The Best Hotels in Dhaka, Bangladesh

In the heart of the foreign embassy district, this hotel is fit for an ambassador or national delegation, complete with a rooftop infinity pool with a built-in jacuzzi and an adjoining glass-fronted bar for sipping a drink with a scenic city view. There’s also a sauna, steam rooms and a small fitness centre. Meanwhile, the large, light rooms feature pops of orange and either tactile suede or slatted bedheads. Sophisticated suites add a sitting room with a sofa and a writing desk.

Within one of the sleekest buildings in the city, combining glass panelling, filigree metalwork and arched windows, the interior spaces of the InterContinental Dhaka are equally opulent and exquisite, with free-standing bathtubs in some of the cream-coated rooms. Even entry-level rooms have soothing views of the green expanse of Ramna Park, framed by curved windows. Elsewhere, the pick of the dining options is the upscale Bangladeshi buffet restaurant with high ceilings. Swim it all off in the impressive temperature-controlled infinity pool with park views, too.

You won’t get tired of the menu at this hotel, with an Italian restaurant for hand-tossed pizzas and a pan-Asian restaurant for rice dishes. Cool off in the outdoor pool with a dramatic waterfall feature after a session in the fitness centre. Colourful rooms blend orange fabrics with wood details – pick one by the pool for easy access to laps. Some suites offer a free minibar, and if you need that added slice of luxury, book one with butler service.

Le Méridien’s swanky Dhaka property overlooks the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, making it an ideal hotel if you’re flying late or early. Many people stay for other reasons, such as the six restaurants, including Italian restaurant Favola and English pub 15 Above. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant, swirl-patterned ceiling decoration. Health is high on the agenda, too, with a fitness centre, a rooftop infinity pool, a spa and a juice bar.

Due north of the international airport, the White Palace Hotel makes for a good base if you want to dig deeper into the Bangladeshi countryside. The ornate facade doesn’t hint at the interiors, from filigree-screened restaurants to rooms lined with rustic wood and cream tones. If you’re fitness-conscious, sweat it out in the on-site gym, either in a group class or on your own steam, or swim in the hotel’s pool.

Cutting a modern, high-rise wedge in the upscale Gulshan skyline, this hotel towers above the tree-lined surroundings, offering excellent views from many areas. There’s an even better vista from the covered rooftop infinity pool, an elegant blue-tiled swimming space. Rooms feature hardwood floors and leaf-patterned rugs, while suites and club rooms have access to exclusive lounge space. Jazz fans will love the Sear Bar downstairs.

Sky City Hotel offers a budget-friendly luxury stay in a lively Dhaka neighbourhood. With a Thai spa, an artfully lit indoor pool and a spacious gym packed with cardiovascular machines and free weights, it can match what’s on offer at many of the larger chain hotels around the city. Even the smallest white-and-grey rooms feel spacious, with a tea station, a work desk and a small sitting area. From delicious tarka dhal (a flavourful lentil dish) to a juicy T-bone steak, Memories of Dhaka offers all-day dining.

While this upscale hotel has a lounger-flanked rooftop pool, there are other charms. Don’t miss out on visiting the all-day Terra Bistro Banani, which serves Bangladeshi and international dishes and is one of the few restaurants open 24 hours a day in the buzzy area. Sleep soundly in rooms with a fuss-free fresh feel, complete with lime green and white details and city views.

You can find Bengali-inspired decoration throughout the elegant, clean rooms of the Doreen Hotel, in the heart of the Gulshan district. Modern furnishings and crisp white linen make the rooms here a perfect escape from the heat and pollution of the city. This upscale accommodation includes the obligatory infinity rooftop pool and five restaurants, including the Beast, a Latin American steak lounge on the 26th floor.