Riva Surya Bangkok — Hotel in Chana Songkhram Subdistrict

My wife and I stayed here for 4 nights in August 2017 and had a very nice stay overall. The location of the hotel near the Grand Palace and National Museum is quite convenient. Although we never made it to Khaosan Road given our busy days, the proximity to that attraction could be viewed as a positive by some. The location is also right across the street from two highly rated restaurants – Hemlock and Peeps – restaurants where we had enjoyable dinners ourselves – and two ATMs and therefore, I rate Riva Surya’s location highly. Finally even though it is located right on Phra Athit road, a reasonably busy road, the quality of the noise insulation is such that I, a light sleeper, had little difficulty in falling asleep even though we were on the first floor.

Beyond its location, my wife and I found the staff members very helpful. They were willing to provide detailed directions on getting around in the city to my wife who had gotten in a few hours ahead of me on Day 1. They were also great in hailing cabs for us as needed and providing us with slips noting the cab numbers should anything go wrong. And finally, in what absolutely blows my mind is that even though they have a late check-out time (12 noon) and an early check-in time (2 p.m.), they were willing to let us stretch check-out to 1 p.m. even on a day when they were completely sold out. I do not recall a single instance ever when a hotel has allowed me to check out just an hour in advance of their check-in time on a day when they are fully sold out. For all of this, and much more, they must be commended.

As is clear from my overall rating, I have rated them a little short of being outstanding. The biggest reason for that is while we found the room rates to be reasonable, that couldn’t be said about every aspect of our experience at the hotel. The most notable example of the place being overpriced in some aspects is the 1600 Baht that they charged my wife for her pick-up from the airport. To give you a sense of how outrageous that is, let me note that when I took a cab from the airport the same evening, I paid 340 Baht (without using the toll way) and during our return to the airport, we paid 333 Baht + 75 Baht for tolls. Now no one is suggesting that the hotel can offer a clean vehicle with a driver dressed professionally at 340 Baht but it also seems amazing to me that they charge a rate that is more than 4 times the cab rate. In a similar vein, Oriental Express, a service that is frequently recommended on Tripadvisor forums, quoted me 1050 Baht for an airport pick-up the same day that my wife used the hotel’s service at 1600 Baht. As another example, there was some color which had bled from my eye shades onto the pillow and I was told that I would have to pay 300 Baht for it. Now while I am not averse to paying for any damage to hotel property, 300 Baht did seem too steep. In any case, I scrubbed the pillow cover with soap and shampoo and was able to get the stains (and hence the charge) removed. Finally, the restaurant associated with the restaurant, Barrel and Rum, while pretty good, is also not a particularly economical option.

All in all, this is a very nice place that is fully deserving of its positive reviews given the location, the amenities available, and its helpful staff. However, if I were staying here again, I would not use the airport drop-off or pick-up service and perhaps be a bit more careful than usual regarding any possible damage to hotel property given what I view is a tendency to charge punitively...

Riverside Luxury with Urban Convenience

My recent stay at Riva Surya Bangkok was everything I hoped for and more. This boutique hotel perfectly balances Thai charm with modern comforts, creating an oasis within Bangkok's vibrant energy. The riverside location offered stunning views of the Chao Phraya River, especially magical during sunset. What impressed me most was how the hotel combined luxury with authenticity - from the tasteful décor incorporating traditional Thai elements to the thoughtful amenities that anticipated every need. The property's intimate scale meant it never felt crowded, yet still provided all the services of a larger establishment. If you're seeking a tranquil retreat with excellent access to Bangkok's cultural attractions, Riva Surya delivers exceptionally.

LOCATION: Situated directly on the Chao Phraya River, the location proved perfect for exploring Bangkok. The Phra Arthit Pier is right next to the hotel, making river taxi transportation incredibly convenient for visiting major attractions like the Grand Palace and Wat Pho (just 10-15 minutes away). Khao San Road is within easy walking distance (about 10 minutes), yet far enough that noise was never an issue. The surrounding neighborhood has a pleasantly local feel with charming cafés, restaurants, and shops. Being near Phra Arthit Road and Rambutri offered plenty of dining options while providing a more authentic experience than more touristy areas.

