Remember me
Rising above Lumphini Park, Dusit Thani Bangkok marks a significant reopening for the brand. Dusit has been shaping Thai hospitality for decades, and it was on this very site that the first Dusit Thani opened in 1970, when it was the first homegrown luxury hotel brand in Thailand. The intervening decades left the building a little out of step with Bangkok’s modern hotel scene however, so in 2019, the whole thing was torn down, to be replaced with a seriously luxe new building, shopping centre, offices and residences.
The design comes courtesy of André Fu, the mind behind Hong Kong’s Upper House, and the influence is clear. Interiors are calm, elegant and quietly luxurious, with soft palettes, layered textures and a real sense of flow. There are several nods to the old hotel too, including painted stone columns from the original building and even an exact model replica on display. Rooms are generous in size and, unlike the original building, all face the park. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame uninterrupted green views, a genuine rarity in central Bangkok. Given Lumphini’s protected status, there’s comfort in knowing those views aren’t going anywhere, even as the city continues to build at pace around it.
We stayed in a club room, which was properly spacious, with a roll-top bath, a comfortable sofa positioned along the window and access to the Club Lounge. That meant complimentary cocktails in the evening and breakfast served upstairs, though it’s worth making time for the main breakfast spread at least once. The buffet is exceptional, ranging from freshly baked goods from in-house bakery Dusit Gourmet (the Thai tea brioche is worth seeking out) to a standout crab omelette, local fruits, coconut juices and plenty more and then even more after that. Easily the best breakfast we had during our travels in Thailand.
Beyond breakfast, the hotel’s food and beverage offering is extensive. Cannubi by Umberto Bombana brings Michelin-starred Italian dining to the building, while Pavilion delivers modern Thai cooking in a more relaxed setting. The 1970s Bar nods to the hotel’s past, reimagined as a sexy low-lit lounge with cocktails named after famous former guests – though we’ll spare Margaret Thatcher the honour of an order. Upstairs, The Spire rooftop delivers wide city and park views, tropical drinks and dangerously addictive Tom Yum nuts.
There’s a very good spa and pool with loungers and sofas for when Bangkok gets too hot, consistently attentive service, and a sense that this reopening marks a reset for the brand and sets the standard for what comes next. Currently sitting at number 60 on the World’s Best Hotels list, Dusit Thani Bangkok feels like it’s angling to climb even higher.
If you do want to leave the hotel, step outside or take the basement walkway and you’re straight into Dusit Central Park. The development is already shaping up as a serious food destination, with restaurants like Prin Polsuk’s Noi Samrub and a well-stocked Tops Food Hall for picking up snacks and sauces to take home. You’re also very well connected, with Sala Daeng BTS and Silom MRT just outside – a blessing when it comes to getting around during Bangkok’s notorious rush hour.
98 Rama IV Road, Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
dusit.com
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