Bangkok is one of my favourite cities in the world and it is currently having a moment: its hotels and restaurants are considered the best in the world (3 out of the Top 20 restaurants in the World’s Best Restaurants 2025 and 3 of the top 10 hotels in the World’s Best Hotels 2025 are in Bangkok) and has had the most annual visitors than any other city in 2025/2026. It is busy, buzzing, affordable, with some of my favourite, most welcoming people, delicious food, amazing hotels and the best service and massages – EVER. If I have a choice to travel between Asia, and pretty much anywhere else, I always choose Asia. And Bangkok has it all. The Shopping. The Nightlife. The Hotels. The Restaurants. The Spas.
Grand Palace, Bangkok. All Photos in this post courtesy of the internet. NHYM 2026.
I actually lived in Bangkok for five of my formative years and it was a WONDERFUL and WILD experience. Yes, it is dirty and and it can feel overwhelming, oppressively hot and the traffic is horrendous, but beyond that lies warm, welcoming people, a rich culture, gorgeous palaces and some of the best food in South East Asia, and I loved it. So any time I have the chance, I love going back.
WHERE TO STAY
Mandarin Oriental Hotel. NHYM 2026.
There are so many fabulous hotels in Bangkok, that it was hard to narrow my list down to the Top 10 Best Luxury Family-Friendly Hotels in Bangkok. I’ve chosen some for Nostalgia’s sake or because of something specific that sets that hotel apart.
1. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (Bangkok Riverside): Considered the oldest and most famous hotel in Bangkok, it has welcomed presidents, celebrities and is considered one of the best hotels in the world. It’s been around for a long time (my parents stayed there 50 years ago when they moved to Bangkok for the first time). It is one for those who want to experience the history of Bangkok.
BOOK THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL BANGKOK HERE
Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok. NHYM 2026.
2. Four Seasons Chao Phraya (Bangkok Riverside): For amazing service and Four Seasons quality, it’s hard to beat the Four Seasons. It only opened in 2020, so it is brand new and modern. It has already won so many awards and accolades, it ranked 2nd in the World’s Best Hotel Awards 2026. It’s all got all the bells and whistles of a top Four Seasons hotel, so if you can, stay there.
BOOK THE FOUR SEASONS CHAO PHRAYA HERE
3. Capella Bangkok (Bangkok Riverside): For those who like a modern design, the Capella is modern and sleek and also brand new. It has already won World’s Best Hotel in 2024 and came 3rd in 2025, so it’s already one of the world’s favourite hotels. Need I say more?
4. The Sukhothai (Sathorn): For those who are looking for Old World charm and Thai character, the Sukhothai holds its own next to the Mandarin Oriental. It has beautiful Thai architecture with surrounding ponds, that exudes Thai design and warmth, this one is best for those who want to be immersed in Thai culture the moment they step into their hotel.
BOOK THE SUKHOTHAI BOOK
5.Dusit Thani (Silom): The Dusit Thani Thai hotel brand is a well known luxury hotel brand that has reasonable prices with the warmth of Thai service. The Dusit Thani Bangkok recently re-opened in 2024 to reveal a modernised, more intimate hotel experience. It is also in a great location for shopping near MBK Center and Siam Paragon Center.
BOOK THE DUSIT THANI HOTEL BANGKOK HERE
6. Le Meridien Bangkok (Silom): One of my oldies but goodies for luxury good value. I lived there when I moved to Bangkok 28 years ago. Needless to say, it has been renovated and looks good as new. I have fond memories of eating at their Coffee Shop, pineapple fried rice, and soups. It is near some big malls, so you can save money for the shopping.
Vertigo Bar, Banyan Tree Hotel, Bangkok. NHYM 2026.
7. Banyan Tree (Sathorn): Although it’s not the best location for me, its Rooftop Restaurant and Bar, Vertigo, is really worth seeing. It has panoramic views of Bangkok and is one of the best in the city. Another famous rooftop in Bangkok, Sky Bar at lebua tower, is also very well known, with its bar hanging over a vertiginous edge.
