Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Thailand / Bangkok / Shangri-La Bangkok
Shangri-La Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand · Shangri-La · Grand Luxury
Japanese firm Kanko Kikaku Sekkeisha opened this Chao Phraya resort in 1986, its design nodding to the valley in James Hilton's Lost Horizon, with Bill Bensley landscapes and a later Krungthep Wing in 1991. Two towers now hold about 802 rooms along a quarter-mile of river opposite Saphan Taksin BTS. Thongchai Srisukprasert's Golden Shangri-La sculpture anchors the colonnaded lobby; Angelini helped pioneer high-end Italian dining in Bangkok from 1995.
- 802 rooms
- Opened 1986
- Neighborhood: Bang Rak riverside
- Rooms from 388 sq ft (36 m²)
- Architect: Kanko Kikaku Sekkeisha (KKS Tokyo)
- Interiors: Wilson Associates
About Shangri-La Bangkok
- Opened in 1986 on the Chao Phraya; the Krungthep Wing followed in August 1991.
- Architecture by Kanko Kikaku Sekkeisha referenced the valley in James Hilton's 1933 novel Lost Horizon.
- Landscape architect Bill Bensley shaped the riverside gardens; Wilson & Associates designed Thai-inflected rooms.
- Thai sculptor Thongchai Srisukprasert's Golden Shangri-La work fills the marble lobby colonnade.
- Entry-level rooms start at 388 sq ft (36 m²).
History
The Shangri-La Bangkok opened in 1986 as a 5-star resort hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, inspired by the valley in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon and designed by Japanese firm Kanko Kikaku Sekkeisha. The Krungthep Wing was added in 1991, bringing the total to 802 rooms with interiors featuring classic Thai style by Wilson & Associates. It underwent a US$17 million renovation in 2001-2002 supervised by Leese Robertson Freeman Designers, with further updates to public spaces and the Tower Wing in later years.
The setting
Shangri-La Bangkok occupies a sweeping riverfront estate at 89 Wat Suan Phlu Alley in Bang Rak, directly opposite Saphan Taksin BTS station — the Skytrain terminus a ferry crossing away. Wat Arun and Asiatique The Riverfront are each eighteen minutes by river transit, and the private pier accesses the full Chao Phraya express ferry network. The hotel stands a quarter-kilometre north of the Mandarin Oriental along Bangkok's most legendary hotel strip, while Thonburi's illuminated temples contribute to one of the river's most celebrated evening panoramas — a setting that has defined Bangkok's identity for international travellers since the 19th century. 6 km from Grand Palace.
Restaurants and bars
- Shang Palace — Restaurant · Cantonese
- Salathip — Restaurant · Thai
- NEXT2 Café — Café
- Volti Tuscan Grill & Bar — Bar
Experiences
- Shangri-La Horizon Cruise — Listed under Food & Beverage on the services page; presented as a dining option.
- Chi, The Spa — Hotel spa, honoured with several awards including Most Favorite Spa Hotel in Bangkok (2024) and Best City Spa on a Global Level (2019).
Amenities
- 2 outdoor pools
- Chi The Spa
- fitness centre
- tennis court
- sauna
- steam room
- shopping arcade
- Hot tub
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- Multiple hospitality awards (specific prestigious ones not detailed in recent listings)
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More Shangri-La hotels
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- Shangri-La Paris — Paris, France · Apex Luxury
- China World Summit Wing, Beijing — Beijing, China · Grand Luxury
- Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · Grand Luxury
- Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong — Hong Kong · Grand Luxury
- Shangri-La Bengaluru — Bengaluru, India · Grand Luxury
More hotels in Bangkok
- Aman Nai Lert Bangkok — Aman · Grand Luxury
- Capella Bangkok — Capella · Grand Luxury
- COMO Metropolitan Bangkok — COMO Hotels & Resorts · Grand Luxury
- Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River — Four Seasons · Grand Luxury
- Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok — Mandarin Oriental · Grand Luxury
- Park Hyatt Bangkok — Park Hyatt · Grand Luxury
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