Waldorf Astoria Bangkok Review: A Beautiful Pool and Great Value, but Musty Rooms (8/10)

The short version: The Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is a beautiful, calm hotel with more character than most in the area. The pool is the strong suit, the breakfast is one of the best I’ve had in Bangkok, and Front Room, its Thai restaurant, has some of the best service I’ve had anywhere. The one real problem is a musty smell: three of the four rooms I saw had it. One night came to ฿11,034, about $334, with breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit through Fora. 8 out of 10. I’d pick it just barely over the St. Regis, but insist on a room without the smell.

I stayed one night, November 12 to 13, 2026, in a King Deluxe room, booked through Fora. I paid for everything myself. I’m a Fora travel advisor, so on bookings like this one I earn a small commission from the hotel. Breakfast and the $100 hotel credit were Fora perks.

Pros

• The pool is beautiful, especially at night, with city views on both sides
• One of the best breakfasts in Bangkok, with a 9 jamón, ham and orange juice
• Front Room, an excellent Thai restaurant, right in the hotel
• A calm, tropical design with more character than most Bangkok hotels
• One of the best-stocked minibars I’ve seen, with coconuts
• A central spot by CentralWorld, Amarin and the Erawan Shrine
• Very fast Wi-Fi: 145 Mbps down, 193 up

Cons

• A musty smell in three of the four rooms I saw
• Moving rooms took some back-and-forth, and staff put the smell down to the wood
• Mixed answers on late checkout: the operator said no, the front desk said yes
• The gym is small, and the spa is fairly simple, apart from the sauna
• No real view from the rooms I saw, and some road noise on the 6th floor
• Lines of up to 15 minutes at breakfast, even at 9:30
• No direct link to the SkyTrain, unlike the St. Regis

Arriving

The Waldorf sits between the Grand Hyatt and the St. Regis, actually right below the Grand Hyatt. It’s a modern, tall building, and unlike the Grand Hyatt, whose entrance is right on the road, it’s set back a little. You walk in a bit to get inside, so it feels more enclosed and private.

The first thing you notice inside is that it’s a really beautiful setting. It feels calm, peaceful, a bit global and a bit tropical, and it reminds me vaguely of the St. Regis Costa Mujeres, or even SHA Wellness Clinic in Mexico.

On the ground floor, the concierge and Front Room are on the left, and the elevators are on the right. People come toward you as soon as you walk in and ask if you need anything. They showed me the way, but didn’t walk me all the way to check-in like at the St. Regis, and that’s okay.

Check-in

Check-in is on the 12th floor, and it’s quite nice: they bring you a complimentary purple Thai flower drink, and they explain everything. I arrived around 3 pm, and it was still pretty fast. The woman who checked me in was very nice and very friendly.

The room: 7.5 out of 10

The room is a King Deluxe, 50 m² according to the booking. It’s a beautiful room, modern and classy, with Thai touches like the patterned panel behind the bed. It’s a unique style, almost like the St. Regis Costa Mujeres. There’s a lot of thought in it: a master console by the bed for the lights and AC, a QR code for in-room dining, four pillows and a small table that doubles as a desk.

There’s also a small plug adapter by the bed, a really nice touch, because a lot of people may not have the right cords. They provide air purifiers too, and the one small thing is that the TV is in front of the bed, but a little off to the side.

The minibar is very nice and well stocked, probably one of the best I’ve seen, with coconuts in the fridge, plus drinks, snacks, Nespresso and Thai teas. When staff saw I liked the coconuts, they offered to bring more.

There’s complimentary fruit, a little white Thai flower, and a nice turndown with the sheets folded back. The walk-in closet has a mirror and two robes.

If they fixed the smell, this would be at the top of the rooms I’ve reviewed in Bangkok so far. I’d score it an 8.5 for all the thoughtful touches, but the smell brings it down, so it’s a 7.5.

The musty smell

This is the main thing to know: my first room, on the 11th floor, had a musty smell, so I asked to move. I ended up seeing about four rooms, and all but one had it, so chances are you will get it. It’s probably not something you want in a room, and other online reviews mention it too.

I went from the 11th floor to the 14th, and finally to the 6th, which had no smell. Moving around took quite a long time.

I also noticed a little wear like this in one of the hallways, but it’s minor.

My tip: insist on a room change until you find one without the smell.

The bathroom

The bathroom is quite nice, and the shower has a rain shower and a handheld, with clearly labeled controls that are easy to understand. The pressure is pretty good, and there’s a little seat in the shower overlooking the city, which would probably be quite romantic. The shower window has blinds.

The tub has Thai art behind it that almost looks like a flower. There’s a small TV in the bathroom that you can see from the tub, which gives it a nice, romantic feel.

