Chakrabongse Villas

Bangkok

Chakrabongse Villas is an exquisite heritage property on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, offering three rooms and four suites right across from Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. A sumptuous tropical garden, a great pool and several salas by the water’s edge make for a regal stay.

Style and Character

The centrepiece of Chakrabongse Villas is the private home of Narisa Chakrabongse, a member of Thailand’s royal family and the owner of River Books, an English language publisher of books on Thailand, with a shop on the hotel premises. The handsome villa was built in 1908. In 2007, Narisa opened her property to the public as a luxurious hotel retreat, with rooms located in the former staff residence and in two stunning traditional teak wood villas. Interiors are furnished in exquisite antiques throughout.

Service and Facilities

Service is friendly, informed and informal. The tropical garden, complete with a 1950s-style freeform pool large enough for a good swim, is a welcome respite from the busy city. A library in one of the teak wood houses contains a good selection of non-fiction books on Thailand as well as the usual paperback holiday reads.

The hotel organises two-hour boat trips on the Chao Phraya and the network of canals that branches off from the river. Honeymooners can book private boat trips on the river with champagne, followed by a romantic dinner. Guests can also avail themselves of complimentary bicycles. Massages by staff from nearby Wat Po temple can be arranged in the privacy of the guest rooms.

Rooms

The double rooms, located in the former servants’ quarters, are compact and beautifully designed with a winning combination of antique tapestries and furnishings from Morocco and India. The teak wood villas house three suites endowed with fin de siècle tables and chairs and contemporary Thai rattan couches and armchairs, complemented by modern paintings and sculptures.

The largest suite by the pool has two bedrooms, perfect for families. All units are air-conditioned and come with a television, coffee machine and tea-making facilities, drinking water and daily fresh fruit.

Food and Drink

The hotel’s restaurant, Aharn Thai, sits in an open sala above the water of the Chao Phraya and serves classic royal Thai cuisine. Guests may also dine on a terrace fronting the restaurant, with great views of Wat Arun across the water. Chefs come up with a different set menu every day. Amongst the starters, the wing bean salad is especially good, as is the grilled aubergine salad with prawns. The roasted duck red curry with tropical fruits and the deep-fried sea bass fillet are both excellent and the mango sorbet with confit mango rounds things off nicely.

For lunch, there’s a simple menu of Thai staples such as Pad Thai on offer. Breakfast is à la carte and includes eggs, fruit, juices, tea and coffee. The best place for a pre-dinner cocktail is Aharn Thai. Guests staying in the villas can enjoy their meals and drinks in the privacy of their own terrace or sala.