Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
With a history stretching back to 1876, the grande dame of luxury hotels in Bangkok has long staked its claim along the Chao Phraya River, bearing witness not only to the Thai capital’s rise as an economic powerhouse in South-East Asia, but cultural icons past and present. Writer John le Carré wrote The Honourable Schoolboy during his stay at the hotel, Joseph Conrad made frequent appearances at the bar, while actor Marlon Brando found repreive in its elegantly-appointed suites. Today, the 12 suites in the refurbished Garden Wing are some of the finest in the city, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and a contemporary décor touched with Thai silk. The Bamboo Bar continues play host to some of the best jazz performances in the city while gourmands do best to book ahead for a table at the hotel’s two-Michelin-starred French restaurant Le Normandie.
