Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort — 11 acres of garden and river in the heart of Bangkok
If you are looking for a place that genuinely feels like an escape from Bangkok without leaving Bangkok, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort is the clearest answer on the market. The resort sits on 11 acres of tropical greenery on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River — a complimentary shuttle boat away from BTS Saphan Taksin and ICONSIAM. 376 rooms and suites, a large outdoor pool, Anantara Spa and 10 dining venues, from approx. THB 4,500/night.
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort opened in the early 1990s on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River along Charoen Nakhon Road in Thon Buri. In a city that has never stopped building upward, this resort made a different choice — it held on to 11 acres of tropical garden on the riverfront, with tree-lined walkways, flower-filled grounds, terrace seating overlooking the river and a genuine resort atmosphere that is genuinely rare in a five-star city property.
The 376 rooms and suites are spread across three low-rise buildings in a contemporary Thai style with warm earthy tones. The entry-level Deluxe Room at 38 sqm looks out over the pool or gardens, while the Deluxe River View Room opens its balcony doors onto a direct, unobstructed view of the Chao Phraya. Guests consistently mention waking up to the river at sunrise, or watching a tangerine sunset dissolve into the water at dusk, as one of the most memorable moments Bangkok has offered them.
"Sitting on the balcony watching the river in the evening, with the hotel's shuttle boat passing below — it feels completely calm, and you completely forget you're in the middle of Bangkok. This is what a real resort feels like."
The outdoor pool here is one of the most-praised features in the resort's review history — guests call it 'the largest and most beautiful pool of any five-star hotel in Bangkok'. A jacuzzi sits alongside it, the whole space enclosed by old rain trees and tropical planting. Anantara Spa has nine private treatment rooms plus two couples suites, connected to the main building via a garden footbridge. Beyond the spa, the resort offers a fully equipped fitness centre, two tennis courts, a Muay Thai boxing ring, sauna and steam room, and a Chang Noi Kids' Club — making it a self-contained destination for families and groups who are happy not to leave.
Food choices run to ten venues across the property. The Market serves the breakfast buffet that earns more praise than almost any other feature in guest reviews — described as one of the most varied and freshest hotel breakfasts in Bangkok. Trader Vic's has been a fixture of the resort for decades with its Polynesian-inspired menu. Riverside Terrace offers an international dinner buffet with a nightly Thai classical dance performance. The Manohra Cruise is a traditional rice-barge dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya that guests repeatedly call a highlight of their stay. And Spice Spoons — the resort's Thai cooking school, which begins with a market visit — is a favourite with international guests wanting a hands-on experience they can take home.
The location on the Thon Buri side of the river means the resort is not within walking distance of Sukhumvit, Silom or the BTS main network. The resort's answer is a complimentary shuttle boat running from early morning through to late evening, connecting guests to Sathorn Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin) and ICONSIAM in around 15 minutes. From Saphan Taksin, the BTS runs everywhere. Asiatique The Riverfront is a short ride away. Wat Arun and Wat Pho are reachable by river boat. However, if your schedule requires multiple trips to central Bangkok in a single day, the logistics add up — factor in the extra time.
It is worth being direct about one recurring theme in the reviews: the buildings and some guest rooms feel dated against Bangkok's newer five-star openings. A number of reviewers specifically note older bathrooms, some dampness, and sound insulation that does not match the expectations set by the room rate. The pool also runs warm in the hottest months. Yet the hotel's Booking.com score of 9.0 from over 1,600 reviews, and 9.1 on Trip.com from 414, tell a consistent story: the garden atmosphere, the river setting, the breakfast quality and the warmth of the staff more than compensate for the age of the property for most guests.
Tips from tracking guest reviews over time: request a Deluxe River View Room on an upper floor (floor 4 or above) so that the tree canopy does not block the water view. Book the Manohra Cruise at least a day or two ahead — seats fill quickly in high season. And if you are visiting with someone who enjoys cooking, the Spice Spoons class is genuinely worth building into the itinerary.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ The Market breakfast buffet: varied, fresh and one of the best hotel breakfasts in Bangkok
- ✓ Free shuttle boat to BTS Saphan Taksin and ICONSIAM — genuinely convenient
- ✓ Large pool and lush tropical gardens; feels like a real resort escape within the city
- ✓ Warm, attentive staff who guests praise for genuine Thai hospitality
- ! Rooms and buildings feel dated compared to Bangkok's newer five-star openings
- ! Thon Buri location requires the shuttle boat to reach central Bangkok — adds time to every outing
- ! Pool runs warm in the hot season; sound insulation between rooms could be better
- ✓ Chao Phraya river view from the balcony is beautiful, especially at sunrise and sunset
- ✓ Large resort grounds with plenty of activities — easy to spend a full day without leaving
- ✓ Anantara Spa receives consistent praise; treatments and massages are genuinely high quality
- ✓ Manohra Cruise dinner on the river is a memorable and romantic experience
- ! Some bathrooms feel damp and older; renovation has not reached every room
- ! Sound insulation between rooms is noticeably thin
- ! High season rates can climb quickly — book early and lock in a free-cancellation rate
- 💡If you need ultra-modern room design — rooms here reflect a 2014 renovation in a classic Thai style, not a fresh contemporary aesthetic. Consider Capella Bangkok or Four Seasons Chao Phraya instead.
- 💡If you have a packed itinerary with multiple central Bangkok destinations each day — the Thon Buri location adds 15–30 minutes of travel time via the shuttle boat before you reach the BTS. A Sathorn or Sukhumvit hotel will save you that time every trip.
- 💡If you visit in the hot season (March–May) — the pool runs warm, riverside mosquitoes can be present after dusk, and air-conditioned restaurant seating is preferable in the evenings. Pack insect repellent.