Worth Traveling For
In a city with seemingly hundreds of beautiful hotels, it can be hard to stand out, but Capella Bangkok does so effortlessly, without screaming or shouting. In fact, the vibe is very much the opposite and its signature serenity and elegant zen plus prized riverside address are precisely why it’s such an oasis in one of the world’s busiest, most intense cities.
Stretching along the Chao Phraya River in cool, up-and-coming Charoenkrung, this hotel is a bastion of bliss and quiet, a true resort in feeling but urban where it matters — as in tapped into the culture and creativity that are at the heart of Bangkok, as well as its wildly vivid culinary scene. It has a two Michelin–starred restaurant, its own longtail boat for watery explorations, and a plethora of intriguing activities (think rao malai, weaving Thai flower garlands) offered gratis by the friendly team of well-connected Culturists — concierge-cum–cultural guides. And after all the action, there’s a comprehensive spa that draws on Thai heritage in impactful, feel-good ways.
Hotel Highlights
There’s a hyper-consistent sandy-toned palette across Capella Bangkok’s 101 rooms and common spaces, which include the gorgeous specially commissioned Thai art–filled lobby and Living Room — where nibbles and sips are available all day including a nightly cocktail ritual — that seems to have an oxytocin-boosting effect on all who enter.
It’s elegance extraordinaire, an energy that pervades as one either ascends the grand spiral stair toward the two-starred Côte by Mauro Colagreco and its suitably Riviera-influenced fine dining, or descends to Phra Nakhon, the vibrantly and authentically Thai restaurant where a generous and mouthwatering breakfast is also served.
The shimmering aquamarine pool — boasting river views, naturally — is a respite from Bangkok’s oftentimes oppressive heat. For that same relief (but in a private setting), there are seven island-worthy villas at the edge of the river, each with a Jacuzzi plunge pool, private garden, and outdoor shower.
Rooms & Experience
Even the hotel’s entry-level rooms sprawl across 657 square feet, with abundant natural light and panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass plus Frette-topped beds that are a dream in and of themselves. In a rare, maybe even unheard of move for Bangkok, every single accommodation faces the Chao Phraya and boasts a private terrace or balcony, often with a plump daybed for evenings curled up in seductive silk bathrobes, yet it feels incredibly private and grown-up.
Hushed and comfy, the rooms and suites are fitted with dependably opulent amenities and large soaking tubs that are like a mini spa experience without going anywhere at all. The minibars, sans alcohol, are gratis, and the welcome treats and turndown gifts equate to a string of lovely little surprises throughout every stay.
Culturists provide plenty of reasons for lovers to leave the Edenic accommodations, including experiences not offered elsewhere, in particular a meditation with a revered forest monk in a local temple and a starlit longtail cruise through lesser-known klong (canals).
What to Know Before You Book
For the location and unprecedented opulence, the two-bedroom presidential villa — at 6,400 square feet — is well worth the splurge and not easily forgotten. Unexpectedly, the hotel’s bar Stella is quite the place for live jazz, Thursday through Sunday nights. Uber-glamorous, festooned with taxidermy white peacocks, mirrors, and studded with couples out for a sexy night, the cocktail haven is a surprise jewel of a venue serving mean cocktails, including the utterly addictive Thai iced tea milkshake–tasting My Thai, with two kinds of rum, Cha Thai tea, coconut milk, and Amaretto Disaronno — the perfect nightcap.
Address: 300/2 Charoenkrung Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120 Thailand
Closest Airport: Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is Bangkok’s main airport and a 40-minute drive (or more, depending on traffic)
Feature image courtesy of Capella Bangkok. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