The toiletries are Aesop. I like the Aesop hand wash in a pump instead of soap bars; it’s easier and a little more refined. There’s a good amenity kit with no razor, but with mouthwash, a nice touch you don’t often see. The toilet is a modern Japanese one, and the one small thing is that it can beep a few minutes after you get up.

The sleep test: pass

It passed: I slept in the 6th-floor room, and it was fairly quiet, at 33.0 dB with the AC off and 41.7 with it on. You do hear some road noise; it’s not super bad, but you do hear it. On the 14th floor, I didn’t really hear it that much. If you want a quiet room, ask for a higher floor.

The Wi-Fi was very fast: 145 Mbps down and 193 up in my room.

Breakfast: 8 out of 10

Breakfast is at The Brasserie, and it’s pretty nice: the food is probably the best of the breakfasts I’ve had in Bangkok, except maybe the Peninsula. The room is very airy and open, and it’s a hybrid: about 90% buffet, with about 10% you order from a menu, like smoothies and juices.

Here’s what I tried:

• Jamón: 9. Super tasty, and not too salty.
• Ham: 9. A slight honey flavor, savory and very tasty.
• Orange juice: 9. It looks like it’s made with real fresh oranges.
• Morning smoothie: 9. Pineapple, yogurt, mint and spirulina. Very sweet and refreshing.
• Mango: 8.5. Very tasty, but some were riper than others. Pick the darker, deeper-yellow ones.
• Spicy sausage: 8.5. Juicy, with a little spice.
• Smoked salmon: 8.5. Fresh and very tasty.
• Smoked tuna: 8. A nice smoky flavor, and not too salty.
• Tropical smoothie: 8. Good flavor, and it pairs well with the chicken curry.
• Siu mai: 8. Very tasty, in small pieces.
• Bacon: 7.5. Crispy, but a little too cooked.
• Kimchi: 7.5. Fairly fresh.
• Chicken curry: 7.5. Nice that they have it, and a little spicy.
• Yogurt: 7.5. But don’t pair it with the peach compote.
• Berries: 7. Pretty normal, but it’s great they have them; a lot of breakfasts don’t.
• Bread: 7. Tasty, but nothing too memorable.
• Peach compote: 5.5. Too much honey flavor.

It closes at 10:30, and fairly straight away. The one downside is the wait: There were long lines even at 9:30, with waits of up to 15 minutes. It didn’t bother me much, because there’s a seating area outside, but some people might mind. It was free with the Fora rate.

Front Room and the other restaurants

One of the strong suits here is Front Room, the hotel’s Thai restaurant. Surprisingly, a lot of luxury hotels in Thailand don’t have a Thai restaurant. It has some of the best service I’ve had anywhere, a 10, and the pad thai and the orange jelly petit four are excellent. Dinner for three came to about $107, and my $100 Fora credit covered most of it.

According to the hotel, there’s also Bull & Bear, a steakhouse; The Loft, a cocktail bar; Peacock Alley, for afternoon tea; and The Champagne Bar, on the 57th floor. I didn’t try those, so I can’t speak to them.

Pool, gym and spa

The pool is definitely the strong suit. It’s on the top floor, the 16th, and it’s open until 10 pm. It’s really nice, with views on both sides, and very modern and classy. At night especially, you get a really nice city view. It wasn’t crowded at all, with just one couple, and there’s seating in a shallower part of the pool. One small thing: there are little steps on the way to the pool, and they warn you, but you might miss them and trip.

The gym is a bit small compared to some of the others, but it’s a nice gym, with most of the equipment you’d realistically use. It’s stylish and modern, with darker tones and some views outside, and it was empty when I went. It’s open 24/7. The pool and fitness attendant was very good, always attentive, and he kept checking in on us.

The spa is fairly simple, except for the sauna, which is actually quite nice: big, modern, with reddish tones, and nobody else was there. Aside from that, it’s a pretty normal spa. It’s open from 6 am to 10 pm.

The setting: 8 out of 10

The location is excellent and very central, just below Ploenchit Road. You’re right next to the malls: CentralWorld, Amarin, Erawan and Central Embassy. The Erawan Shrine is right there too, if you want a tourist spot.

The hotel has a little more character than most. It feels almost like a Mexican tropical or Middle Eastern resort, with its beige tones and stone. The interior is very calming, and the hallways are white and airy.

The downsides are the small gym and the simpler spa, and none of the rooms I saw really had a view; the 6th floor looks over a little roadway.

Service: 7.5 out of 10

The service is quite good, and warmer than at the St. Regis, but a little less attentive, since they don’t walk you everywhere. They’re still quite attentive, though: the pool and fitness attendant was a highlight, and the spa and gym staff were very nice.

The check-in woman was great: later that night, she moved me and showed me several rooms until one had no smell. She saw that we liked the coconuts and offered to bring more.

A few things hold it back. First, the woman who initially took me to my room was a little less warm. When I asked to move because of the smell, she suggested an air purifier first. She eventually moved me, but the second room smelled too, and she said it was because of the wood. Several staff told me the same thing, but the room without the smell had the same wood, so it felt like a standard answer.

