There's been lots happening on the riverfront this year, from Asiatique to The Siam boutique hotel. The newest addition is the one-month-old Riva Surya. The family behind the Chao Phraya Express boats have turned their decade-old serviced apartments into a 68-room hotel named after its prime location on Phra Arthit Road—riva is Italian for (river) bank and surya is Sanskrit for sun (phra arthit). The rooms are nicely decorated in a pale-grey hues, combining a Victorian style with modern touches. Its restaurant and bar, Babble & Rum, is decked out in a contemporary French décor (imagine Café Claire-meets-Dean & Deluca). Visit at sunset for the full deal: comfort food, tasty cocktails and views that take in the river and two bridges (Pinklao and Rama 8). If you’re too tipsy to get a cab home, rooms are from B3,300. 23 Phra Arthit Rd., Phra Nakhon, Bangkok, 02-633-5000. www.rivasuryabangkok.com