Review: Waldorf Astoria Bangkok

I had a quick one-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok while passing through the Thai capital on a recent trip. This is a property I’ve had my eye on for quite a while since its opening in 2018, and appears to be one of the world’s better-regarded Waldorf Astoria properties. 

Having stayed at a few Waldorf Astoria locations thus far that left me more than impressed, I was excited to try out a new property that seemed to be among the best of the brand.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Booking

I booked my one-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which earned me a US$200 statement credit on my American Express US Platinum Card, as well as a US$100 property credit as part of the Amex FHR benefits package. 

In addition to the property credit, I also received early check-in and late checkout, which are benefits that I wouldn’t have gotten with solely my Hilton Diamond status.

Meanwhile, a room upgrade and daily breakfast for two people are also included as part of the Amex FHR benefits, but I would’ve also gotten these benefits through my Hilton Diamond status.

The hotel typically retails for around US$250–300, but at the time, they were offering a 25% discount through Fine Hotels & Resorts, bringing the rate down to US$200. Combined with my $200 credit, I essentially had a free stay, and it’s always a great feeling when things work out like that. 

A points redemption would fall around the range of 60,000–80,000 Hilton Honors points per night, which would’ve been on par with our Points Valuations if I didn’t have an Amex FHR credit to use and wanted to redeem points instead.

Moreover, you could also choose to redeem Hilton Free Night Rewards here, and I’d say it’s a pretty fantastic property that gives you excellent value for your certificate. 

 

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Location

The hotel occupies floors 6–17 and 55–57 of a high-rise in the lively district of Ratchaprasong. The area is a key intersection, known for its shopping, hotels, restaurants, and spas in the immediate area. 

There’s a significant concentration of shopping malls and luxury hotels in the district. You can also find the Grand Hyatt, the Park Hyatt, the Anantara, and the InterContinental hotels all within 15 minutes from the Waldorf Astoria, while the Renaissance is right next door.

If you’re interested in checking out malls and eateries, or simply immersing yourself in the hustle and bustle of the city, you’ll find it all just steps from the hotel.

Indeed, for my needs on this stay, which were simply to meet up with some friends in Bangkok and experience the city briefly after having not been here so long due to the pandemic, this was an ideal location.

The Waldorf Astoria isn’t too far from major tourist sites either. Lumpini Park is just a 20-minute drive, and more historical destinations such as Grand Palace and Wat Pho are around a 30-minute car ride from the hotel.

The Riverfront is only 25 minutes away and is another popular shopping destination, where many festivals and events are often held.

Furthermore, public transportation is easily accessible with the nearest stop on the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), Chit Lom BTS station, just a six-minute walk from the hotel.

And lastly, Suvarnabhumi International Airport is around 30 minutes from the Waldorf Astoria by car (notwithstanding the city’s notorious traffic, as I discovered with a very close call on my departure) or an hour by public transit.

The hotel’s entrance is understated at first glance, tucked away down a side street off Ratchadamri Road. Upon approaching its doors, however, you’ll discover a sense of refined glamour and grandiosity as you enter the hotel.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Check-In

On the ground floor of the hotel is a waiting area, and then the lobby sits between the 15th and 16th floor, although it’s known only as the “lobby floor” without its own floor number.

The lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok displays high ceilings and a sophisticated design overlooking the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. A series of bronze screens are dotted around the lobby, accented by elegant curvilinear stone walls.

I arrived around 3pm, and the check-in process was quick and efficient. The associate informed me that I had been upgraded to the King Deluxe Suite, the hotel’s base-level suite. 

I attempted to “suite-talk” my way towards a higher-level suite, like the Astoria Suite or the Waldorf Suite; however, I was told these were not eligible for complimentary upgrades for Hilton Diamond members or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts guests.

Nevertheless, I was pretty happy with the King Deluxe Suite for what would be a quick solo stay of one night. 