8.The Ritz Carlton Sukhumvit is beautiful and has a great location, but pricey for Bangkok standards. For similar location, but better value, try the Hyatt Regency Sukhumvit or the Sofitel Sukhumvit(Sukhumvit) For its location near Sukhumvit. Sukhumvit is my favourite area in Bangkok and where I lived growing up. It was the most popular area for the expats with
BOOK THE RITZ CARLTON SUKHUMVIT HERE
9. Avani Riverside & Anantara Riverside (Bangkok Riverside): For its rooftop infinity pool. The Avani Riverside has one of the most breathtaking rooftop infinity pools and bar overlooking the Chao Phraya River. I went years ago with my kids, and thought that one day I might return, for its modern design, good value and stunning rooftop pool.
Peninsula Pool, Bangkok. NHYM 2026.
10. The Peninsula Bangkok (Bangkok Riverside): For its beautiful riverside pool and boats that take you to ICON SIAM Mall, the Peninsula is the epitome of Asian Luxury.
BOOK THE PENINSULA BANGKOK HERE
BANGKOK – WHAT TO DO
Long Boat Tour Bangkok. NHYM 2026.
Here are my Top 10 Activities to do in Bangkok:
1.Temples: You can’t come to Bangkok without visiting its spectacular temples. The temples in Thailand are some of the most wonderful and intricate temples in the world, and are unmissable. A tour of Wat Po and the Grand Palace are must do’s. For a better experience, it’s easier to get an expert to show you around.
BOOK A TOUR OF THE TEMPLES HERE
2. Food: Thai food is some of the best food in the world. For the chefs in the making, you can always take a thai cooking class otherwise there is so much delicious food to try, from Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Cashew Chicken to Thai Fried Rice to Thai green curry. Thai is what you could call me comfort food: I love it and takes me back to being a teenager. I do NOT recommend to eat street food. Locals have built in microbiomes and antibodies against the local bacteria, but most non-Asian stomachs will not survive. Only drink bottled water and eat from hygienic, clean restaurants.
BOOK A THAI COOKING CLASS HERE
3. Tuk Tuks: Last time I went to Thailand, I was sad to see that there are less and less tuk tuks around because it was my favourite mode of transport when I was younger, with the wind in my hair and the agility of tuks tuks to get around a lot of traffic obstacles. They are still around for tourists, so take a ride at night – the traffic is too dense in the daytime.
4. Long Boat Trips: Called the Venice of the East, wandering the canals, ‘khlongs’ in a long boat is a unique activity. You can spot water monitors along the canals, large lizards that can go up to 2 meters in length.
Floating Market Bangkok, NHYM 2026.
5. Floating Market: The long boat trip can be combined with a floating market trip, which are famous, selling mangoes and flowers and other Thai delicacies.
BOOK A FLOATING MARKET TOUR HERE
6. Night markets: Another famous Bangkok site, the night markets are famous for selling everything and anything under the sun: fake Guccis, T shirts, Thai bagpacks, silver jewellery, food and much, much more.
BOOK A NIGHT TOUR IN BANGKOK HERE
7. Nightlife: The nightlife scene in Bangkok is thriving, from nightclubs, to rooftop bars, to night markets to the red light district. Patpong, the biggest and most famous night market/bar area in Bangkok, should really be reserved for adults. For younger kids, check some more PG night markets or rooftop bars.
Bangkok Nightlife. NHYM 2026.
8. Elephant Sanctuary: For younger kids who love animals, elephant sanctuaries is a must in Thailand. Just makes sure it is really a sanctuary and not a tourist trap. This will require a day trip, so make sure you have enough time to get there and back.
BOOK AN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY TOUR HERE
9. Ayutthya UNESCO Temple: For another day trip excursion, the temples are Ayuttyah are just as impressive (well, almost) as Angkor Wat. So if you’re in this part of the world and don’t know if you’ll be back anytime soon, it isn’t to be missed.
BOOK AN AYUTTHYA UNESCSO DAY TRIP HERE
Ayuttya, Thailand. NHYM 2026.
10. SHOPPING: Finally, my favourite activity in Bangkok not to be missed. There are so many Malls to choose from and are a part of Thai life, and the prices cheap (apart from Western products, which just as expensive or more than Asian ones). CentralWorld was my favourite mall growing up, while MBK was the budget-friendly mall I went to. There are newer ones as well, like SIAM Paragon and ICONSIAM are both new, shiny malls with every shop you could ask for. You could do a whole trip just for shopping.
For boys, Muay Thai boxing classes are a fun option!
Enjoy!!
xx
NHYM