Centara Korat — a 4-star city hotel where you can walk from your room straight into the mall
If you're coming to Korat without a car, or here to shop or attend a conference and don't want to order a Grab for every meal, Centara Korat answers that better than anything else in town. It's a 4-star hotel connected directly to CentralPlaza Nakhon Ratchasima — walk from the lobby into the mall, cinema, supermarket and restaurants without stepping outside. It opened in 2022, so the rooms are still new and roomy at 32–35 sqm. The thing guests rave about most is the 20th-floor rooftop pool with a Sky Garden and rooftop bar overlooking the city. Rates start from around THB 1,600/night.
What sets Centara Korat apart from other hotels in the city is its location. It sits on Mittraphap Road with a direct connecting bridge into CentralPlaza Nakhon Ratchasima — walk down from your room to eat, catch a film or shop at Tops without facing the sun or rain. For anyone arriving in Korat by coach or train without their own car, that's a clear advantage, with everything under one roof. Drivers, meanwhile, get free parking at both the hotel and the mall.
The hotel opened in 2022, so it still feels new — all 218 contemporary rooms start at around 32 sqm and run up to 35 sqm in the Premium Deluxe, larger than many city hotels. Beds are comfortable, and sound-insulated walls help you sleep well even beside a busy road. Many rooms have good city views, especially on the higher floors. Guests repeatedly note that rooms are clean and well kept, and that staff fix issues fast — one review mentions an AC problem sorted within minutes.
"Checked in and walked straight into the mall to eat — never had to leave. Going up to swim on the 20th floor in the evening gave us a gorgeous city view. Great value."
The star of the show is up top. The 20th-floor rooftop pool with its Sky Garden and rooftop bar is what reviews mention most — from late afternoon into the evening it gives a wide view over Korat, perfect for a relaxed drink. Downstairs there's a fitness centre, the main restaurant serving a breakfast buffet, and meeting rooms for events. The breakfast earns praise for variety and fresh ingredients, and many guests say it's a strong start to the day.
For sightseeing the location works too. From the hotel it's about 11 minutes' drive to the Thao Suranari (Ya Mo) Monument in the city centre, and roughly 4 km to Terminal 21 Korat. Save One market and Korat's night-time food scene are close by. Anyone using Korat as a base for Khao Yai or the Phimai stone sanctuary will appreciate the easy access onto Mittraphap Road. Scores back it up: around 9.2 on Booking.com (among the top in the city), as high as 9.5 on Trip.com from over a thousand reviews, and TripAdvisor ranks it the #1 hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima.
A few things to know before booking. The scores are very high, but there are gripes — some guests find the bathroom ventilation lacking, with a stale smell. A few in-room amenities, like hair conditioner, aren't provided across every room type. And food quality at the restaurant and bar can be inconsistent meal to meal, with one guest finding the buffet steak tough. During a past pool renovation, construction noise bothered some guests — worth checking with the hotel if that concerns you.
In short, Centara Korat is a well-judged central choice for shoppers, conference-goers, or anyone stopping over before Khao Yai or Phimai. You get a new, spacious room, an easy walk into the mall, and a sky pool to unwind in, at a price that's still reasonable for a 4-star. It's not a nature resort or a green-garden retreat — for that, head to the Khao Yai side. But if the brief is convenience in the heart of Korat, this place delivers and represents good value.
A tip from following the reviews here for a while: ask for a high floor with a city view, and set aside time to swim or sit at the 20th-floor bar around sunset. If you're coming on a long weekend or during a mall event, book ahead — it's one of the most popular hotels in town. And booking a rate with breakfast included is worth it, given how well the buffet is rated.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Connected directly to CentralPlaza — walk in without stepping outside
- ✓ New, spacious, clean rooms with comfortable beds
- ✓ 20th-floor rooftop pool with great city views
- ✓ Friendly staff who fix issues quickly
- ! Bathroom ventilation in some rooms is poor, with a stale smell
- ! Food quality at the restaurant/bar can be inconsistent
- ! Construction noise during a past pool renovation
- ✓ Central location, walk straight into the mall — very convenient if you're car-free
- ✓ Breakfast buffet with a wide selection and fresh ingredients
- ✓ Rooftop bar and 20th-floor Sky Garden with good atmosphere
- ✓ Free parking · sound-insulated walls help you sleep
- ! Some in-room amenities not provided across every room type
- ! No resort-style nature setting — it's very much a city hotel
- ! Fills up fast on long weekends, book ahead
- 💡If you want a nature setting, greenery or mountain views — this is a city hotel attached to a mall, with none of that → for Khao Yai, choose a resort on the Pak Chong side instead
- 💡If you're sensitive to bathroom smells — some rooms ventilate poorly and reviews mention a stale odour → you can ask to switch rooms at check-in; staff respond fast
- 💡If you're coming on a long weekend or for a mall event — it's one of the most popular hotels in town and fills fast → book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate