Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Asia's oldest luxury hotel, where Conrad, Maugham and Coward wrote

🇹🇭 Bangkok, Thailand·Est. 1879·Colonial / Siamese Renaissance·$$

91 HHI Landmark

Heritage Landmark

About the Property

Founded in 1879 as a modest hostelry for seafarers on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is the oldest continuously operating luxury hotel in Asia. Its Authors' Wing — where Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, and Noel Coward once stayed — preserves original teak floors and period furnishings. The hotel has hosted royalty, heads of state, and literary giants for nearly 150 years, earning its status as Bangkok's most storied address.

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Original Purpose

Seafarers' hotel and trading post

Highlights

Oldest luxury hotel in Asia (1876 origins)Authors' Wing with original period suitesJoseph Conrad, Maugham, and Coward stayed hereThai cooking school founded 1986Chao Phraya riverside settingMultiple Forbes Five-Star awards

History Timeline

1876

Original hotel opens as The Oriental on the Chao Phraya riverside

1879

Rebuilt and expanded after a fire, becoming the Oriental Hotel

1890

Authors' Wing constructed — Joseph Conrad stays during his seafaring years

1942

Occupied by Japanese forces during WWII

1958

Acquired by Ital-Thai Group under Chalermsak Suranant

1985

Partnership with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group established

2019

Authors' Wing closed for comprehensive two-year restoration

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