Shangri-La Bangkok

• 802 rooms in two adjacent towers
• Krungthep Wing: about 1 minute to Saphan Taksin BTS
• Two pools, one in each wing
• Six restaurants plus Lobby Lounge and The Long Bar

Essentials

Shangri-La Bangkok is a large riverside hotel on New Road in Bangrak, with 802 rooms in two adjacent towers: the Shangri-La Wing and the Krungthep Wing. Saphan Taksin BTS station is about 200 m away, and the hotel’s website puts it at roughly 1 minute on foot from the Krungthep Wing.

That makes the Silom Line the everyday route, with no boat needed. Chao Phraya Express ferries leave from the nearby Sathon pier, and the hotel’s website gives about 40 minutes by road to either airport.

Overview

Two entrances, two characters. The Shangri-La Wing is the larger tower, with Deluxe rooms of 36 m2, Deluxe and Premier Balcony rooms of 42 m2 with a private balcony, and Premier rooms of 56 m2. The Krungthep Wing has its own lobby, driveway and pool, and its rooms begin with the 44 m2 Krungthep River View Room. Tell the taxi driver which wing you are booked into.

River view is a named category in the Shangri-La Wing (Deluxe River View, Horizon Club River View), so pick it deliberately. Connecting options exist (two Deluxe rooms join to make 72 m2), which helps a couple travelling with a carer or relatives.

Among the riverside hotels in the luxury riverside guide, this is the one where the station is a few steps away instead of a boat ride.

Tip: Book the Krungthep Wing if the BTS walk matters: the station is about 1 minute from that entrance, and the wing has its own pool.

Food and drink

Salathip

Thai restaurant in teak pavilions beside the river, with classical Thai dance performances on some evenings. The setting suits a slow dinner.

Shang Palace

The hotel’s Chinese restaurant, indoors and away from the river, with dim sum on the menu.

Volti Tuscan Grill & Bar

Italian restaurant built around grilled meats and handmade pasta. The hotel’s website also lists NEXT2 Cafe (international buffet and a la carte, riverside), Chocolate Boutique, the Lobby Lounge and The Long Bar.

Amenities

There are two outdoor pools, the Main Swimming Pool and the Krungthep Wing Swimming Pool, both for hotel guests and Health Club members. The fitness centre covers about 8,500 sq ft, and there is a tennis court area. Chi, The Spa offers treatments drawn from Asian healing traditions in private spa suites.

The station sits next to the hotel, so daily walking stays short; the one crossing to plan for is the busy New Road frontage. The hotel’s website lists no shuttle boat, so treat the BTS and the Sathon pier as the transport links.