Pros

  • Beautiful location on the river in Khao San
  • Wat Pho, Grand Palace, and National Museum within walking distance of hotel
  • Sophisticated, modern rooms with Thai colonial design touch
  • Refreshing pool and hot tub with great river views
  • Delicious local cuisine in restaurant
  • Massages are available by the pool or in rooms
  • Half-price drinks during happy hour
  • New stationary bikes and weight equipment in gym
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • No tubs in rooms
  • Breakfast is not included
  • Some rooms subject to street noise
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Bottom Line

Situated in the Pra Athit/Khao San district of Bangkok, the upscale, 68-room Riva Surya Bangkok stands out from nearby properties with its sophisticated style. Although the hotel is not in the center of the city, the bustling Kao San area is a five-minute walk, and river ferries stop close by. Rooms have classy, Thai-influenced decor, and many have balconies and river views. With its glistening riverside pool, contemporary gym, and well-reviewed restaurant serving Thai and international cuisine, the Riva Surya is among the best values on the Chao Praya River and an ideal option for couples or families looking to explore the Khao San area.

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Riva Surya Bangkok

Scene

Stylish and contemporary with colonia-Thai and trendy-industrial accents, and riverside terrace seating

Tucked behind an enormous tree and standing five stories high, the Riva Surya resembles an authentic local apartment building from the outside, with its terraced landscaping, and wooden shutters and lanterns adorning the entrance. Done by the designer behind Sri Panwa hotel in Phuket, the Riva Surya deftly combines vintage-style and modern pieces for a cool, chic look. Inside, traditional carved wooden beams line the walls and ceiling, while floors have intricately patterned tiles, and fresh flowers and candles lend warmth. Gray and brushed metal chairs with orange cushions offer seating, as does a white wicker circular bench. Babble & Rum restaurant is likewise stylish, though trendier, with black leather banquettes and industrial-style metal lamps tempered by bouquets of dried flowers and quaint wooden boxes filled with fresh herbs. The outdoor terrace sits just beside the river, and has plenty of wicker seating and bright orange umbrellas for guests, who are typically tourist couples or families. The riverside pool area is lovely, with lounge chairs facing out to the view, and cabanas -- for poolside massages -- dripping with lush plants. 

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Location

On the river, five-minute walk to lively Kao San center

This hotel is right on the River Chao Phraya in the Phra Athit area of Bangkok. There are office buildings on one side of the hotel, several residential buildings across the street, and many restaurants within a five-minute walk. It is only a two-minute walk to the river ferries at No. 13 pier, and 10 minutes to the nearest Skytrain station. The busy Kao San center is a five-minute walk away, Grand Palace is only a 15-minute walk or seven-minute bus ride away, Wat Pho is about 10 minutes by ferry, and the National Museum is an eight-minute walk away. Suvarnabhumi Airport is about a 30- to 50-minute drive from the hotel, depending on traffic. 

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Rooms

Sophisticated and modern with classy Thai design

Like the rest of the hotel, the Surya’s 68 rooms have kaleidoscope-style patterns that are typical of colonial Thai design. That said, the look is clean and modern, with cool grays and light browns, lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, steel-arm desk lamps, and furnishings combining natural-fiber and wood. Each room has a flat-screen TV, iPod dock, minibar, safe, coffee/tea facilities, and bathrobe and slippers. Most rooms have nice views of the river or city, but river rooms are far superior and quieter. Rooms with balconies are especially great, as balconies are huge and furnished with wicker loveseats and tables. Large, contemporary bathrooms are enclosed by glass in the middle of guest rooms, though are private thanks to opaque wall liners; they have basin-style sinks and large, glass showers with rainfall showerheads. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free Wi-Fi, great restaurant and pool, massages on demand

The River Surya offers free Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout the hotel, as well as free access to the riverside pool and well-equipped indoor gym -- with yoga, fitness, and training classes available for extra fees. There is also massage service by the pool or in rooms. Guests may use computers in the business center and there are a couple of meeting rooms available for special events. The hotel restaurant serves fresh and affordable Thai, Asian, and European cuisine as well as an ample (not included in room price) breakfast buffet. There are two bars open late and a nightly happy hour with discounted drinks from late afternoon to early evening. Hotel staff are accommodating and can help arrange airport transfers, river ferries, and tours.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Riva Surya Bangkok

Scene

Stylish and contemporary with colonia-Thai and trendy-industrial accents, and riverside terrace seating

Tucked behind an enormous tree and standing five stories high, the Riva Surya resembles an authentic local apartment building from the outside, with its terraced landscaping, and wooden shutters and lanterns adorning the entrance. Done by the designer behind Sri Panwa hotel in Phuket, the Riva Surya deftly combines vintage-style and modern pieces for a cool, chic look. Inside, traditional carved wooden beams line the walls and ceiling, while floors have intricately patterned tiles, and fresh flowers and candles lend warmth. Gray and brushed metal chairs with orange cushions offer seating, as does a white wicker circular bench. Babble & Rum restaurant is likewise stylish, though trendier, with black leather banquettes and industrial-style metal lamps tempered by bouquets of dried flowers and quaint wooden boxes filled with fresh herbs. The outdoor terrace sits just beside the river, and has plenty of wicker seating and bright orange umbrellas for guests, who are typically tourist couples or families. The riverside pool area is lovely, with lounge chairs facing out to the view, and cabanas -- for poolside massages -- dripping with lush plants. 

See More Scene

Location

On the river, five-minute walk to lively Kao San center

This hotel is right on the River Chao Phraya in the Phra Athit area of Bangkok. There are office buildings on one side of the hotel, several residential buildings across the street, and many restaurants within a five-minute walk. It is only a two-minute walk to the river ferries at No. 13 pier, and 10 minutes to the nearest Skytrain station. The busy Kao San center is a five-minute walk away, Grand Palace is only a 15-minute walk or seven-minute bus ride away, Wat Pho is about 10 minutes by ferry, and the National Museum is an eight-minute walk away. Suvarnabhumi Airport is about a 30- to 50-minute drive from the hotel, depending on traffic. 

See More Location

Rooms

Sophisticated and modern with classy Thai design

Like the rest of the hotel, the Surya’s 68 rooms have kaleidoscope-style patterns that are typical of colonial Thai design. That said, the look is clean and modern, with cool grays and light browns, lots of floor-to-ceiling windows, steel-arm desk lamps, and furnishings combining natural-fiber and wood. Each room has a flat-screen TV, iPod dock, minibar, safe, coffee/tea facilities, and bathrobe and slippers. Most rooms have nice views of the river or city, but river rooms are far superior and quieter. Rooms with balconies are especially great, as balconies are huge and furnished with wicker loveseats and tables. Large, contemporary bathrooms are enclosed by glass in the middle of guest rooms, though are private thanks to opaque wall liners; they have basin-style sinks and large, glass showers with rainfall showerheads. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free Wi-Fi, great restaurant and pool, massages on demand

The River Surya offers free Wi-Fi in rooms and throughout the hotel, as well as free access to the riverside pool and well-equipped indoor gym -- with yoga, fitness, and training classes available for extra fees. There is also massage service by the pool or in rooms. Guests may use computers in the business center and there are a couple of meeting rooms available for special events. The hotel restaurant serves fresh and affordable Thai, Asian, and European cuisine as well as an ample (not included in room price) breakfast buffet. There are two bars open late and a nightly happy hour with discounted drinks from late afternoon to early evening. Hotel staff are accommodating and can help arrange airport transfers, river ferries, and tours.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cabanas

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.