Hidden behind a lively street bar in the heart of Bangkok's Chinatown lies a luxurious oasis: a journey back in time to 1930s Shanghai. Beyond the glamorous jazz bar and upscale restaurant stretches a peaceful atrium with a pond at its center, surrounded by lounge chairs, daybeds, antique furniture, and colorful paper lanterns.
The story
The Shanghai Mansion was built in 1892 as a trading house and converted into Bangkok's first Chinese opera house in 1908. Famous for its magnificent interior, it counted the Thai aristocracy, including members of the royal family, among its guests. After various uses, including as a department store, the building fell into disrepair until 1998, when it was acquired by the Burasari Group in 2005. Burasari renovated the building and created the Shanghai Mansion, inspired by its theatrical heritage and original Art Deco flair.
The rooms
Beyond the teak double doors lies a spacious lobby, and to my left is a living room with a plush velvet sofa and a matching armchair. Thick velvet curtains conceal the windows, and a chandelier illuminates the room from above. A carved mahogany lattice partition separates the bedroom from the bathroom, the centerpiece of which is a large, freestanding bathtub.
Framed portraits of Chinese film stars from the 1930s, serious-looking Chinese nobles in traditional clothing, and old sepia photographs of city scenes with rickshaws and pharmacies hung on the walls.
There are various room types in different sizes, all beautifully decorated in the Art Deco style of the 1930s. The minibar is free and offers a selection of chocolates, crisps, beer, and soft drinks.
Dining options
Lunch and dinner, as well as the hotel's famous dim sum afternoon tea, are served in the Red Rose Restaurant. There, traditional Chinese dishes with a modern twist are offered, accompanied by Chinese whiskies and plum wine. Breakfast is served upstairs in the "Cotton," a large, airy restaurant on the third floor reminiscent of a colonial country club.
Day spa
Spa treatments are available on every level of the hotel, including signature treatments such as the sound bowl ritual, which promises to "awaken body and mind and prepare them for a soothing, therapeutic ritual".
Chinatown
You'll find a wide variety of street food in the nearby streets and alleys. It's best to arrive early to secure a spot on the roadside. Chinatown is bustling every night of the week, and long lines quickly form at the popular food stalls. The hotel offers a free tuk-tuk shuttle service and a guided walking tour of Chinatown every morning.
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