The Shangri-La Bangkok is one of the grand hotels of the Chao Phraya, a large riverside property at 89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, in the Bang Rak district. The booking page gives it a five-star class and counts 802 rooms, which makes it a self-contained world. There are two outdoor pools with sun loungers, umbrellas and a lifeguard, with pool access from 7am to 7pm, plus a full-service spa with ten treatment rooms, private suites with spa tubs, a spa pool, a sauna and a steam room. A fitness centre, outdoor tennis courts, a garden and an on-site shopping mall round out the facilities. Dining is a particular strength. The booking page names five restaurants, NEXT, 2 Cafe, Salathip, Shang Palace and Volti Tuscan Grill and Bar, along with three bars and lounges including a poolside bar. The booking page describes the setting as on the river with easy access to the BTS Skytrain. It does not mention a boat or pier, so ask about river transport when you book.
Why it works
The combination of scale, river views and rail access is hard to match. Saphan Taksin BTS station is listed as a six-minute walk, State Tower is five minutes, Bangrak Market is two minutes and the river is five minutes away. ICONSIAM is listed as a seventeen-minute walk, and Asiatique is a six-minute drive.
King Power Mahanakhon is within two miles, and Erawan Shrine and CentralWorld are within three miles. That makes it a convenient base for travelling by Skytrain to Siam and by boat to the old town from the nearby Sathorn pier, with a tranquil resort to return to.
Who it suits
Families, couples and business-leisure travellers who want a large, polished, full-service hotel with all the facilities, and who are comfortable with a hotel of this size. The dining and the spa are real attractions in their own right, and the pools make long hot afternoons manageable. If you want a small, characterful boutique with a sense of place, look to the old-town or Chinatown properties instead. The scale and corporate polish can feel impersonal to some guests, though the setting by the river softens it.
Practical notes
Suvarnabhumi Airport is listed as a 39-minute drive, and the hotel is on the river with a garden. Pool hours are limited to the daylight window, so plan swims accordingly. Check the room categories on the booking page, as river-view rooms cost more but add a lot to the experience.
Combine a stay with a day at Wat Pho and the Grand Palace by river boat from Sathorn pier, a sunset drink at the rooftop of lebua, which is a few minutes away, and an evening at Chinatown. For a splurge, one of the restaurants makes a good celebratory dinner.
Why stay here
- ✓Two outdoor pools
- ✓Spa with ten treatment rooms
- ✓Five restaurants including Shang Palace
- ✓Three bars and lounges
- ✓Outdoor tennis courts
- ✓Fitness centre
- ✓On-site shopping mall
- ✓Saphan Taksin BTS six minutes on foot
Good questions
How far is Shangri-La Bangkok from the BTS?+
The hotel lists Saphan Taksin BTS station as a six-minute walk, with State Tower five minutes and Bangrak Market two minutes away.
How many pools and restaurants are there?+
Two outdoor pools, with access from 7am to 7pm, and five restaurants: NEXT, 2 Cafe, Salathip, Shang Palace and Volti Tuscan Grill and Bar.
Is there a spa?+
Yes. A full-service spa with ten treatment rooms, private suites with spa tubs, a spa pool, a sauna and a steam room.
