramics—adorn the marble-floored hallways. An ongoing refurb is keeping suites and private-pooled villas looking fresh. The Thai capital’s five-star hotel scene gets plusher every year, but this timeless beauty remains in a league of its own." - Chris Schalkx, Lee Cobaj
Art deco hideaway blending antiques with modern luxury on river
The Siam 3, 2 Khao, Vachirapayabal, Dusit District, Bangkok 10300, Thailand Get directions