Shangri-La Bangkok Review

After boarding a 3 hour flight from Singapore and still struggling with jet lag, the only thing I really wanted to do was to climb into a comfy bed and sleep. I found myself feeling delusional once I arrived at Shangri-La Bangkok, but my disorientation was quickly solved as I was greeted warmly by the staff at the hotel. I was pleasantly distracted by the beautiful uniform that the women staff were wearing and couldn’t help but to admire their style. I had to compare it to the states because unlike New York staff who often wear black or corporate attire, the staff at Shangri-La Bangkok had Thai inspired fashion and I knew in that moment that I would enjoy my first time in Thailand.

Shangri-La Bangkok offers a luxurious but comfortable stay, which is appealing to both locals, tourists and business travelers. It is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, only 30 minutes from the airport and close to business districts, and shopping and sightseeing attractions. The hotel comprises of two wings, Shangri-La Wing and the Krungthep Wing, with a total of 802 guest-rooms.

All guest room amenities include:

• Complimentary broadband Internet access
• 24-hour in-room dining
• In-room safe deposit box suitable for laptops
• Satellite / cable television and movie channels
• IDD telephone and voice mail
• Full-size executive writing desk
• Mini-bar
• Coffee / tea making facilities
•  Hair Dryer

For those that want exclusive privileges should consider rooms in the Krungthep Wing and The Horizon Club. I personally didn’t need this access since I wanted to explore more of the city but this is great for business travelers and locals.

Horizon club privileges:

• Private check-in and check-out
• Private Horizon Club Lounge and meeting rooms
• Tea, coffee or other hot beverage of your choice to be delivered to your room with wake-up call
• Complimentary buffet breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés
• Complimentary tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks throughout the day
• Complimentary pressing of two garments per guest per stay
• Fresh tropical fruit in your room and daily newspaper upon request
• Dedicated concierge services

Krungthep deluxe balcony and suites privileges:

• Complimentary buffet breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés in the Riverside Lounge
• Fresh tropical fruit in your room and daily newspaper upon request
• Complimentary tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks in theRiverside Lounge throughout the day
• Complimentary pressing of two garments per guest per stay
• Priority restaurant reservations

I had king sized suite overlooking the river and the view was more than I can ask for. It was a great sight to wake up to and and a great sight to catch the sunset. Since the hotel is situated near the pier, it is also easy to take the boat and go to the night market and the one I went to was ASIATIQUE The Riverfront. I highly recommend visiting as it’s a popular attraction in Thailand and makes for a great experience. There are tons of shops and food vendors there and that’s also where I tried the fish foot massage, which was a unique experience to say the least!

Upon first glance, Shangri-La Bangkok is a huge hotel, so it can get a little difficult to navigate since there are two wings. However, after spending a day exploring, I became familiar with the layout of the hotel and all the fabulous amenities. My favorite part of the hotel is definitely the freeform swimming pool, the morning buffet which is offered at Next2 Cafe and of course the Salathip Restaurant, which offers Thai food along with Thai dancing performance.

The swimming pool is central to the hotel and I knew I wanted to take advantage of going for a dip especially after a day out in the scorching humid weather. There were enough outdoor seating to go around, so it didn’t seem too crowded. There are also staff waiting to attend to your needs once you arrive at the pool. They sit you accordingly to your preference, whether you prefer sun or the shade. You can also order drinks and food, so it’s a great way to relax after a long day of exploring. When it comes to hotels and vacations, I love choosing places that offer both a relaxing environment like an outdoor pool, while also being a central location, so I can enjoy the attractions nearby. I found Shangri-La Bangkok to satisfy this request.

I had the amazing opportunity to dine at Salathip Restaurant and it was by far one of the best meals I’ve had in Thailand. Salathip Restaurant is right by the river so it’s a great location to enjoy a nice meal. The decor of the restaurant is also beautiful as there is option for indoor and outdoor seating. The romantic and intimate ambiance also makes for a great date night. I don’t think you can stay at Shangri-La Bangkok and not dine at Salthip, it’s truly a must! 

I tried signature Thai dishes including Mieang Pla Tub Tim, Tom Kha Gai Maprawn Onn, and Khao Niew Mamuang Song See and they were all delicious. My favorite dish has to be the Mieang Pla Tub Tim, which comprises of different ingredients including vegetables, spices and of course the main source of protein, which in this case was fried fish. It was fun to put everything in a lettuce wrap and try to eat it in one bite. I also enjoyed the Thai performance and music as it really made me be present to the fact that I was in Thailand. There are tons of dining options at Shangri-La including Volti restaurant and bar, Horizon Cruise, Shang Palace Restaurant, The Long Bar, The Chocolate Boutique, Lobby Lounge and Riverside Lounge.

As you can see, Shangri-La Bangkok has something for every type of guest. It’s truly the perfect accommodation for families, tourists, business travelers and even locals.  For someone visiting Thailand for the first time, I would suggest staying here and you won’t be disappointed. The location is perfect, the service is impeccable and the hotel has all the amenities you could ask for. *Thank you Shangri-La Bangkok for hosting me and I can’t wait to stay there again!

Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, New Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Tel: (66 2) 236 7777 Fax: (66 2) 236 8579 slbk@shangri-la.com www.shangri-la.com