Time has stood still at The Atlanta since it was founded in 1952. This makes The Atlanta Thailand's most genuinely historic hotel. The Atlanta is also uniquely different from other hotels in significant ways - so uniquely different that one could well ask whether The Atlanta is a hotel properly so-called.
​
Located deep in the heart of Bangkok and 350 meters north of Benjakiti Park, a new and the largest park in central Bangkok, The Atlanta is within easy reach of the main airport by taxi or by Airport Rail Link connecting with BTS (also known as the Sky Train), and also within easy reach of Old Bangkok by BTS and Chaopraya River Express (also known as the river bus), The Atlanta offers the facilities, policies and ambiance of a wholesome tropical resort and a pukka private club.
​
Uniquely, The Atlanta's premises are open only to residents. Outsiders are not permitted to enter the premises or even to patronize the restaurant. This makes The Atlanta club-like: very private, secure and secluded. This private club-like quality appeals to families who are concerned about the safety of their children, and to respectable singles and couples who seek a more private and peaceful environment, but also to academics on sabbatical who prefer a more secluded setting. The wholesome club-like quality of The Atlanta is reinforced by our strict 'no sex tourists', 'no drugs', 'no smoking anywhere on the premises' and 'zero tolerance for trouble-makers' policies which are endorsed by all our guests. The Atlanta's staff respect the privacy of our residents, and the staff and environment are very family-friendly, but parents are kindly requested to keep their children under control so they do not disturb other guests.
​
The Atlanta's distinctive mystique and strong creative energy make it particularly popular with artists and writers. Many books have been written at The Atlanta. The foyer / lobby is lined with cabinets filled with books and recordings by our guests.
​
Uniquely, too, The Atlanta is an animal sanctuary, albeit a private and unofficial one. The Atlanta is home to dozens of rescued cats, terrapins and one dog. The cats live in the staff section though some are released into the garden and the foyer / lobby during the daytime. None are allowed into the restaurant or upstairs to guests' rooms. The terrapins live in a spacious enclosure in the garden. We regret we are unable to accommodate any more animals. Furthermore, our jungle-like old-growth luxuriant tropical garden is a haven for urban wildlife, principally birds and squirrels. The Atlanta naturally attracts animal lovers but also those who seek an oasis in Bangkok for a long-term sojourn.
​
Near the historic pool at The Atlanta is a small gym with machines and weight stacks but no free-weights.
​
All products used by The Atlanta and all sub-contractors engaged by The Atlanta are selected on the basis of their eco-friendliness.
​
The metaphysics of The Atlanta do not and are not meant to appeal to everybody. The Atlanta is not in the mass market; The Atlanta is not on any internet hotel booking platform; The Atlanta never advertises and never engages in any promotional campaigns to attract new guests: The Atlanta caters to a very special minority. Over 90% of our guests are regularly returning guests who come back year after year, decade after decade [one first came to stay in 1967 and returns faithfully every few years; another first came to stay in 1968 and has been coming back every year since then; there are many others], generation after generation [many are second and third generation guests]. They are our old friends - and, no, they do not want us to advertise or to subscribe to any internet hotel booking platform. They know our staff, and many know each other. Many would not come to Bangkok if The Atlanta did not exist. Nearly all our new guests are introduced to us by regularly returning guests. We have no passing trade and, indeed, we typically refuse rooms to 'walk-in' strangers and we are reluctant to accept reservations from total strangers if we feel they might not understand what The Atlanta is about. Our refusal and reluctance are encouraged by our regularly returning guests and friends who want us to preserve the unique ethos of The Atlanta. The Atlanta is, as such, not a ‘hotel’ or a 'business'. It is sui generis. The Atlanta is the lodestar and cynosure of wholesome tourism and much more. Those who know us love us; those who do not do not matter.
​
Profits?!? The owners of The Atlanta are indifferent to profits, which is why our tariffs are so low. Profits are not the reason why The Atlanta exists! The Atlanta's raison d'etre is something of far higher value than profits. We keep our tariffs low for our friends and regularly returning guests. So long as our friends and regularly returning guests love us and return to stay with us whenever they come to Bangkok, so long as the staff - nearly all of whom have been with us for decades - can earn good money and have a good life with us, and so long as the animals in our sanctuary can be well looked after and have a good life with us, the owners are happy!
​
“If you understand what The Atlanta is all about, you will love it!
If you look upon The Atlanta as only a place to stay, you will miss the point!”
​
" ... The Atlanta has a soul ...
it is like a beautiful old tree with deep roots ...
you may leave it but it never leaves you ...."
observed casually in 2023 by a regularly returning friend of The Atlanta, R.M.,
who first came to stay in 1998
(a relatively new friend by The Atlanta's time scale).
​
" ... captivated by the enchanted mystique of The Atlanta ...."
​
"If you understand what The Atlanta is all about, you will love it!
If you look upon The Atlanta as just a place to stay, you will miss the experience!”
Zero tolerance for trouble-makers.
Families are warmly welcome, but parents are kindly requested to keep their children under control so other guests are not disturbed by them.
HAMMOCKS, DECK-CHAIRS, SUN BEDS, RECLINERS, TABLES & CHAIRS
AROUND THE POOL AND IN THE GARDEN
POOL OPEN 24-HOURS AND ILLUMINATED ALL NIGHT
CANDLE-LIT FROM NOVEMBER TILL FEBRUARY
FIRST HOTEL POOL IN THAILAND
Training pool (1950's-60's) of the FIRST SCUBA DIVING CLUB IN THAILAND, the Thailand Sub-Aqua Club,
founded by Dr Max Henn, founder of The Atlanta Hotel, Thai Hotels Association, etc.
All original, including the rockery diving platform and the cinema scope screen beyond the pool.
Photo by Dr. C.H.
THE OLDEST UNALTERED HOTEL FOYER / LOBBY IN THAILAND,
POSSIBLY IN ASIA
The most photographed foyer / lobby in Thailand
Often used as a set for fashion photography and films
AH!, the restaurant at The Atlanta Hotel
Acclaimed for the first academically annotated menu in the world.
Celebrated for its large selection of THAI VEGETARIAN DISHES.
Famous for its 1950's style western dishes.
Renowned for its budget-priced menu, top quality ingredients,
excellently prepared food and generous portions.
The Atlanta Hotel's Scriptorium
Guests' Writing Room
with old Art Deco roll-top desks and
an old light table for viewing slides.