One of our favorite things about staying along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River was having Wat Arun practically outside our window. We stayed at Riva Arun Bangkok, where our balcony looked directly across the river at the Temple of Dawn, then spent our first night rooftop hopping between Above Riva and Sala Rattanakosin. Our delayed flight meant we arrived later than planned and missed the sunset dinner we had originally envisioned, but Bangkok still gave us a fantastic first night with illuminated Wat Arun, cocktails, a surprise birthday celebration and one hilariously sugary drink. We loved Riva Arun as a home base, especially for the balcony views, but Sala Rattanakosin was our favorite rooftop stop for its atmosphere, drinks and close nighttime perspective of Wat Arun. Bangkok has plenty of more famous sky-high bars, but these convenient and intimate riverfront bars were the perfect balance for our short time in Bangkok.
💡 Tips: Raise the Bar in Bangkok
- 🌅 Time It for Sunset: Wat Arun is spectacular as daylight fades and the temple lights come on. Our flight delay meant we missed sunset on our first night, but we watched an incredible sunset from our Riva Arun balcony the following evening.
- 🍸 Reserve the Wat Arun Views: Prime tables at Above Riva and Sala Rattanakosin are limited, so reserve ahead and specifically request a Wat Arun-facing table.
- 🏨 Consider Staying Along the River: Riva Arun gave us incredible Wat Arun views right from our balcony while also putting Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and river ferries within easy walking distance, making it an especially convenient base for exploring Bangkok’s historic riverfront.
- 👔 Check Rooftop Dress Codes: Bangkok rooftop dress codes vary considerably. Upscale options like Sky Bar at lebua have stricter smart-casual requirements, so check before heading out.
- 🚶 Combine Nearby Rooftops: Above Riva and Sala Rattanakosin are only about a five-minute walk apart, making them incredibly easy to experience in the same evening.
- 📸 Don’t Stop After Sunset: Wat Arun looks completely different illuminated at night, so stick around after dark rather than leaving as soon as the sun disappears.
🎥 Hello Thailand! Bangkok Rooftops, Birthday Cake & Wat Arun After Dark, TikTok, Reel
🏨 Riva Arun Bangkok: Wat a View!
Riva Arun Bangkok was an ideal base for our short stay, with Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, river piers, restaurants and rooftop bars all nearby. The hospitality was excellent from the start, including a welcome tea when we arrived. Our room was cozy with a comfortable bed, and even the sink faced directly toward Wat Arun across the Chao Phraya River. The shower and toilet shared a compact space that felt a little tight, but we’d happily stay here again for the location, hospitality and unbeatable Wat Arun views.
🎥 Riva Arun Bangkok Balcony Room Tour – Waking Up to Wat Arun, TikTok, Reel
🔄 360 Photo: Click and drag to look around
🌅 Sunset at Riva Arun: Front-Row Seats to Wat Arun
One of our favorite moments was simply staying put on our balcony and watching Bangkok change colors around Wat Arun. The sky shifted through intense shades of gold, orange, pink and purple before the temple lit up for the night. April falls within Thailand’s hot and hazy season, when regional burning can contribute to airborne haze, so those conditions may have helped intensify some of the sunset colors. Our timelapse captured the whole transformation with the river and passing boats in the foreground.
🍹 Above Riva: Dinner With a Side of Wat
Our delayed flight meant we missed the sunset dinner we had originally planned, but Above Riva still delivered on ambience, with gorgeous nighttime views of Wat Arun, a breezy rooftop setting and a very sweet surprise when the staff brought out a birthday cake and sang for us. They were also able to accommodate gluten-free dining, which we appreciated given how challenging reputable GF options were to find in Bangkok. The food itself was more of a mixed bag. This was my first pad thai of the trip, and it was surprisingly sweet, which turned out to be a bit of a theme. My strawberry cocktail tasted almost exactly like snow cone syrup, immediately reminding us of the time Scott’s grandma accidentally served snow cone syrup as fruit punch. 😂 Apparently Bangkok was easing us into Thailand with both sugar and scenery. The views, hospitality and birthday moment made the night memorable, but we’d return more for the rooftop experience than the food.
🍸 Sala Rattanakosin Rooftop: Wat’s Better Than One Rooftop?
Apparently one rooftop overlooking Wat Arun wasn’t enough, so after dinner we walked about five minutes to Sala Rattanakosin Rooftop, where we had reserved rail seats facing the temple. The intimate rooftop felt incredibly close to Wat Arun, and the better cocktails, music and atmosphere overlooking the illuminated temple made it our favorite rooftop of the night. If your priority is sitting outside with a drink and staring shamelessly at Wat Arun, this is a pretty spectacular place to do it.
🥃 Bangkok Bars We Wish We’d Had Time For
Two nights barely gave us enough time for the rooftops we actually visited, but our Bangkok wish list was much longer. Sky Bar at lebua was high on the list for its famous skyline views and The Hangover Part II connection, while The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental caught our attention as a White Lotus Season 3 filming location. We also considered ThreeSixty Rooftop Bar at Millennium Hilton for its easy riverside location and more relaxed vibe, SEEN at Avani+ Riverside for lively nightlife and skyline views, Vertigo & Moon Bar for sweeping city panoramas, and Tichuca Rooftop for its dramatic jungle-canopy design and DJ energy. With such a short stay, we ultimately prioritized Above Riva and Sala Rattanakosin because they were close to Riva Arun and kept the focus on the Wat Arun views we loved most.
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