CAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The vibe<\/h2>\n At first glance, the Four Seasons Bangkok comes across as an unapproachable kind of hotel \u2014 and not just because of the massive wall surrounding the place. The main entrance is heavily staffed, making it feel like you better have a reason to be there if you even try to go through the front door. But the rest of the experience belies first impressions.<\/p>\n
Once you get past the cluster of staff greeting arriving guests, you walk into an ornate lobby with soaring, wavy stone walls, profuse floral arrangements and a view into an interior courtyard with a pond.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt’s a significantly more inviting place to enter than the imposing entrance might suggest. Members of the staff are friendly guides to the sprawling property and give the hotel a much more relaxed feel than the minimalist gray and black aesthetic exudes.<\/p>\n
This is a place where you can easily fit in wearing a three-piece suit and sipping a glass of Champagne in the lobby lounge, or just donning your casual Friday finest and swaying to the music at BKK Social, the hotel’s signature cocktail bar. Luxury comes in various forms, and this hotel successfully excels at entertaining the variety.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The room<\/h2>\n My ninth-floor Deluxe River-View Room was an extraordinarily spacious place to spend a night in Bangkok. One of the front desk staff members led me to my accommodations and showed me around to explain all the room’s features \u2014 including the tablet that served as the main point of communication with the concierge team and the blinds that lowered with the push of a button over the nightstand.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe bathroom was just off the entry foyer and featured a stand-alone tub (which I would use later in the evening to soak, sip a glass of red wine and listen to a new Taylor Swift album that came out that day), an enormous walk-in rainfall shower and a dual, black marble vanity stocked with dental kits, shaving kits and shower caps.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne of my biggest disappointments with hotel rooms with stand-alone tubs is that there often isn\u2019t more thought put into actually using the tub. Can hotel procurement teams start ordering more bubble bath when they see these things are in the bathroom? The Four Seasons, however, appears to recognize a show-stopping tub is more than just decor.<\/p>\n
There was a terrycloth pillow attached to the edge of the tub to rest one\u2019s head and a jar of bath salts to add to the water. I still used some of the hotel\u2019s Pa\u00f1puri shower gel products to get some bubbles going, but it was nice to see at least more attention, and more amenities, than usual.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe one downside was the lack of hanging hooks and racks with which to dry towels. With two people in the room, you’d be hard-pressed to find enough suspension for all the linens.<\/p>\n
The bathroom opened directly into the bedroom, but there was a panel you could close for more privacy. The guest room followed the hotel\u2019s broader design ethos of muted gray, black and white tones with elegant dashes of warmer colors and dark wood.<\/p>\n
The king-size bed was dressed in all-white linens and the usual square, Euro pillows emblazoned with the Four Seasons logo. The bed was so comfortable to sleep in that I\u2019ve been perusing the Four Seasons home collection store online since checking out, and it\u2019s probably only a matter of time before I finally go ahead and buy these pillows for my own home. Coupled with the blackout shades, the Four Seasons bedding gave me the best sleep of my entire week in Thailand.<\/p>\n
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Nightstands on either side of the bed included golden pendant reading lights as well as panels of buttons to control the window shades (both sheer and blackout) and lighting throughout the room. There were also universal electrical outlets (no need for a converter) on either side that included two USB-A ports.<\/p>\n
While the room was billed as a river-view room, I\u2019d say the layout of the hotel gave it more of a recessed river view. I could still see the Chao Phraya, but those looking for uninterrupted river panoramas might want to call ahead to ask for a room closer to the water. Additionally, there was a pretty significant dirty mark on the window exterior. I was only there for a night, but it did take away from the river view.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere were several seating areas throughout the room, from two stools at the foot of the bed to a chaise lounge closer to the windows. A table by the chaise lounge held a tray of fruit that staff refreshed at evening turndown. There was a stand-alone seating area with a table, couch and chair in the corner of the room where I found a welcome pastry from the chef (a result of the Cranky Concierge booking providing Four Seasons Exclusive Preferred Partner Benefits).<\/p>\n
