InterContinental Bangkok — rooftop pool on the 36th floor, direct BTS Chit Lom skywalk, heart of Ratchaprasong
InterContinental Bangkok is a 5-star hotel that reopened in June 2023 after a comprehensive multi-million-dollar renovation, at 973 Ploenchit Road in the Ratchaprasong district — opposite the Erawan Shrine, with a shared building connection to Holiday Inn and President Tower. All 381 rooms begin on the 17th floor, meaning every room has a Bangkok skyline view, and every room was renovated from scratch. The feature guests mention most is the rooftop Oasis pool on the 36th floor, with panoramic Bangkok city views — compact but atmospheric. BTS Chit Lom connects directly to the hotel via a covered skywalk, removing the need to set foot on the street. The Erawan Shrine is 220 metres away. The hotel holds a Michelin Key designation for 2024–2025 and a score of 9.2/10 from 854 Booking.com reviews. Prices start from approx. THB 9,000/night.
The InterContinental Bangkok has been part of the Ratchaprasong skyline for decades — it was Fireplace Grill and Bar that first put this address on the dining map back in 1966, and the restaurant still operates today. The property changed identity more than once before IHG committed to a full-scale renovation and relaunched the hotel in June 2023. What returned is a genuinely renewed hotel: the lobby's centrepiece chandelier draws on the Thai phuang malai flower garland; throughout the corridors and rooms, Thai heritage motifs blend with polished contemporary furniture. Guest reviews since reopening consistently describe arriving and finding the property better than expected from the photos.
The 381 rooms and suites run from Classic Rooms — silk embroidered headboards, custom-made furnishings, hardwood floors, marble bathrooms with a deep soaking tub and rain shower — up through Club InterContinental rooms (Club Lounge access included) and several suite categories: Junior Suite, Diplomatic Suite and the two-bedroom Royal Suite. Every room starts on the 17th floor, giving a city-view baseline that floors with lower room numbers in most Bangkok hotels simply cannot match. Guests who booked Club or Suite rooms praise the Club Lounge for its breakfast, evening cocktails and attentive service. One tip from recent reviews: specifying a high floor at check-in matters, as Classic Rooms on floors 17–19 can have partial sightline restrictions.
"Staff are young but immaculately professional — they solved every small issue before I needed to ask twice. The rooftop pool at sunset is spectacular, best from around 7 pm when the skyline lights up."
The Oasis pool on the 36th floor is the most discussed feature in guest reviews. It is a compact rooftop pool — no one should mistake it for a lap pool — but the pool deck is well designed with loungers, the Oasis Pool Bar serves poolside drinks until 10 pm, and the panoramic skyline view is genuinely impressive at dusk. Several reviews recommend arriving between 7 and 8 pm for the best light before the pool closes. Spa InterContinental offers nine treatment rooms with city views; the 24-hour Infinity Fitness centre includes a yoga studio and boxing ring, giving active guests proper variety beyond the typical hotel gym.
Dining covers four concepts. Fireplace Grill and Bar has been operating since 1966 and brings European grill classics that remain a Bangkok institution. Summer Palace serves Cantonese cuisine and dim sum and has collected awards from Bangkok food critics since the renovation. SoCal takes a California inspiration with 50-plus California wines. Espresso handles all-day dining, and its breakfast buffet draws consistent praise for variety and quality — fresh fruit replenished by housekeeping every day is a small detail that guests mention repeatedly. Note: Theo Mio, the acclaimed Italian restaurant by Chef Theo Randall formerly associated with this hotel, has since moved to a separate address; the hotel's current dining line-up is as above.
The location is one of the best in Bangkok for shopping-district access. BTS Chit Lom (Green Line) connects directly via a covered skywalk into the hotel — no road-crossing, no rain. From Chit Lom, Siam is one stop (Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery, MBK) and Nana is four stops. The skywalk network runs through CentralWorld, Gaysorn Village and Central Chit Lom — essentially the entire Ratchaprasong premium shopping belt — accessible without leaving the air conditioning. The Erawan Shrine sits just 220 metres from the lobby, a three-minute walk. President Tower, which shares the building block, houses offices and additional car parking.
A few honest observations before booking. The Oasis pool is small; if swimming laps matters, look instead at Centara Grand at CentralWorld or Anantara Siam, both a short walk away with larger pools. A minority of reviews note the pool water can be cool during the cool season (November to February). Rates in the high season climb to THB 14,000–18,000+ for Classic Rooms, which puts InterContinental above some 5-star alternatives in the same district. One procedural note: a handful of guests have reported the security deposit hold taking longer than expected to release after check-out — worth monitoring your card statement in the days following your stay.
For travellers who want a freshly renovated 5-star with direct, no-street BTS access, a genuinely dramatic rooftop pool, and an address at the centre of Bangkok's premium shopping district, InterContinental Bangkok makes a compelling case. The 9.2/10 score from 854 Booking.com reviews reflects the quality of the 2023 renovation — a significant improvement over the hotel's pre-renovation ratings. Prices start from approx. THB 9,000–11,000/night outside peak season, making it competitive among newly refurbished 5-star options in the Ratchaprasong corridor.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooms fully renovated in 2023 — spotlessly clean, freshly furnished, Bangkok skyline views from floor 17 up
- ✓ Direct BTS Chit Lom skywalk — the best transit access of any hotel in the Ratchaprasong district
- ✓ Staff are young, brilliantly friendly and professional — consistently praised across review platforms
- ✓ Breakfast buffet highly rated for variety and quality; fresh fruit restocked by housekeeping daily
- ! Rooftop Oasis pool is compact — not suitable for lane swimming; some guests find the water cool in winter months
- ! High-season rates (November to February) are higher than several 5-star neighbours in the same district
- ! Security deposit hold can take longer than expected to release after check-out
- ✓ Fully renovated 2023 — every room feels new; Michelin Key Hotel status reflects genuine quality
- ✓ Prime central position: Erawan Shrine 220 m, CentralWorld 5-min walk via skywalk
- ✓ Spa InterContinental nine treatment rooms with city views; Infinity Fitness open 24 hours with yoga and boxing
- ✓ Summer Palace (Cantonese) and Fireplace Grill both highly rated by Bangkok food-lovers
- ! Pool on floor 36 is small; some reviews report cooler water temperatures during the cool season
- ! Lower Classic rooms on floors 17–19 can have partial view obstructions — request a high floor at booking
- ! Parking can fill during long weekends and public holidays — advise the hotel in advance
- 💡If you want a large pool for swimming laps — the Oasis pool on floor 36 is a compact rooftop pool suited to relaxing and photos, not lane swimming → Centara Grand at CentralWorld or Anantara Siam, both a short walk away, have significantly larger pools.
- 💡If a fully current room view is important — Classic Rooms on floors 17–19 can have partial sightline obstructions from adjacent buildings → request a high floor at booking or at check-in, or step up to Club level where rooms start higher.
- 💡If rate-per-night is the primary 5-star consideration — high-season rates can reach THB 15,000–18,000+ for Classic Rooms, above comparable neighbours → compare with Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok or Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong, which sit in the same walkable district.