The staff then walked me through the Amex FHR and Hilton Diamond benefits, and I was then treated to a purple welcome beverage of butterfly pea flower tea, known as anchan. 

I had enjoyed this drink recently in Thai Airways business class, and it was not only a nice reminder of that experience, but it felt like a perfect welcome back to Bangkok.

Taking my keys, I headed up to the 11th floor, where I had been assigned Room 1106.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – King Deluxe Suite

The hallways leading to the rooms were beautiful and elegant. The floors and walls blended seamlessly in marble, and sculptures were placed around the space to mimic a contemporary art gallery.

Immediately upon entering, the room was notably spacious,

The furnishings were cozy and plush with gorgeous Thai and wider Asian influences. Plenty of neutral colours were incorporated into the room, with touches of deep mineral blue and gold decor over a dark oak backdrop.

I loved the regal decor and found it to be very much in line with the beautiful Waldorf Astoria visual identity I’ve experienced in my previous days in Dubai and the Maldives.

Closest to the entrance is a seating area with a rounded plush sofa and a single armchair centred around a coffee table, which had a small welcome amenity of two lemon tarts upon arrival.

Furthermore, near the entrance is a well-stocked mini-bar with an in-room espresso machine. 

The floor-to-ceiling windows follow the curvature of the building, providing a nice view of the Renaissance hotel’s outdoor pool and the city skyline beyond.

The king-sized bed sits in the centre of the room, with a bench placed at the foot and a flat-screen TV perched opposite it.

The bed is accompanied by two bedside tables, where a universal power outlet and two USB ports can be found underneath. Moreover, these bedside tables feature built-in light controls, which can be adjusted from the bed.

To the right of the bed is a small dining table with seating for two. This also represents the Junior Suite’s sole workspace, as there otherwise isn’t a desk positioned in the room. 

Tucked away is a massive walk-in closet, which was also home to a work desk/vanity combo. 

The shape of the room was certainly unique, and the design made great use of curved elements in keeping with the building’s overall shape, such as the arched windows and rounded walls.

Curvatures are also found in the bathroom, which is just to the right of the bed, past the walk-in closet. The bathroom features a stunning dual vanity and sandstone floors and ceilings.

Curved around the corner, you’ll find a rain shower and a circular bathtub, all housed within a single “wet room” – one of my favourite hotel bathroom designs. What’s more, the shower is housed in an irregularly shaped alcove, which only added to the sense of sophistication. 

The oversized and circular shape of the tub made for a wonderful bathing experience. Furthermore, there was a small TV mounted on the wall for entertainment while showering or soaking in the tub.

The bidet-style toilet was housed in its own area and was also fairly luxurious, with its own wall-mounted control panel.

Overall, I loved the aesthetics of the room, as well as the numerous affluent touches like the microfibre bathrobe, which was especially plush and comfortable.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Breakfast

I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast on the morning of my stay, thanks to both my Hilton Diamond benefits and having booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.

Breakfast is served in The Brasserie from 6:30–11am from Monday to Friday, and from 6:30–11:30am on Saturday and Sunday.

It’s an incredibly impressive breakfast spread here at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, with a wide range of buffet and à la carte items. The standards for hotel breakfast buffets are always higher in Asia, but the Waldorf Astoria easily surpassed those lofty standards. 

Here, you’ll find everything from small specialty dishes of steamed fish with plum sauce to many delicious types of Western, Thai, and Chinese cuisine.

The chefs are happy to prepare customized delicacies for you, such as pancakes, waffles, and French toast with soft ice cream on top. Alternatively, for a more elaborate breakfast, you can opt for Eggs Benedict with truffle and caviar as toppings.

Furthermore, there was a wide range of East Asian and South East Asian specialties as well, including dim sum plates, noodle bowls, and custom tropical fruit arrangements. With nearly every dish imaginable to choose from, I took great delight in sampling as much of the spread as I could.

I invited our Prince of Travel team member Alex who was also in Bangkok at the time to join me for breakfast, and we had a great meal.