There was a large TV that I didn\u2019t use, but it did allow guests to stream content from their own mobile devices. There was also a very well-stocked minibar that I did frequently use for the free Nespresso because the jet lag was beginning to hit pretty hard at this point of my trip. The minibar included free tea, Nespresso, and snacks like rice crackers and Thai mango gummies.<\/p>\n
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There were various snacks and beverages available for purchase, from potato chips to dried Thai strawberries on the snack front and sparkling water and Champagne on the drink front. There were also local beers from Boon Rawd Brewery and pre-made cocktails from the hotel\u2019s own BKK Social.<\/p>\n
The guest room was very well thought out, and even small corners featured design flourishes like a purple orchid here or an ornate ceramic jar there. One of the touches I appreciated was a beach bag made of recycled materials hanging in the closet next to the bath robes. The bag was great for transporting gym clothes when heading to the fitness center or a bathing suit en route to the pool in the morning; without it, I would’ve had to dump everything out of my laptop bag and use that as a de facto tote during my stay. There was even a stand by the door with umbrellas in case it rained outside.<\/p>\n
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Food and beverage<\/h2>\n I went into my stay with high expectations for both BKK Social, the Four Seasons Bangkok’s cocktail lounge, and Yu Ting Yuan, the hotel\u2019s Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant. I also wanted to spend time at other Four Seasons outlets like Riva Del Fiume Ristorante, an Italian restaurant. The hotel operates the Lobby Lounge as well as Caf\u00e9 Madeleine, a coffee and pastry shop, and the French-focused Brasserie Palmier.<\/p>\n
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Since I was only at the Four Seasons for one night, I decided to skip the Lobby Lounge (a very elegant space for a quieter cocktail or power lunch overlooking the various courtyards) and focus on BKK Social and Yu Ting Yuan for my first night; I went to Riva Del Fiume the following morning for breakfast.<\/p>\n
I first went to BKK Social for a pre-dinner cocktail and immediately fell in love with the space. I had walked by the lounge earlier in the day while checking out the nearby courtyard, and I loved its indoor-outdoor feel and the large, arched bar as its focal point.<\/p>\n
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The drink names gave nods to Argentina (such as the Negroni-inspired \u201cEvita\u201d and the tequila-focused \u201cHand of God”). I went with the Hand of God (480 baht, or about $14), and I admired how the ice cube featured an imprint of a soccer ball. The drink also featured Campari and a cacao-Malbec cordial, combining to give the Hand of God a slightly bitter finish \u2014 it was very enjoyable.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSeeing I was alone and interested in what was on offer, the bar team also brought over a small bowl of potato chips and samples of other cocktails. The evening crew was a fun bunch, as the conversation wasn\u2019t forced. They were incredibly considerate by squeezing me into a standing-room spot at the bar at the last minute, and they ensured I got a seat as soon as one opened up.<\/p>\n
Philip, BKK Social\u2019s bar manager, and his colleague, Gift, were two highlights; they made it one of the more enjoyable evenings of my trip. They were just fun to chat and joke around with, and through them, I learned more about Bangkok. Gift even walked me over to Yu Ting Yuan when it came time for dinner.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile BKK Social was a boisterous beginning to my night, Yu Ting Yuan was a more refined way to spend the main part of my evening. The dining room was sleek, hushed and dramatically decorated with enormous red floral sprays. It was one of those places where I initially felt awkward dining alone because guests at surrounding tables were clearly there for various celebrations. However, members of the staff were kind and kept me occupied.<\/p>\n
I ordered barbecue pork with honey sauce (580 baht, or about $17) to start and followed it with wok-fried Canadian lobster with Szechuan pepper, peanuts and basil leaves (3,600 baht, or $104) as an entree. To cut down on some of the spice, I also ordered steamed rice and bok choy for 430 baht, or about $13. The staff even brought an extra chef’s treat of spicy squid on the house.<\/p>\n
