Welcome to Checking In, a review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.
Describe the hotel in three words: Sumptuous city sanctuary.
What’s the deal?
At long last, the Ritz-Carlton brand has entered the Bangkok market, putting down roots at the 216-metre-tall One Bangkok tower, a brand-new business and lifestyle destination at the edge of Lumpini Park, the city’s first public garden. Envisioned as an ode to its location on Wireless Road—historically the reserve of nobility and grand residences—the concept, “Meeting of Two Civilisations,” informs the dynamic architecture and design of the sophisticated building and interiors, creating a restful retreat in the heart of the city.
260 rooms, three distinct F&B concepts, spacious wellness and fitness facilities, a Club Lounge, a Ritz Kids Club, and nine business- and celebration-appropriate function rooms, as well as a grand ballroom accommodating 1,200 guests, are spread out across 25 floors. Guests can glimpse into modern interpretations of local cultural rituals, such as the daily klong yao long-drum performance to welcome the start of the evening. Morning terrace tai chi sessions, flower-pressing activities, and art tours provide fresh perspectives.
The best room?
At the top of its class—literally, it’s the penthouse—the best room has got to be the Ritz-Carlton Suite. Comprising two bedrooms, two bathrooms with double vanities, a living room, a separate sitting area, and unobstructed views over Lumpini Park, the 398-square-metre penthouse residence is the crème de la crème. Interior design studio PIA blends modern elegance with tasteful touches referencing local culture and traditions, seen through subtle patterns, shapes, and textiles, to honour the rich heritage of the property’s location.
If the Ritz-Carlton Suite is not available on the dates of your stay, the Marigold Suite and Amaranth Suite—both with balconies—are excellent choices too.
Did they greet you by name at check-in?
A resounding yes. Our stay started off on a grand and personalised note as a sizeable contingency of staffers and Ritz-Carlton Bangkok team members stood at the ready at the hotel entrance to give a warm welcome. It was quite the greeting to make you feel special.
Was a welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived?
Sadly not. We were ushered up to our room straight away upon arrival, resulting in a relaxed and informal check-in process, which we enjoyed, but lamentably, the welcome drink got lost in the mix. However, we were later informed that all guests are ordinarily greeted with a lychee cooler, made with Nin black tea, lychee, lemon, and house-made floral syrup. In the room, there was a bottle of red Bordeaux blend, as well as fresh mangoes and the most divine chocolate biscuits stamped with the Ritz-Carlton logo, so all in all, a pleasant welcome.
Private butler for every room?
No, not as a standard for all room categories. Guests at Club Lounge level can turn to the Ritz-Carlton’s Club Lounge Concierge for assistance and enquiries as usual. If access to a dedicated butler is non-negotiable, ask for a Guardian Angel, a service that the hotel provides only upon request, which essentially fulfils the functions of a private butler.
Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?
You bet. Guests will be comfortably cocooned in 400-thread-count Frette bed linen.
Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet?
No heated floors, which is just as well, considering the hot and humid climate of Bangkok—we wouldn’t want to be unintentionally locked into a game of “the floor is lava.” Bidet functions are handily built into the Kohler smart toilet, operated by a touchscreen panel set into the wall. Adjust everything from seat and water temperatures to pressure and positioning.
Are the toiletries full-sized?
Naturally. As per Ritz-Carlton standard, the in-room toiletries are from Diptyque’s fig-forward Philosykos line—a refreshing touch of Grecian summer in the Asian tropics. You can expect the customary trio of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower, and hand lotion and bar soaps by the double-vanity sinks in the bathroom.
Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use? How are the spa and gym?
No, none of the rooms come with private pools, but the hotel has a good-sized outdoor saltwater pool that is available to all guests, replete with cabanas lining the edge, as well as a smaller kids’ pool. Five treatments rooms and a couple’s spa suite are available at The Ritz-Carlton Spa for luxurious journeys to rejuvenate the mind, body, and skin, inspired by holistic healing traditions and time-honoured wellness techniques. From body scrubs and wraps, facials, and massages to cosmetic services, it’s a one-stop-shop for feeling and looking your best. Bangkok’s Ritz-Carlton Spa also partners with skincare brand Espa for its beauty regimens. A fitness centre equipped with cardio and weight-training machines is available to guests around the clock, and a steam room and dry sauna sees to the post-workout aftercare.
Is the restaurant worth its salt?
Yes. Dining is, in fact, a highlight—though that should not come as a surprise, as one of the restaurants on-site is the brainchild of chef David Toutain, the culinary extraordinaire behind the eponymic Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, and Feuille in Hong Kong. Duet By David Toutain, executed in harmony with chef de cuisine Valentin Fouache, presents a fine gastronomic exploration of the dichotomy between food and nature, and it’s a serious experience, set in a dramatic venue reminiscent of a Victorian-greenhouse-slash-birdcage.
Choose from two tasting menus, where each course sharpens the focus on a key seasonal ingredient around which the dish is shaped. Whether it’s verbena, tarragon, XO sauce, dill, elderflower, or tamarind, each ingredient has a story to tell, and that story is meticulously documented with tasting notes, emphasising provenance, characteristics, and their role in the dish. It’s as much a meal as it is enlightening instruction; the only trouble is retaining all that information after romping through eight intricate courses. Coriander and pineapple are fashioned into a sorbet dessert; fig leaves are pickled, jellied, and served with red-port Stilton cheese; pine needles are made into a sabayon and paired with succulent lobster—Toutain and Fouache invite nature into the dining room for a remarkable and flavourful experience. Ingredients are also largely locally sourced, or flown in from Europe.
All-day restaurant Lily’s also proved to be a hit—it deftly balances refined and casual, lively and dignified, classic and inventive. An expansive buffet and à la carte options are on offer for breakfast—don’t miss the caramelised flat croissants from the baked goods and pastry counter—while the khao soi crab curry, Phuket lobster linguine, and pork-cheek massaman from the lunch menu are firm favourites. Add on the signature Thai tea waffle, served with Nam Dok Mai mango and whipped cream, and you are guaranteed a good time.
Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?
Absolutely, and considering the crowd we encountered, the buzzy environment is calling to everyone. Inspired by the legendary social clubs of yore, with a theatrical touch of Latin romance, Caleō is the place to see and be seen. Snag a seat at the oval bar counter, the striking centrepiece of the venue, for the best spot in the house to watch a team of skilled bartenders at work. Its menu and creative tipples pay homage to the storied establishments that shaped the fine art of drinking over time, blending the past and present. For those in the know, names like the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Les Deux Magots, and Rick’s Café Américain will be a pleasant throwback and reminder of how far cocktail culture has come.
Would you buy the hotel if you could?
If the opportunity presented itself, it would be a tough one to pass up, as the prospect of wolfing down three caramelised flat croissants in quick succession as a daily ritual is a tempting one indeed. We consider the greatest strength of the Ritz-Carlton brand to be that the overall experience, quality, service, and atmosphere, from one Ritz-Carlton hotel to another, is impressively consistent, reliable, and top-notch—hence why our eyes remain glued to the Bangkok property. Familiarity with the brand meant that we knew what to expect even though it was our first time stepping foot into this Ritz-Carlton, but in no way did comfort pose as compromise, as there were still plenty of surprises in store for us that made the stay and experience wholly unique to The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok. It naturally felt like home from the moment we arrived, and that feeling is worth its weight in gold.
Score: 8
What Our Score Means:
1–3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here.
4–6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch.
7–8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms.
9–10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?
All images courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok.
