Commanding a prime location in Thailand’s capital city, this all-new luxury nest offers nods to the original hotel’s glorious past. Don’t miss the rooftop bar.
A sanctuary of calm in a chaotic city throbbing with traffic and human activity from morning to night, the 5-star Dusit Thani Bangkok claims a storied past. And with an eye to the future, it stands as the centerpiece of an emerging mixed-use development.
The original Dusit Thani opened in 1970 as the city’s tallest hotel and quickly became a gathering place for celebrities, heads of state and high society. After being torn down in 2019, it was entirely rebuilt on the same site across from Lumphini Park, the green lung of downtown Bangkok’s commercial and entertainment district. Stunningly transformed, the brand-new property had its grand opening last September.
New Hotel Recalls a Cherished Past
Signature elements from the original hotel were thoughtfully removed and preserved for use in the 39-story building. The number of guest rooms was reduced from 540 to 257.
The spire that graced the Dusit Thani from 1970 to 2019, a beacon of luxury for discerning travelers from around the world, now is housed within a new, larger golden spire atop the roof. The original pinnacle was inspired by the stupa of Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), a Bangkok landmark on the Chao Phraya River. Directly underneath the spires, a mini exhibition honors the memory of the original hotel and pioneering spirit of businesswoman Thanpuying Chanuit Piyaoui, founder of Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies. Her Princess Hotel opened in 1949 as one of the first in Bangkok with a swimming pool and air-conditioning. Dusit Hotels & Resorts, known for luxury lodging that harmonizes Thai and Western traditions, today counts more than 300 properties in 18 countries.
The hotel’s infinity swimming pool overlooks Lumphini Park and the Bangkok skyline.
Rooms with a View
The Dusit Thani’s big selling point, in my mind, is that each guest room sports an expansive window framing uninterrupted views of Lumphini Park. With just the touch of a button, the shade and curtain rise to reveal the sweeping panorama—a leafy scene by day, city lights by night. The hotel bars and fifth-floor infinity swimming pool also overlook the park.
On both mornings during my stay, I got up early to beat Bangkok’s notorious heat and humidity by taking a walk around Lumphini Park, an oasis of lakes and well-tended lawns. More important, central Bangkok’s premier greenbelt provided a window on Thai life, as I encountered happy groups exercising to music, working out at fitness stations, playing badminton and volleyball, and practicing the ancient Chinese art of tai chi. Their activities made for great photos, as did the startlingly large monitor lizards that slithered across the grass and sidewalks on their way to and from the water.
Grand Lobby Bar
Besides splendid views outside the window, favorite features of my sumptuous 23rd-floor room included Thai-inspired artwork, wood paneling and an entryway with tons of closet space. The spacious bathroom, with green marble double sinks and separate doors for the shower and toilet, was equipped with plush robes and towels and a standalone tub that looked like a boat ready to set sail. The pampering continued at Devarana Wellness, the hotel spa, where I had a traditional, two-hour Thai massage.
Chic Watering Hole High Above City Streets
After dark, a fine way to ditch Bangkok’s intensity is relaxing over cocktails in the open-air Spire Rooftop Bar while drinking in views of the skyscraper-studded skyline. Offering the same scenery one level below, the fully enclosed 1970 Bar concocts libations named after people and events from the decade when the original Dusit Thani opened. The menu’s Darker Side of the Moon, for example, is a nod to the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, while other drinks are inspired by movies that starred Ronald Reagan, Sophia Loren and Tom Jones.
The Pavilion restaurant
At dinner one night at The Pavilion, which serves Thai, Chinese and international fare, I fell in love with Penang curry. A thick, sweet red curry with tender beef cheeks and ground peanuts for creaminess, it gets my vote for best Thai dish. Happily, it appeared on the restaurant’s breakfast buffet as well. The morning spread included everything from stir-fried Chinese cabbage with oyster sauce and Chinese steamed buns to carved ham and wide selections of cheeses, breads and pastries.
Dusit International’s flagship hotel is part of the Dusit Central Park project, which includes an office tower, a high-end retail center that opened in August and a residential high-rise now under construction.
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By Randy Mink, Senior Editor
Photos courtesy of Dusit Thani Bangkok