DINE + DRINK: The hotel's main restaurant, Babble & Grill, has a very good menu. Their breakfast buffet offered an impressive variety of both Western and high-quality Thai dishes – the freshly made omelets and local specialties were standouts. Dining on the riverside terrace in the evening was particularly memorable, with the illuminated boats passing by creating a magical atmosphere. The cocktails were expertly crafted, especially their signature drinks incorporating Thai flavors. While menu prices are higher than local street food (as expected), the quality and riverside setting justified the expense. But everything is worth if you manage to dine by the lovely open-air riverside patio!

ROOM: We stayed in Room 102, so this review is based on that; SIZE: Spacious enough for 2 adults and simple baggage; VIEW: Partial view of the River; AIR-CON: Perfectly functioning cooler that helped in setting the perfect room temperature; BED: Comfortable bed that played the expected part of putting us to sleep; BATHROOM: Tastefully designed bathroom with a Stand-in shower; TOILETRIES: OK quality toiletries by Riva's own brand

FACILITIES: Compact Gym with a basic range of weights and Cardio machines, good enough for a decent workout. They also have an outdoor pool overlooking the river

SERVICE: Friendly staff that cared for all our needs with a smile and made us feel at home and well taken care of. Special Shout-out to the front office staff for welcoming hospitality

HOW WIRED YOU WILL BE: Free Wi-Fi that works well all over the property, and the speed is good! Medium-sized Smart TV dishing out a wide variety of channels spanning sports, news, music, movies, and entertainment in...

If you are looking to book a hotel where you can get a good night’s rest, stray away from this hotel. My husband and I booked this hotel based upon the glowing reviews about staff and the location, but we had by far the worst experience at a hotel.

We stayed for one night and were awakened by VERY loud neighbors at about 12:30/1:00 a.m. They were so loud that they woke me up from my sleep, and I’d consider myself a pretty heavy sleeper. After arguing for quite awhile, it turned into a physical altercation where we could hear significant force being used and a clear struggle. Men were yelling in Thai and a woman screamed “HELP” in English multiple times. We called the front desk to send help. Then, the struggle suddenly stopped and a man yelled in English “WE HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.” Meanwhile, I hid in the back corner of our “four star hotel” room for about 30-45 minutes - scared to death. My husband prepared for an intruder. The arguments again ensued, and front desk didn’t answer any more phone calls. We had no idea if we were safe. From our balcony window, we could see 6-7 police arrive and arrest two men. We called front desk again about an hour after we first called, and they finally answered and said it’s fine. They never returned our previous caller or otherwise let us know that the issue was resolved. Frankly, they seemed annoyed we called back - but we needed to know whether we could stop hiding and get back in bed and try to sleep.

Staff was wrong - it was not fine. Around 3:00 a.m. my husband was awakened by more bickering and arguing - we think by the same people. This continued until about 5:00 a.m. when my husband was finally able to sleep. The hotel staff was wrong and either did not have all parties involved in the incident removed OR (even worse) another group of rowdy/dangerous guests were staying here. We did not feel safe at all, and we are not sure what kind of guests are also staying at this hotel marketed as luxurious and safe for families.

Even if you’re willing to risk your life and stay here - the facilities are not quite as nice as the photos and the staff upon check in was not that friendly. They offered welcome drinks and smiles to other guests but not us for some reason. I am giving two stars because the water pressure in the shower is pretty great, however, the shower would nearly flood because it did not drain quickly enough. Also, the breakfast options and staff working in the restaurant were great, along with the staff at checkout who called us a taxi to leave. However, I’d rather not take a gamble as to which staff is working and therefore whether I’ll have a good experience. There are better places to stay for the...