The Buffalo Amphawa — A Resort With Buffaloes in the Garden and High-Ceiling Concrete Rooms by the Mae Klong Canal
The name "The Buffalo" isn't just a cute label — there are two real buffaloes, one black and one white, living in the garden, and they came before the resort itself. The owner kept the buffaloes first, then built the property around them. It sits on the bank of the Mae Klong canal, the buildings done in polished concrete mixed with wood and bamboo under high, airy ceilings. What guests keep mentioning is the detail in the room design and the Sushi Factory restaurant, its ceiling hung with woven fish lanterns — an atmosphere you won't find at the typical Amphawa guesthouse.
The first thing to know is the buffaloes. The owner genuinely keeps two of them, one black and one white, in the resort garden, and they were the inspiration for the whole place. The property splits into three zones — the hotel, the restaurant, and the café — lined up along the Mae Klong canal on Samut Songkhram-Bangphae Road. The buildings are polished concrete mixed with wood and bamboo, ceilings kept high and open. You walk in and it reads as a resort someone thought through square metre by square metre, not a row of shophouses given a fresh coat of paint.
There are 7 room types, from 30 sqm Standards up to the 56 sqm Deluxe and Suite. What guests like most is the polished-concrete walls and high ceilings, which make the rooms feel more open than the floor area suggests. Expect woven rattan light fittings, a leather headboard, a solid-wood desk, and a balcony onto the garden. Several reviews say every corner of the room, from the furniture to the bathroom design, is something they wanted to photograph and keep.
Checked in and the room was better than the photos suggested — polished concrete walls that actually catch the light, ceilings higher than expected, and a woven rattan light fixture above the bed that looks considered rather than decorative. The balcony faces the garden and you hear birds in the morning rather than traffic. Slept more deeply than I have in months; the room is genuinely quiet, no noise from the rooms beside or above. Got up at six and walked out into the garden while it was still cool. Both buffaloes were out — the white one came close enough that my daughter got a proper photo, not a long-distance blur. The pool had nobody in it yet, the woven lanterns were still glowing over the water, the palms just catching the early light. It's one of those mornings that justifies the whole trip. Feels like staying at a friend's place who decided to build a resort rather than a hotel — that particular quality is harder to find than it sounds.
The food here is taken seriously. There's a fusion restaurant, Rusty Rose, and a sushi restaurant, Sushi Factory, its ceiling hung with woven fish lanterns above a carved wave-relief wall — striking enough that some people come to eat without staying. The Buffalo Cafe serves a signature drink, also called "The Buffalo," a layered glass of cocoa, milk and Thai tea. Repeat visitors single out the shrimp fried rice and the pad thai as genuinely good.
The shared areas centre on a garden swimming pool ringed by tall palms, with woven parasol-shaped lanterns that light up over the water at night. There's a separate kids' pool, a fitness room, and yoga sessions at set times. The overall mood is quiet and smoke-free — better suited to people escaping the city for a proper rest than to anyone after a party. Early in the morning, before the other guests are up, the pool is almost empty, and that's the prettiest window of the day.
The location is in central Samut Songkhram town. It's a 10-minute drive to the Maeklong Railway Market (the famous market that folds up as the train passes) and roughly 15-20 minutes to the Amphawa Floating Market. A couple of old temples and the Ahma shrine are within a short walk. One honest note: despite the name, this is not right beside the Amphawa Floating Market — having your own car or arranging a ride will make getting around far easier.
The Trip.com score sits at 9.0/10 from 26 reviews, and 4.2/5 on Tripadvisor, where it ranks #1 of 12 hotels in Samut Songkhram. Sleep quality and room design score highest. The honest feedback flags limited English from staff, a few reports of lukewarm hot water in some rooms, and certain room types feeling smaller than expected for the rate. Worth knowing before you book so there are no surprises.
The bottom line: The Buffalo Amphawa works best for couples or small families who want a well-designed, quiet stay on the Mae Klong canal at a reachable price. You get the garden setting, buffaloes to watch, on-site restaurants, and a calm that's hard to find in the Amphawa area — as long as you treat the floating market as a short drive away, not next door. If you want the most space and a sitting area, look at the 56 sqm Deluxe or Suite; the high ceilings and extra room earn the step up from a Standard.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Room design genuinely beautiful — polished concrete, high ceilings, considered styling
- ✓ Quiet and smoke-free — sleep quality scores highest of all categories
- ✓ Buffaloes in the garden that kids love
- ✓ On-site restaurants are good, especially the shrimp fried rice and pad thai
- ! Staff English is limited
- ! Some rooms had lukewarm hot water
- ! Standard rooms feel small to some guests
- ✓ Shaded, quiet canalside setting genuinely good for resting
- ✓ Garden pool is lovely, with woven lanterns lit beautifully at night
- ✓ Sushi Factory and the café have standout design — very photogenic
- ✓ Friendly, attentive staff
- ! Not next to the Amphawa Floating Market — you need a car or a ride
- ! Breakfast felt not quite worth the room rate to some reviewers
- ! Outdoor areas get hot in the middle of the day
- 💡If the Amphawa Floating Market is your main reason to visit — this isn't beside it; it's a 15-20 minute drive away → plan on your own car or pre-arranged rides, otherwise getting around is awkward
- 💡If you want a roomy stay with a sitting area — the 30 sqm Standard feels small to some → step up to the 56 sqm Deluxe or Suite with a living room at booking; it's the better value
- 💡If you're sensitive about hot water — a few reviews mention lukewarm water → ask reception to check the water heater at check-in so any issue is fixed before you shower