Review: Four Seasons at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand
The Four Seasons has been a feature of the Bangkok hotel scene for almost 40 years on and off. Between 2015 and 2020 however, Bangkok had been without a Four Seasons property thanks to the owner of the former location rebranding it as part of the local Anantara chain. With some of the worst timing in the world, Four Seasons opened their new location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in February 2020 - meaning if you’re visiting now, the hotel is still quite new thanks to super low visitor demand. Here’s what you can expect.
First impressions
We arrived directly after our quarantine stay at the St. Regis Bangkok and despite being in the same premium/luxury segment, the two brands are going for quite different markets. Whilst the St. Regis is going for the more old-school classy vibes; the new Four Seasons is the more modern offering of the two. If you’re arriving by vehicle, you’ll immediately feel whisked away into luxury thanks to the private estate dedicated to the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences (which must cost a fortune…) as well as other luxury businesses.
Upon arriving, our taxi was met by a number of staff of the hotel - a couple who whisked our luggage off and another who greeted us at the property. All this attention gave an excellent first impression of the property which was only made better as we headed through the entrance. This area is less of a regular lobby but more akin to a art museum with the large stone architecture on one half alongside water features and a large window letting in tonnes of light.
This pathway leads onto the main reception which is equally as imposing and beautiful as the entrance. During check in, we were attended to quickly and all formal processes completed effectively whilst the staff were very personable. One improvement here could have been a welcome drink but that is extremely minor and slightly unnecessary when the check in was completed fast. We were soon on our way to the room.
Here’s some shots of the communal areas on the way which continue with the impressive streak embracing modernity and sleekness. Several different zones can be seen including a bar area, barista station and a variety of chairs alongside tables to work and relax from.
The room
During our visit we stayed in a Deluxe King Bedroom which is the option you will probably also go for. Despite this and not being a suite, the size was large at 50m2 and plenty of footprint to walk around without feeling like you are going to trip up on items within the room - as can happen at many city properties.
The first thing you’ll notice it the large bathroom since it’s pretty much seen as soon as you enter the room. Featuring partitioned toilet and shower, double sinks with a huge, heated mirror that makes the space feel even larger and a ellipsis-shaped bath, this is high-end stuff.
All the fixtures and fittings were outfitted by the Italian brand Gessi and were sparkling clean during our stay. I absolutely loved the colour scheme they’ve employed too with the accents of grey, creams and marble just create a really warm environment to use the bathroom. As fantastic was the design, we did experience some trouble with our shower blocking and water taking a long time to drain out. This was disappointing because it is a pretty new hotel and this shouldn’t really be an issue anywhere with modern drainage systems.
The bathroom was also stocked with an impressive array of amenities too. This included proper shaving foam, instead of the shaving cream at most hotels, good quality toothbrush, the best wooden comb I’ve come across and excellent shower cream, soap, conditioner, shampoo and moisturiser from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Paris. This featured a beautiful scent and quality that showed the brand has invested in that experience just a bit more to elevate it further.
If you require more privacy from other guests in the room whilst using the bathroom, it can be shut off easily by the non-intrusive sliding doors that I didn’t realise where doors to begin with!
Onto the main part of the room, the bed. Featuring a King Sized mattress and soft cotton sheets, you will most certainly get a good night’s sleep at this property no matter your preference. It’s probably a good time to mention the upgrades that Four Seasons have made to their digital experience with the inclusive tablet next to the bed. Using this locked down device, you can order items for the room including extra amenities, specific drinks or even a different firmness pillow - to make your sleep extra comfortable. Here you can also engage with the front desk team via the chat function, rather than using the telephone which is also next to the bed. I feel this is just a far more convenient way since you can reply at leisure rather than be waiting on hold and with awkward silences.
Opposite the bed is a television. I would love to say if it had any special features but unfortunately the remote wasn’t working and, as I was only here for 1 night, it wasn’t worth asking them to come and fix it in the morning.
Finishing the room, next to the television is a sofa that could almost be a bed for a small human as well as table and an interesting selection of reading materials to get yourself into before sleeping. A solo lounger is also found next to the bed which could also be used to watch the TV or do some work at as the sun beams through the window.
Our view from the room was over the impressive courtyard of the property but if you wish for a river view room, you will need to pay more.
The one final section to mention is the wardrobes and integrated unit behind the television. First, the wardrobe which as you would expect at a property of this standard featured enough space for a few nights as well as proper hangers, as opposed to them strange ones that are designed to not be stolen. Additionally, a cleverly designed luggage stand built into the unit is more sturdy than any other portable luggage holder that is present at most hotels.
The more interesting part, however, was the integrated unit behind the television. Here featured a:
Pull out fridge with a minibar.
Other alcoholic beverages atop the cabinet
Selection of teas and coffee including excellent jasmine tea
A kettle and Nespresso machine
Vast selection of spirits (at extra cost) including international and local options
A great way to round off this impressive room!
Further photos of the property
I’ll let the photos do the talking here, but you’ll see the beauty of some of the property here as well as the excellent infinity pool at the hotel.
Breakfast
Now, where do I begin? Honestly, this must be the best and most varied breakfast I have ever had. Period. It’s hard to know where to begin, but the Four Seasons have every base covered off with their buffet options at their Bangkok hotel. Here’s a quick run through of what types of food you can get:
Cooked to order eggs/egg dishes including Eggs Benedict (which I’m sure will be far better than the Qantas Lounge reviewed here)
Noodle dishes with wontons cooked to order
Selection of steamed Asian dim sum dishes such as dumplings and buns
Pancakes, crepes and similar cooked to order
Western staples such as bacon and sausages
Extensive fresh, on premise produced bakery items such as croissants, pain au chocolate, Kouign Amman, banana bread, pitta bread, sourdough bread, muffins and much more.
Continental style breakfast items including prosciutto ham, smoked salmon and cheeses
Cereals
Yoghurts, fruits, vegetables and fresh squeezed juices
Tea and barista made coffee delivered to your table
Even if you are a picky eater, you will find something to eat here. I can only commend the team here for the quality and emphasis they have placed on the breakfast offering. It is truly exceptional, and I enjoyed every minute of it. If you stay here for a few nights, you probably won’t get bored with the options available. Since my words haven’t emphasised the sheer extent enough, take a quick check of my video of the breakfast area below:
One thing I recommend is trying to get yourself out to the river side terrace. Here you’ll get great views of the river and plenty of fresh air whilst having breakfast or just pop out for a few moments as I did. If you want a table out here, it may be worth seeing if you can reserve a space with the management.
Conclusion
Besides a couple of small hiccups, with the shower drainage and television issues, my first experience of a Four Seasons will be one that stays with me for a long time. From the exceptional design of all the property, neat touches such as the digital experience and premium amenities, extensive buffet breakfast (which I could spend all day visiting) and fantastic pool facilities (that I unfortunately didn’t get to jump into). My only wish would have been to spend a bit more time here since our departing flight to Samui was at midday. The only minor downside of this property is the location. By no means is it completely inaccessible, thanks to cheap taxis and being close to the BTS Skytrain Saphan Taksin Station, it is less centrally located than other premium properties many of which are in the Sukhumvit area. What you trade for a central location is a truly excellent hotel with all the amenities you could want as well as a lovely riverside view that is not found at many other places. I enjoyed my time at the Four Seasons Bangkok and would recommend you pay a visit for a few nights - or even just pay a visit to try their legendary breakfast!
