More than five years after its closure in 2019, the legendary Dusit Thani Bangkok reopened its doors on 27 September 2024. The hotel is part of the upcoming Dusit Central Park, a USD$1.37 billion mixed-use development located opposite Lumpini Park in the heart of the Thai capital. Here’s what to expect.
DUSIT THANI BANGKOK
Dusit Thani Bangkok opened its doors in 1970 as the first property of Dusit International, and the building’s distinctive golden spire soon became an iconic fixture in the city skyline. After its closure in 2019, the building was demolished and rebuilt from the ground up, with the new 39-storey building being part of the ambitious Dusit Central Park mixed-use development which is slated to open in 2025.
The 257-room hotel (reduced from its predecessor’s 517 rooms) boasts elegant interiors courtesy of André Fu Studio (behind Capella Singapore, The St. Regis Hong Kong and Waldorf Astoria Bangkok) which feature contemporary Thai aesthetics with flashes of traditional Thai motifs. Parts of the original building make reappearances, from the golden spire (now contained within a new, three-times-larger spire) to the lovingly preserved giant pillars in the main lobby which were formerly from the original hotel’s famed Benjarong Thai Restaurant. All guest rooms – sizes start from 50sqm – offer wide windows showcasing framed, uninterrupted views of the lush Lumpini Park as well as thoughtful modern technological touches, from Dyson hairdryers to bedside USB and USB-C wall sockets. Bathroom amenities are courtesy of Devarana Wellness.
In terms of wellness, the hotel currently offers a fitness centre fitted with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment. The hotel’s beautiful infinity pool and signature Devarana Wellness spa were not available during my visit, although the team had communicated in writing the day prior to my arrival that the former was ready for guest use this weekend. (I may not have stayed this weekend had I known.) The Club Lounge is tentatively scheduled to open on 2 October 2024, although this may well be delayed too.
The hotel currently offers three dining concepts: Thai/Chinese restaurant Pavilion; the lobby lounge Grand Lobby Bar; and bakery and casual dining concept Dusit Gourmet. Soon to be unveiled are Cannubi by Umberto Bombana, an enoteca concept from 3-Michelin-starred Chef Umberto Bombana; rooftop space Spire Rooftop Bar; and 1970 Bar, the 39-floor drinking destination with tipples created in consultation with the team behind the award-winning bar Vesper.
Breakfast is a semi-buffet affair at Pavilion, with an a la carte menu offering dishes such as Wonton Noodle Soup, Rice Noodle in Thick Gravy with Sea Bass, Phad See Ew (wok-fried rice noodle, assorted vegetable, egg), Kai Jiew Poo (Thai omelette, crab meat, organic jasmine rice), Moo Ping Moo Foi (grilled pork skewer, crispy shredded pork, pandan sticky rice), Krapow Neua (stir-fried minced beef with basil, fried egg, organic jasmine rice), Egg Benedict (smoked ham, sautéed spinach, truffle hollandaise), Thai Egg Pan (minced chicken, chicken loaf, chicken sausage), Avocado Toast (poached egg, young spinach, fata cheese), Mozzarella Bruschetta (hard-boiled egg, tomato, rocket leaves) and Croque Madame (ham and cheese sandwich, bechamel, sunny side up egg).
I had booked my stay under the “An Icon Returns” opening offer which comes with USD$75 per night for dining and spa experiences. However, Devarana Wellness is not yet available for bookings, and when I visited Pavilion for dinner around 6.30pm (the restaurant opens at 5pm), I was rather annoyed when, instead of being told what was unavailable when I was seated, I was only informed after my order has been processed and my appetiser was en route that my order of Moo Yang Chiang Rai (grilled Chiang Rai black pork neck) was not available…and neither was half the “Thai Signatures” menu (!). I would have chosen to dine at Dusit Gourmet instead had I known my choices would be so limited at Pavilion, but I felt situationally trapped in the moment and ended up finishing the other dishes I had ordered previously – the Fried Japanese Pumpkin Coated with Surat Thani Salted Egg Yolk and Spicy River Prawn Tom Yum Soup, both of which were frankly delicious – before leaving to forage for food elsewhere after. The remainder of my dining credit went towards cocktails at Pavilion’s dedicated bar area as well as Grand Lobby Bar for the purposes of this review.
Over the opening weekend, only limited room categories were available for bookings. Other room categories (including those with club access) will be progressively released over the coming weeks.
Should you stay at the Dusit Thani Bangkok? My advice: give it a few more months, after the service processes have improved and after the hotel’s facilities have become fully available. The hotel hardware and guest room experience certainly impressed, but it has been a frustrating stay due to the slew of issues I faced, from abandoned luggage and delayed check-ins to significant food shortage issues and many, many instances of communication (and on occasion mechanical) breakdowns, all of which has left me feeling short-changed as a paying customer in the aggregate even though I have a fairly high tolerance for teething issues after having covered so many hotel openings. The cards are in place for Dusit Thani Bangkok to be an amazing property – they just need to sort themselves out.
DELUXE CORNER
DINING
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