Further adding to this impressive breakfast experience, the service was also very polished. The staff were very proactive in checking what else they could help us with for breakfast – even if something was available at the buffet, they were happy to go get it and bring it to us over at our table.

This was a spectacular installment in the series of impressive breakfast spreads I’ve had at Asian luxury hotels. I’d wholeheartedly recommend the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok for the breakfast spread alone, and I’d love to come back and re-experience it in the future.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Dining

There are a total of three dining options and two bars here at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok. 

The Brasserie is located on the lobby level and is the hotel’s all-day restaurant. The menu is inspired by French cuisine and uses locally sourced ingredients, and has a bright and airy dining environment.

The Front Room restaurant focuses on authentic, home-style Thai cuisine.

Prior to my departure, I chose to enjoy dinner at the Bull & Bear, located on the 55th floor of the hotel. The restaurant specializes in mostly grilled meats and seafood, and has stunning panoramic views of the city. 

I opted for the lamb chops for dinner, as I still had some amount of my US$100 property credit left that I needed to spend for dinner. The lamb chops were tender and delicious.

The hotel was gracious enough to extend me a 6pm late checkout, and even then, they were happy to extend it further so that I could enjoy dinner and have my dinner billed to the room, allowing it to count against the US$100 property credit.

I must say, while it’s not something I opt for every time, it’s always nice to have these extra credits that you can dip into and simply enjoy a nice meal on the hotel’s dime when booking through programs like American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts.

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Bar

The Loft is the hotel’s rooftop bar, offering cocktails and small bites amidst a New York-inspired design. 

I invited a friend to join me up here for some drinks on the previous night, where we were also able to spend a portion of the US$100 hotel credit.

There were sweeping views of Bangkok up here from the bar, which made for a nice backdrop as I caught up with my friend over drinks.

Meanwhile, the Peacock Alley bar, a staple of the Waldorf Astoria brand, is situated on the lobby floor beyond the check-in desks. This is an ideal spot for drinks, tea, and light bites in a more casual setting. 

Waldorf Astoria Bangkok – Other Facilities

Situated on the 17th floor of the hotel is a stunning temperature-controlled infinity pool with expansive views of the city. A large geometric column sits in the middle of the pool for a more dramatic effect.

Scattered around the pool are various relaxation areas with lounge chairs and cabanas, some of which are partially submerged in the water. Furthermore, the pool has a bar nearby, where you can order drinks and some light bites to enjoy poolside.

I regret not having the chance to take a dip in the pool, as it seemed to be a very elaborate and unique pool design. In addition to the infinity pool, there were also a set of modern outdoor showers, which seemed like they’d be fun to try.

The fitness centre is located on the same level. It’s open around the clock and looked like a great spot to squeeze in a workout. 

The space is well-equipped with cardio, strength-training equipment, and free weights, as well as towels and boxed water for guests’ comfort and enjoyment.

Lastly, the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok has a spa facility with a wide range of treatments, in addition to a steam room and sauna, which guests can use whether or not they’ve booked a spa treatment.

Conclusion

In a city with no shortage of top-tier luxury hotels, the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok remains an outstanding choice of accommodations.

Indeed, I’ve recently come to favour the Waldorf Astoria as a leading luxury hotel brand that I’d like to stay with as much as possible, and this experience only reinforced those positive impressions. 

The location is excellent for walking around and exploring all the shops and eateries of the heart of the city. Furthermore, the hotel offerings are sublime, with modern and luxurious aesthetics, facilities to match, and an extensive breakfast spread.

The wide range of benefits offered when booking through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts or as a Hilton Diamond member added substantial value to my stay, and the hotel’s generosity in extending a late checkout certainly didn’t go unnoticed and was much appreciated.

On my next visit to Bangkok, I’d probably entertain the idea of trying out a different luxury hotel given the sheer number of options in town, but I’ll certainly plan to return to the Waldorf Astoria one day in the future.