Riva Surya Hotel, Bangkok

Each one of Riva Surya's 68 rooms is incredibly spacious, with the white and grey tones running throughout giving them an understated elegance. They combine modern comforts (the bed linen has a 400-thread count) with colonial-era influences and traditional Thai touches throughout. Most rooms also come with balconies.

The Urban Rooms are the smallest and, as their name suggest, look out onto the leafy Phra Athit Road. On the other side of the hotel, the Riva Rooms all have glorious riverside views.

The hotel's only restaurant, babble & rum, has an impressive range of food. It prides itself on the locally sourced produce which features in its dishes, against a rustic and contemporary atmosphere. The menu draws influences from all around the world, including authentic Thai dishes, traditional tastes from the rest of Asia and some European favourites thrown in for good measure. During the day, babble & rum is a charming café where you can enjoy an artisanal coffee on the outdoor terrace overlooking the river.

Riva Surya also has a Riverside Bar, which is a great spot for a cocktail (there's a well-stocked list to choose from) to watch the sunset cast an amber glow over the water each evening.

Riva Surya is equipped with a modern gym with windows looking out over the Chao Phraya River, so you can work out to gorgeous riverside views. But the real allure of Riva Surya is its excellent location in Bangkok. On its doorstep, Phra Athit Road is a laid-back medley of cafés, bars and antique shophouses, while the lively Khao San Road is just a 10-minute stroll away. Established nearly 150 years ago, today the Khao San Road is a hive of activity, a street packed with buzzing cafés, restaurants and bars where it's fascinating to watch the different people this area of Bangkok attracts mix together. The hotel is also close to a river ferry terminal, so you can easily reach the capital's signature sights, like the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Wat Pho temples and the Bangkok National Museum.