Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, a Heritage in the Heart of the City
- Editor-in-Chief
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Few hotels in Bangkok carry history quite as visibly—and gracefully—as Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. Since opening in 1978 as the Bangkok Peninsula Hotel, the property has undergone a series of transformations: sold and reborn as The Regent Bangkok in 1982, re-emerging as Four Seasons Bangkok in the early 2000s, and eventually rebranded as Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. Rather than erasing its past, each evolution has added depth, leaving behind a hotel that feels layered, assured and quietly confident.
At its heart, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel exemplifies a refined fusion of traditional Thai architecture and contemporary luxury. Designed as a 'residential' hotel, its layout draws inspiration from a traditional Thai house, with two wings flanking a central building and lotus ponds framing the main entrance. The three principal buildings—Parichart Court, Kannika Court and Monthathip Court—are named after Thai flowers, reinforcing a sense of place that feels considered rather than ornamental. Despite its prime location in Ratchaprasong, the hotel maintains a sense of calm that feels increasingly rare in central Bangkok.
The architectural vision was led by American architect George Wimberley, founder of Wimberley, Allison, Whitsenand, Tong & Goo, in collaboration with Thai architect Dan Wongprasart. Together, they conceived a structure that balances Western classical grandeur—particularly Edwardian proportion and symmetry—with the spiritual language of Thai Buddhist art rooted in the Rattanakosin period. Open-air corridors allow natural light to flood the atriums, while landscaped tropical gardens in each court evoke the sensation of a rainforest rather than an urban complex.
One of the hotel's most recognisable features is the grand staircase, anchored by a monumental 100-square-metre Thai silk mural titled The Coronation of a King. Hand-woven and painstakingly painted by Ajarn Paiboon Suwannakudt, widely regarded as Thailand's greatest traditional muralist of the modern era, the work depicts the founding of Bangkok and the beginning of the Chakri dynasty in 1782. This was Paiboon's final project; he passed away just six months into its execution. His daughter, Phaptawan Suwannakudt, completed the mural alongside the lobby's 25 painted ceiling panels, a year-long undertaking supported by 27 apprentices. The result is both historically resonant and emotionally charged, forming the cultural heart of the hotel.
Hidden within the property is a secluded garden—one of Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel's most quietly captivating spaces. Designed by local landscaper Sitthiporn Dhonavanik, the garden is home to 60 koi carp and dense tropical planting sourced from Hawaii and the South Pacific. Nestled within this oasis is AQUA, long regarded as one of Bangkok's most enduring bars and an elegant refuge from the city's pace.
Aqua's identity is closely tied to a piece of the hotel's own living history. Long before the koi arrived, the grounds were home to a duck pond during the hotel's Four Seasons era—a quietly cherished detail that has since faded from memory. The bar's mascot, Quill the Duck, was conceived as a tribute to that forgotten chapter, anchoring Aqua's contemporary cocktail programme in nostalgia and place. Through Quill, the bar reframes its past not as a footnote, but as inspiration—playful, symbolic and quietly sentimental.
Since 2022, Aqua has been guided by bar manager Ryan Germino, whose understated yet technically assured approach has shaped its newly launched cocktail menu. The latest selection leans into a low-ABV philosophy, with drinks that appear minimalist but reveal layered complexity through advanced culinary techniques and a distinctly Thai sensibility.
Pomelo's Embrace brings together local gold rum, ruby pomelo, Thai salad syrup and fresh lime, clarified with coconut milk. Finished with Isan sausage and young ginger, it blurs the boundary between cocktail and cuisine—savoury, refreshing and quietly provocative in equal measure.
At the bolder end of the spectrum, Quill's Midnight Spell is a clarified picante-style cocktail built on tequila and mezcal, layered with coconut cream, pineapple, chipotle mayo, wild honey and fresh lime juice. Smoky, spicy and deceptively smooth, it stands as the most assertive expression within the line-up. Refined bar bites drawn from the hotel's surrounding restaurants complete the experience, reinforcing Aqua's role as both destination bar and connective social space.
While Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel is home to several dining venues, Madison Steak Avenue remains the clear standout. Renowned for serving some of the city's finest steaks, the restaurant also houses Thailand's largest American wine cellar. Inspired by the energy and polish of New York's Madison Avenue, Madison stays true to its original philosophy—pairing classic American steakhouse traditions with warm Thai hospitality. The menu showcases an exacting selection of premium cuts, including beef from Snake River Farms in Idaho, pioneers of American Wagyu and USDA Prime, alongside distinguished offerings from Australia and Japan. The result is a dining experience defined by consistency, restraint and quiet confidence rather than excess.
That same sense of composure extends beyond the dining room and into the hotel's private spaces. Across its 354 rooms and suites, Anantara Siam continues its narrative of assured elegance, where traditional Thai craftsmanship meets contemporary comfort. Teak furnishings, silk fabrics and curated artefacts are paired with modern amenities and views over either the hotel's gardens or the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and separate showers underscore indulgence without ostentation. At the same time, select suites feature private entrances, dining patios and lotus pond outlooks that enhance the sense of residential privacy.
Wellness at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel is approached with the same sense of balance that defines the rest of the property. The spa offers a tranquil retreat rooted in traditional Thai healing practices, complemented by contemporary treatments designed to restore both body and mind. The outdoor swimming pool, framed by tropical greenery and shaded colonnades, provides a calm counterpoint to the city beyond the gates, while the fully equipped fitness centre supports both rigorous training and gentle movement, maintaining a discreet, unhurried atmosphere throughout.
Completing the hotel's multifaceted offering is VIVID, a modern wellness concept providing personalised IV vitamin drips guided by medical expertise and advanced technology. The addition reflects Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel's ability to evolve thoughtfully, incorporating contemporary lifestyle elements without disrupting its architectural or cultural integrity.
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel stands as a study in continuity rather than reinvention. Architecture, art, gastronomy and wellness coexist without spectacle, creating a property that feels confident in its heritage while remaining quietly current. In a city defined by perpetual change, it offers something increasingly rare: permanence refined by time.
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Tel: +66 2126 8866
Email: siam@anantara.com
Location: 55 Rajadamri Road, Bangkok 10330
Credits
Article: Wariya Intreyonk
Photos: Wariya Intreyonk and courtesy
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