23 Phra Arthit Road, Pranakorn, Bangkok, Thailand | (888) 551-4925
Beautiful
location on the river in Khao San
Wat Pho, Grand
Palace, and National Museum within walking distance of hotel
Sophisticated,
modern rooms with Thai colonial design touch
Refreshing pool and hot tub with great river views
Delicious local
cuisine in restaurant
Massages are
available by the pool or in rooms
Half-price drinks during happy hour
New stationary bikes and
weight equipment in gym
Free Wi-Fi
No tubs in rooms
Breakfast is not
included
Some rooms
subject to street noise
Situated in the Pra Athit/Khao San district of Bangkok, the
upscale, 68-room Riva Surya Bangkok stands out from nearby properties with its sophisticated style. Although the hotel is not
in the center of the city, the bustling Kao San area is a five-minute walk, and river ferries stop close by. Rooms have classy, Thai-influenced decor, and many have balconies and river views. With its glistening riverside pool, contemporary gym, and well-reviewed restaurant serving Thai and international cuisine, the Riva Surya is among the best values on the Chao Praya River and an ideal option for couples or families looking to explore the Khao San area.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Stylish and contemporary with colonia-Thai and trendy-industrial accents, and riverside terrace seating
Tucked behind an
enormous tree and standing five stories high, the Riva Surya resembles an
authentic local apartment building from the outside, with its terraced landscaping, and wooden shutters and lanterns adorning the entrance. Done by the designer behind Sri Panwa hotel in Phuket, the Riva Surya deftly combines vintage-style and modern pieces for a cool, chic look. Inside, traditional carved wooden beams line the walls and ceiling, while floors have intricately patterned tiles, and fresh flowers and candles lend warmth. Gray and brushed metal chairs with orange cushions offer seating, as does a white wicker circular bench. Babble
& Rum restaurant is likewise stylish, though trendier, with black leather banquettes and industrial-style metal lamps tempered by bouquets of dried flowers and quaint wooden boxes filled with fresh herbs. The outdoor terrace sits just beside the river, and has plenty of wicker seating and bright orange umbrellas for guests, who are typically tourist couples or families. The riverside pool area is lovely, with lounge chairs facing out to the view, and cabanas -- for poolside massages -- dripping with lush plants.
Location
On the river, five-minute walk to lively Kao San center
This hotel is right on the River Chao Phraya in the Phra Athit
area of Bangkok. There are office buildings on one side of the hotel, several
residential buildings across the street, and many restaurants within
a five-minute walk. It is only a two-minute walk to the river
ferries at No. 13 pier, and 10 minutes to the nearest Skytrain station. The busy Kao
San center is a five-minute walk away, Grand Palace is only a 15-minute walk or
seven-minute bus ride away, Wat Pho is about 10 minutes by ferry, and the National
Museum is an eight-minute walk away. Suvarnabhumi Airport is about a 30- to 50-minute drive from the
hotel, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Sophisticated and modern with classy Thai design
Like the rest of
the hotel, the Surya’s 68 rooms have kaleidoscope-style patterns that are typical of colonial Thai
design. That said, the look is clean and modern, with cool grays and light browns, lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, steel-arm desk lamps, and furnishings combining natural-fiber and wood. Each room has a flat-screen TV, iPod dock, minibar, safe, coffee/tea facilities, and bathrobe and slippers. Most rooms have nice views of the river or
city, but river rooms are far superior and quieter. Rooms with balconies are
especially great, as balconies are huge and furnished with wicker loveseats and tables. Large, contemporary bathrooms are enclosed by glass
in the middle of guest rooms, though are private thanks to opaque wall liners; they have basin-style sinks and large, glass showers with rainfall showerheads.
Features
Free Wi-Fi, great restaurant and pool, massages on demand
The River Surya
offers free Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout the hotel, as well as free access to
the riverside pool and well-equipped indoor gym -- with yoga, fitness, and training
classes available for extra fees. There is also massage service by the pool or in rooms. Guests
may use computers in the business center and there are a couple of meeting
rooms available for special events. The hotel restaurant serves fresh and
affordable Thai, Asian, and European cuisine as well as an ample (not included
in room price) breakfast buffet. There are two bars open late and a nightly
happy hour with discounted drinks from late afternoon to early evening. Hotel staff are accommodating
and can help arrange airport transfers, river ferries, and tours.
