Nestled amongst Bangkok’s historical palaces, temples and museums; a lucky few will happen upon the boutique gem, The Siam. With just 39 suites and villas set in three acres of prime land on the banks of Chao Phraya River in the city’s lesser known Royal Dusit district, The Siam is a true benchmark property in Bangkok.
IDEAL LOCATION
Set on the Bangkok side of the Chao Phraya river with its own pier and beautiful Cipriani esque 1920s launch, The Siam has the river as a focal point. This allows guests the opportunity to travel throughout the district by boat, or inland by foot or bike, and to re-discover the bliss of life in at a slower pace. The location is key to the experience at The Siam, and offers a quintessential Thai cultural immersion like no other. The hotel is the only luxury property in the unspoiled historic district, which is largely unpopulated by tourists despite being South East Asia’s most complete historic city and home to all of Bangkok’s must-see cultural sights.
UNIQUE DESIGN
In partnership with globally acclaimed architect and interior designer Bill Bensley, creative director – and film actor and rock singer! – Krissada Sukosol Clapp has conceived a remarkable hotel which has at its heart the family’s extensive private art and antique collection. Bensley and Clapp’s shared vision and passion is reflected in the Art Deco inspired styling which evokes Thailand in its halcyon days under King Rama V at the turn of the 19th century. Inspired by Paris’ Musée d’Orsay, the striking design is opulent yet simple, with a muted colour palette of black, white, cream and grey offset by sprawling tranquil gardens and verdant shrubs.
FASCINATING CURIOS
At The Siam, you will experience a living museum. All the antiques on display have been collected over a period of more than 10 years by Kriss, a flea market fanatic who loves nothing more when home in Bangkok or on his travels than to seek out local antique stores and fairs. The stunning cross-section of curios being used throughout the property ranges from the everyday to the extraordinary and includes: traditional Chinese opium daybeds & Burmese weathered wood columns in Pool Villas; French vintage velvet theatre seats in the private screening room; priceless Tang Dynasty figurines and Neolithic Thai pottery in the library and Siamese maps, books, posters and photos on display in individual suites and elsewhere.
These antiques permeate every single private and public space, from rugs on floors to prints on walls and old wooden doors to chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. There are even four historic, century-old Thai teakwood houses brought downriver from the ancient capital of Ayutthaya by former owner, collector Connie Mangskau and her friend Jim Thompson, who is famed for establishing Thailand’s silk industry.
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE
The Siam offers all the services expected in a property of this calibre and more, all delivered with panache and intuitive Thai service. The restaurants and culinary emporium is headed up by Jane- Therese Mulry, Marco Pierre White’s first female head chef. The Opium Spa is the first and only Sodashi spa in Asia, offering a full range of therapies using 100% chemical free products unparalleled in purity and performance. The gymnasium has a full range of fitness services as well as has an authentic actual size Muay Thai Boxing ring. The period-style library plays host to a collection of rare, first edition hardback books on Siam and Asia, dating back over a century, and has its own Art Deco screening room.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
Make the most of your precious time in Bangkok, choosing from The Siam’s carefully curated range of signature Thai experiences. An example of these include a truly immersive Thai cooking experience, immortalising your stay with the ancient and sacred tradition of Sak Yant Tattoo at the hotel’s dedicated parlour, and Muay Thai training at Bangkok’s first professionally-equipped, luxury gym.
For more information visit: www.thesiamhotel.com