Where to Stay in Dhaka: Honest Reviews of Hotels Across Every Budget

For those with generous expense accounts or treating themselves to a bit of luxury, Dhaka offers several international-standard options that provide welcome sanctuaries from the city's intensity.

The Pan Pacific Sonargaon stands as the grand dame of Dhaka hotels, with its sprawling gardens and colonial-era charm. The rooms maintain that perfect balance of modern amenities with traditional Bangladeshi touches. Their breakfast buffet deserves special mention – I found myself lingering over fresh tropical fruits and made-to-order paratha each morning before heading to my conference.

For something more contemporary, The Westin Dhaka in Gulshan offers sleek rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the urban landscape. Their heavenly beds lived up to their reputation – crucial after long days of meetings. The rooftop pool provides a refreshing escape from both the heat and the urban cacophony below.

The InterContinental Dhaka recently underwent a complete renovation and now stands as perhaps the most refined option in the city. The attention to detail impressed even my veterinarian's trained eye – from the Nespresso machine in each room to the marble bathrooms with rainfall showers that made me contemplate extending my stay.

As someone who typically travels on a veterinary clinic's budget rather than a corporate expense account, I often find the mid-range options offer the best value. Dhaka doesn't disappoint here.

Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan-2 surprised me with rooms that could easily compete with properties charging twice the price. Their attentive service reminded me of traditional Irish hospitality – genuine rather than rehearsed. The in-room air purifier was a thoughtful touch given Dhaka's air quality challenges.

Hotel Sarina in Banani offers excellent business facilities with reliable WiFi (not always a given in Dhaka) and comfortable workspaces. Their breakfast includes both Western and Bangladeshi options – I recommend trying the freshly made parathas with local honey. The fitness center, while compact, contains all the essentials for maintaining your exercise routine.

Lakeshore Hotel provides a boutique experience with personality. The rooms feature local textiles and art that give you a sense of place without sacrificing modern comforts. Their rooftop restaurant serves excellent Bengali cuisine – the fish preparations reminded me of my grandfather's riverside cooking, though with considerably more spice!

Even on a tighter budget, you needn't sacrifice all comforts in Dhaka. Several properties offer clean, functional accommodations that serve as perfect bases for exploration.

Hotel 71 near Old Dhaka provides simple but clean rooms in a fantastic location for exploring the historic district. While the amenities are basic, the value is undeniable, especially if you plan to spend most of your time out exploring. The staff compensates for any lacking luxuries with genuine warmth and local knowledge.

Hotel Pacific offers surprising comfort at budget-friendly rates. Their rooms include essential amenities like reliable air conditioning (absolutely crucial in Dhaka's climate) and decent WiFi. I found their blackout curtains particularly valuable after long days navigating the city's sensory overload.

Hotel Grand Prince in Mirpur provides clean accommodations near the National Zoo (which, as a veterinarian, I naturally had to visit). While the rooms are modest, they're well-maintained and include the necessities for a comfortable stay. The complimentary breakfast exceeded my expectations with fresh bread and local jams.

One budget tip I discovered by chance: several business hotels offer significantly reduced weekend rates when corporate travelers depart. I managed to stay in a business-class room at Richmond Hotel for nearly half the weekday rate simply by timing my personal exploration days for the weekend.

In a city where traffic can turn a 3-kilometer journey into an hour-long adventure, choosing the right location becomes perhaps more important than the hotel itself.

Gulshan and Banani represent Dhaka's upscale diplomatic zones, with tree-lined avenues, international restaurants, and relative tranquility. Most business travelers gravitate here for good reason – the infrastructure is superior, power outages less frequent, and security concerns minimized. If your meetings center around these areas, the convenience justifies any premium.

I found myself particularly drawn to Dhanmondi, with its lakeside walking paths providing rare open space in this densely packed city. The neighborhood offers a blend of traditional and contemporary Bangladesh, with universities lending a youthful energy. The Platinum Grand here offers excellent value with unexpectedly spacious rooms.

Motijheel, the commercial heart of Dhaka, makes sense for those with business in the financial district. The area buzzes with energy from dawn until well past dusk. The Hotel De Meridian provides comfortable business-class accommodations here at reasonable rates.

For those interested in history, staying near Old Dhaka puts you within walking distance of the atmospheric markets, Mughal-era architecture, and the bustling river ports. Just be prepared for narrower streets and a more immersive (read: intense) experience. I spent two nights at Hotel Al-Razzaque and found myself transported back centuries each time I stepped outside.

Regardless of neighborhood, I recommend carrying a portable water filter to avoid relying on bottled water throughout your stay.

As someone who had to balance conference attendance with remote veterinary consultations during my stay, I became intimately familiar with what makes a hotel work for business travelers in Dhaka.

Internet reliability varies dramatically across properties. Even some luxury hotels struggle with consistent connectivity. The Renaissance Dhaka and Le Méridien stood out for their enterprise-grade WiFi that handled video calls without hiccups. For crucial online meetings, I recommend carrying a portable WiFi hotspot as backup.

Power stability remains an issue in parts of Dhaka. Better hotels have generators that kick in almost instantaneously during outages, but budget properties might leave you in the dark for minutes or longer. The Amari Dhaka impressed me with their seamless power transitions – I only noticed outages because my devices briefly disconnected from WiFi.

Business center services become essential when you inevitably need to print, scan or fax documents. The Radisson Blu Dhaka offers 24/7 business services with staff who can handle complex requests efficiently. For smaller properties, confirm their capabilities in advance rather than assuming.

In-room workspaces vary widely. Many hotels place form over function with attractive desks but uncomfortable chairs. The Four Points by Sheraton features ergonomic chairs and excellent desk lighting that saved my back during late-night report writing. I also appreciated their noise-canceling device that drowned out street noise during important calls.