A FIVE STAR GUESTHOUSE
" There are few times one can give 5-stars to a guesthouse. But when it is about Riverview Guesthouse in Bangkok it is possible.
They have something which even the real five star hotels in Bangkok miss; open-air balconies overlooking the river and its fascinating life. The rooms are big and clean, friendly staff, situated in a special area with its early morning markets and just next to the exiting Chinatown. Add to this also the nice roof top restaurant with a beautiful outlook over Bangkok - plus good Thai food - and one can find it happy to be in Bangkok. It is an extra advantage to be able to avoid the car queues and instead have an express-boat stop just nearby, at Harbor Department.
Our Review
...From Guides Books
...From Our Guests
How the Guide book talk about us.
1. The Lonely Planet’s : Top 5 Author Pick
“Authentic location, awesome views and scruffy rooms."
Perched on the river in Chinatown, far from the backpacker ghetto, this is a fantastic choice for those who really want to see and feel Bangkok. Above the basic rooms sits a wonderful rooftop restaurant with magnificent views and a breeze worth gold in this town.
You'll find the River View among narrow laneways where the motor of daily life turns and hums, men weld in scrap metal kingdoms and women ladle out noodle soup. Birds squawk from wooden cages as cats skulk in shadowed doorways. This is true local living. If you are happy without air-con, the fan rooms are the ones with the wonderful views over the river and the adjacent pagoda, and those without bathrooms have balconies. More expensive rooms have less vista but come with air-con, wooden furnishings and fridge. OK, so the mattresses are crummy and the bathrooms could do with a scrub - get a massage for your back, wear flip-flops in the shower and then go chill out at the wonderful rooftop restaurant/bar. There you have an exceptional panorama over Chinese dragons and the city sprawl with the Chao Phraya river snaking majestically through it all.
Reviewed by Annabel Hart
AUTHOR EXPERIENCE The rooftop is a wonderful spot to read or write, sip a beer or eat some inexpensive Thai food - particularly at sunset when Bangkok turns its lights on and becomes a lady of the night. Around the corner on soi Wanit 2, across from the Harbour Department, a little stall called Pet Tun Jao Tha has rice noodles with roasted or stewed duck.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/thailand/bangkok?poi=121272
2. Frommer’s:
This special little place is deep in the heart of Chinatown, only 5 minutes from the railroad station, and a stone's throw from the river. It is not particularly comfortable, but the atmosphere of the busy neighborhood and nearby Chinese temples and shops (and, of course, the river views) attract visitors in search of an immersion experience. Part of the appeal is that to get here you'll have to wander through the neighboring sois, lanes, and labyrinthine alleys. Rooms are nothing special, just guesthouse basic, but some have great views and dining at their rooftop restaurant is an experience in itself.
Note:Be sure to grab a business card at the front desk so you can find your way home once you've checked-in (dropping breadcrumbs won't quite do it).
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bangkok/H1709.html
3. Fodor's:
This family-run hotel is one of the only budget accommodations that overlooks the river. The eighth-floor coffee shop has a great view. The accommodations may remind you of college dorm rooms (though they have far fewer amenities than the average dorm), but they're clean and comfortable. The staff will go out of its way for you, even staying up to accommodate late flights (someone sleeps downstairs during the night, in case you need something). One drawback is that tuk-tuk drivers sometimes have difficulty finding the place. The easiest way to find it is to head north from the Royal Orchid Sheraton; you can see the guesthouse's sign pointing down a side street. 45 rooms. Restaurant; no a/c in some rooms, no room TVs. AE.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=bangkok@21&cur_section=lod&property_id=19055
4. VirtualTourist.com
River view Guesthouse: Good value in Chinatown
Very inexpensive alternative with decent location. The area isnt so nice. I think that all the car repair shops and spare part shops are in the neighbourhood. Very hard for taxi drivers to find.
Unique Qualities:Roof terrace with awesome views to river. Few air con rooms, but fan rooms has balcony with river view. Written by kimmo_von Aug 14, 2003
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/9f37a
5. Discoverythailand.com
The River View Guest House is a family-managed establishment off Bangkok’s China Town. It has the quality of providing budget prices whilst offering excellent views of the Chaopraya River. Its rooms are functional, comfortable and clean. The management here is renowned for going to great lengths to make your stay enjoyable. Although not easy to find, it is good value if budget is your concern.
http://www.discoverythailand.com/directory_guest_houses_bangkok.asp
How our guests talk about us
Review through TripAdvisor.com
1. "Rewarding but Not for the faint of heart" August 10, 2006, Sacramento
I stayed here several years ago - things could have changed. But I'm moved to write because of the recent negative review here. Classic situation of different people want different things. All of the description in the negative review was accurate - the rooms are large but somehow dingy looking. My bathroom drain stank. I had no view whatsover. The lobby is seedy.
But... the location was wonderful for me. The adjacent streets have lots of small engine repair shops and are full of life into the night. There are nearby ferry landings for getting up to the Palace etc. A major hotel complex is a five minute walk away if you need some tourist services. The Gold Buddha (the one where the plaster covering chipped, revealing the gold underneath) is within walking distance. There is a chinese temple between the hotel and the river with occasional interesting events.
The best is the small restaurant on the top floor. Food is OK but there is a skinny little outside balcony where you can sit in the evening, drink beer and watch the boats go by in the lights on the Chao Praya River.
So if you want a room that's pleasant to hang out in, I don't think this is the place. But if you want good access to the river and to relate more immediately to a Bangkok neighborhood, you might like it.
This TripAdvisor Member:
Liked:View of river, non touristy, lively neighborhood, river ferry access
Disliked:Rooms were dingy and bathroom sink stank
Tips/Secrets:Consider carefully - great for river and neighborhood, cheap, large but dingy room
2. "Nice view of the river" Apr 14, 2006, Stockholm
Nice hotel not far from Orchid Sheraton Hotel. Close to railway station, 10 min walk. Closest pier for the ferries is No4 (Harbor), 5 min. Beautiful terrace restaurant at the 8th floor, with friendly personal and a superb Chicken with cashew for 80 Bath.
Nice, big rooms with a view over a tempelroof with beatuiful dragons and just 50m to the river.
They have something which even the real five star hotels in Bangkok miss; open-air balconies overlooking the river and its fascinating life. The rooms are big and clean, friendly staff, situated in a special area with its early morning markets and just next to the exiting Chinatown. Add to this also the nice roof top restaurant with a beautiful outlook over Bangkok - plus good Thai food - and one can find it happy to be in Bangkok. It is an extra advantage to be able to avoid the car queues and instead have an express-boat stop just nearby, at Harbor Department.
This place is full of good things. One more is the very cheap prices – like 10 Euro for a double room with balcony, fan + big shower room and toilet. I found this place 15 years ago and have lived there as many times and always been happy there."
Erik R. Naeslund
Sweden
Become our family since 1995
This place is full of good things. One more is the very cheap prices – like 10 Euro for a double room with balcony, fan + big shower room and toilet. I found this place 15 years ago and have lived there as many times and always been happy there."
Erik R. Naeslund
Sweden
Become our family since 1995