The Siam

The
meticulously executed colonial-era, Art Deco theme in the hotel’s expansive interior
focuses heavily on black and white, and dark-shaded wood, and evokes luxury of
the highest standard. The Siam is expansive given it houses just 39 suites and
villas, lending to an intimate ambience overall; some guests describe the
property as feeling more like a stately home than a hotel. Lush gardens, with small
lotus ponds and arched walkways of climbing plants, stretch down to the river.
Inside, communal areas make extensive use of floor-to-ceiling black-wood
paneled windows, providing plenty of natural light as well as air circulation, an important detail since only the hotel’s bedrooms are air-conditioned. Antique
ornaments and curios from the personal collections of the owners -- a family of
Thai musical celebrities -- are thoughtfully placed at every turn; even the
restrooms have tasteful objets d’art, and a boutique in the lobby sells
items from the owners’ stock. Guests are typically couples seeking opulent seclusion, though families are also welcomed and frequently stay here. 

The Siam’s waterside location is wedged between Bangkok’s leafy and
historic, European-influenced Dusit district on the fringes of the old town and the banks of the Chao Phraya river. The hotel offers a free, 25-minute longtail
boat transfer between its private pier and Saphan Taksin, connecting with the
elevated Skytrain, and it can also drop guests at any of around 30 city piers. A few sights are nearby: The Vimanmek Teak Palace Museum and Dusit Zoo are both a five-minute drive away, and the Grand Palace is 15-minutes by road or a short boat transfer. However, the Siam's position, out of reach from Bangkok’s non-riverside attractions, means visitors will have to navigate the area's heavy traffic to get to downtown, which can take 20 or 30 minutes. That said, the focus is decidedly on staying within the grounds, which offer a respite from chaotic
Bangkok, rather than exploring farther afield. Bangkok’s main airport is 30 to 50
minutes away, depending on traffic; note that the hotel can be tricky to find if arriving by taxi,
though it's well signposted from the street.

The hotel
is made up of suites in the three-story main building and private villas set around
the grounds. All are spacious, with large beds and freestanding Art Deco-style
slipper bathtubs as bedroom centerpieces. Bathrooms are equally lavish with separate
his-and-hers sinks, walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, stunning floor-to-ceiling white
tiles, and luxury toiletries. Some guests report disturbed sleep from noisy
in-room air-conditioning units, and views vary between rooms -- some overlook neighboring parking lots, while other standard rooms
lack windows in the bedrooms altogether, with natural light coming from the bathrooms only.
This might make it worth opting for one of the pricier top-floor River View
Suites, which also come with high ceilings. Bear in mind that the luxury
Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental hotels farther upriver offer river-view rooms for
less than standard rooms at The Siam, though these larger-scale properties lack
The Siam’s trademark intimacy. Villas come
with private walk-in plunge pools, hot tubs, and open-air roof terraces. The
two-person Connie’s Lodge stands out as the century-old former villa of socialite,
collector, and U.S. intelligence agent Connie Mangskau when she relocated to
Bangkok from former capital Ayutthaya.
Minibars in all rooms are stocked with Champagne, wine and spirits, as well as local
beers. All rooms also have safes, iHome clock radios, flat-screen TVs, and kettles. 

An
extensive list of features is to be expected in this price bracket, yet The Siam excels in terms of quality and detail. Plush daybeds border the narrow riverside infinity pool, where the Bathers Bar serves daytime snacks as
well as cocktails by sunset (though some reviews report slow service). The
hotel’s dining options get mixed reviews, though there is plenty of choice --
flagship restaurant Chon Thai serves traditional Thai cuisine in three antique
teakwood houses, while the duplex Deco Bar and Bistro continues the
black-and-white theme with a mix of booths, bar seats and roof terrace for
casual dining. Room service is available 24 hours a day, though reviews
describe slow service and small portions. Cafe Cha serves afternoon tea, and
riverside private dining and an intimate Chef’s Table dinner can be arranged.
The latter takes place at the daytime cooking school; classes include a morning
visit to a nearby fresh market.A
vintage-themed gym -- which gets particularly good reviews -- has top-of-the-range fitness equipment and leather punching bags. A boxing ring is the
setting for classes with Muay Thai experts, and personal trainers are also
available. The gym and neighboring roof terrace, home to yoga, tai chi, and
meditation classes, share views of the temple next door. The Opium Spa offers
facials, massages, and body-wrap treatments, plus a full hair and nail salon,
though reviews note that prices are significantly higher than those of luxury
downtown spas; the spa also includes a Hammam-inspired bath house with dry and
steam saunas, steam showers, and hot tubs. More unusually, guests can receive a
traditional Thai tattoo here too.The stylish
business center has two Mac computers, while a luxurious meeting room can
accommodate up to 30 people. The library is stocked with the owners’ collection of
first-edition Thai historical titles, plus an extensive pottery collection,
while the cinema is furnished with original French velvet seats. The Siam
eschews the conventional concierge for a more personal butler guest-liaison
service, which guests seem to unanimously love. On the downside, the free Wi-Fi throughout suffers
coverage problems according to reviews, particularly in the bathrooms.