Second, the late checkout. I asked the operator first, and he said he’d spoken to the front desk and they couldn’t do it. That surprised me a little at a hotel like this; pretty much every luxury hotel can do at least a 1 pm checkout. He told me that without transferring me. Then I asked the front desk directly, and they gave me 1 pm. I don’t know what explains that, but it’s something they could smooth out.

Third, I left my charger in the room. When I went back up for it, I didn’t see it at first, and the housekeeper said they hadn’t seen it either. Then I found it in the bathroom, where it had been moved. It may have just been a mix-up, but it would have been better if they’d looked a little more.

In a hotel, you want to feel like the staff is on your side. Obviously, they work for the hotel, but you don’t want to feel like they’re trying to save the hotel money or give you the easiest answer. A few times here, it felt a little that way. It’s still good service, but it’s not as good as the St. Regis, where you get the butlers and none of these things happened.

The food: 8 out of 10

The food is very good: the breakfast is one of the strongest in Bangkok, and Front Room is an excellent restaurant. It’s just slightly better than the St. Regis, which I also scored an 8.

What it cost

One night was ฿11,034, about $334. That’s ฿9,375 for the room plus ฿1,659 in taxes and fees (17.7%). Through Fora, it included breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit, and I got both. The rate also listed an upgrade, early check-in and late checkout if available. I had to ask for the late checkout, and they gave me 1 pm.

Value: 8.5 out of 10

This is a very strong value: for $334, you get breakfast and a $100 credit, so basically all of your food is free. It’s about $100 cheaper than the St. Regis, with a slightly better breakfast and a better location for the malls.

Who it’s for

It’s good for couples: Front Room, the classy and intimate pool, the TV by the tub and the shower seat over the city all feel romantic. With its central spot by the malls and the Erawan Shrine, it also works for tourists. And for business, the location is central and the Wi-Fi is very fast.

Vs. the other Bangkok hotels

The St. Regis (8): I like the Waldorf a little more. It has more character, it’s about $100 cheaper, and the breakfast is slightly better. The St. Regis service is a little better, with butlers, but the Waldorf’s is warmer. The St. Regis wins on its direct SkyTrain link, a bigger gym, a few more amenities and a room without the smell. I’d pick the Waldorf just barely, but insist on a room change (full review).

The Rosewood (8): Very tight. I’d maybe slightly pick the Rosewood, just because of the room, and its breakfast is very strong too. It’s more intimate, with darker tones, but the Waldorf is also romantic (full review).

The Okura (8.5): A little more well-rounded, and I didn’t have any issues there; it has similar character, strong service and a similarly good location. In this area, for a similar price, I’d still pick the Okura (full review).

The Peninsula (9): Better and more romantic, with a more Thai setting on the river, and strong service, an excellent breakfast and great amenities, and I had no complaints. If you want the river, pick the Peninsula (full review).

For all of them side by side, see where to stay in Bangkok.

Tips if you go

• Insist on a room change until you find one without the musty smell.
• Ask for a higher floor; the 14th was quieter than the 6th.
• Book through Fora for breakfast and the $100 credit, which can cover dinner at Front Room.
• Go to breakfast before 9:30, and pick the darker mangoes.
• Have dinner at Front Room, and get the pad thai.
• Watch the little step on the way to the pool.

Verdict: 8 out of 10

It’s a beautiful hotel with a lot of character, a great pool, a strong breakfast and an excellent Thai restaurant, at a very strong value. It’s just slightly better than the St. Regis, and maybe slightly behind the Rosewood. The musty smell is what holds it back. Would I go back? Maybe, and if I did, I’d insist on a room without the smell.

FAQ

Is the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok worth it?

For about $334 a night with breakfast and a $100 credit through Fora, yes, it’s a very strong value. The pool, the breakfast and Front Room are the highlights. The one thing to watch for is a musty smell in many of the rooms, so insist on a room without it.

Do the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok rooms smell musty?

Three of the four rooms I saw had a musty smell, and other online reviews mention it too. Staff blamed the wood, but the room without the smell had the same wood. Keep asking to move until you find a room without it.

Is the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok better than the St. Regis?

Just barely, for me. The Waldorf has more character, a slightly better breakfast and warmer service, and it’s about $100 cheaper. The St. Regis has more polished service with butlers, a direct SkyTrain link, a bigger gym and no musty smell in my room.

Where is the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok?

Right below the Grand Hyatt, between it and the St. Regis, just below Ploenchit Road. CentralWorld, Amarin, Central Embassy and the Erawan Shrine are all nearby.

What time does breakfast end at the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok?

At 10:30, at The Brasserie, and they close fairly straight away. Go before 9:30; there were lines of up to 15 minutes even then.