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The plates were elegant and delicious, as were the beautiful views of the courtyard outside. The barbecue pork was juicy and had an excellent balance of sweet and savory; the squid provided a nice opening salvo to the main, spicy event. The Canadian lobster caused my tongue (and forehead) to water in light of the spice-forward Szechuan seasonings, but I wasn\u2019t complaining \u2014 even if the waiter came by a few times to ask if I was OK.<\/p>\n
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The dish did, however, cause me to order multiple rounds of water and a second glass of Sancerre (690 baht, or about $20) to try and set some of the heat at bay.<\/p>\n
Instead of dessert, I ended up going back to BKK Social for a nightcap. Once again, I ran into Gift and Philip as well as the rest of the talented team. It was fun to see the bar at this point of the evening, as there was a broad cross-section of patrons \u2014 from local residents to travelers \u2014 passing through. The courtyard outside was packed with folks clearly busy self-producing fashion shoots for their Instagram and TikTok feeds.<\/p>\n
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The following morning, I went down to Riva Del Fiume, which hosts the morning breakfast buffet. Let\u2019s just say the Four Seasons breakfast buffet is the epitome of the phrase, \u201cIf you leave here hungry, it\u2019s your own fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
Breakfast was included in my stay, and it was hard to finally throw in the towel after trying my best. There were stations for everything, from dim sum, pork buns and miso soup to spicy Thai green curry omelets with sweet chili, basil and garlic. (Guests could also request other egg creations, but who is going to say no to a green curry omelet? It was divine.)<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThere were waffles, French toast, a gluten-free bread station, a very glutenous bread station and even an area for breakfast pizzas. With morning laps in the pool still fresh on my mind, I attempted to be healthy at first, nibbling on fresh fruit, smoked salmon and an assortment of salads. I quickly caved on a second pass, however, after I saw the crispy bacon, the green curry omelet and those shrimp dumplings.<\/p>\n
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Once again: Four Seasons Bangkok, take me back!<\/p>\n
Service and amenities<\/h2>\n Throughout my brief stay, the level of service at the hotel was stellar without being overbearing.<\/p>\n
When I stopped by the front desk to ask about touring some nearby attractions, the concierge was more than happy to map out several itineraries for me depending on how ambitious I was feeling. The concierge also recommended walking to some local stores and restaurants which I appreciated. Again, for a place set back behind a wall, it\u2019s nice to see how the property embraces the surrounding community. This was also evident in the hotel\u2019s art gallery, which is dedicated to Thai artists.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe gym at the Four Seasons is a luxurious fitness facility; however, it might be difficult to find, depending on where you\u2019re staying in the hotel. This caused some frustration on my end: I wanted to know how to get to the gym, so as instructed, I tried to use the in-room tablet to communicate with the front desk. I never got an answer to my question, and I ended up calling down. It\u2019s not a big deal, but it just sticks out as a friction point because the technology was heavily promoted as the key mode of communication.<\/p>\n
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By the time I finally figured it out, I realized I couldn’t just take an elevator to the floor with the fitness center. Instead, I had to go downstairs, walk through the entire lobby, and then head back upstairs to the gym and lap pool area. I didn\u2019t feel so bad doing this in the morning since it was early and I needed to change into my swimsuit anyway. However, it was awkward later when I had to walk past all the fancily dressed folks sipping Champagne in the lobby lounge while I was wearing my gym clothes.<\/p>\n\nCAMERON SPERANCE\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSartorial snafus aside, the gym was lovely. The hotel offers personal training sessions to those who want it, and there is a mix of cardio equipment, strength training machines and free weights. There\u2019s also a stretching area and a lap pool outside with several lanes. The facility was never overcrowded, and the staff even grabbed me a pair of goggles so I could swim in the morning.<\/p>\n
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