Urban Oasis Redefined: Staying at Capella Bangkok Hotel
Looking for the best luxury hotel in Bangkok? Capella Bangkok is a wonderful, riverside retreat and officially the best hotel in Bangkok. Keep reading to find out what you can expect and a full review of my stay.
I recently had the privilege to check into Capella Bangkok, one of Asia’s coolest new luxury hotel brands.
Capella Hotels who also have hotels in Singapore, Hanoi, Ubud, Sydney, and Shanghai among others, pride themselves on providing a space for you to really escape. They offer spaces where you’re encouraged to discover the local culture and make unforgettable moments.
Capella Bangkok is an oasis of calm in the middle of the city. If you’ve been to Bangkok before then you’ll know it’s a city of constant movement, noise, chaos, and excitement. Yet for those who want where they stay to be sacred, a space to escape the hustle and bustle, Capella Bangkok provides just that.
It’s a space where you can truly relax, recover and enjoy the sublime facilities and service when you’re just about done with exploring the city.
From the moment you step through the heavy, carved wooden doors – that literally act like a shield to the outside- you feel a sense of calm step over you. You’ve entered another world- an oasis within the city.
Keep reading to find out what you can expect from a stay at Capella Bangkok Hotel and whether it really is worth the spend.
*This ‘Capella Hotel Bangkok’ post is sponsored yet all opinions remain my own. It also contains affiliate links meaning I might make a small profit if you choose to book at no extra cost to you. This helps me to keep providing you with top-quality content for free.
What Makes Capella Bangkok Different from Other Bangkok Hotels?
When it comes to luxury hotels, you’re really spoiled for choice in Bangkok. It’s one of the most competitive cities for hotels, every major luxury hotel brand is represented here. It makes narrowing down and choosing where to stay quite difficult.
In the last couple of years, two major hotels opened in Bangkok, right next to each other on the same grounds, on the Chao Phraya River; Four Seasons and Capella Bangkok. Both hotels are really quite beautiful, but it’s Capella that really excels at wellness and provides a calm city oasis.
Recently voted the ‘Best Hotel Brand in the World’ and ‘Best Hotel in Bangkok’ by Travel + Leisure, Capella hotels and resorts really excel when it comes to luxurious, conscious, and wellness-focused stays. They are also SHA plus certified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, a certification showing that properties meet high-quality pandemic safety standards.
Here are some features I loved that really set Capella Bangkok apart:
↠ It’s one of a few hotels in Bangkok along the river and the only one where all rooms face out onto the river. Whichever room you choose you’ll have floor-to-ceiling windows that provide the best river views in the city.
↠ It’s the only hotel in Bangkok where you can rent a private villa with a private plunge pool.
↠The service is impeccable and really sets Capella Bangkok apart from other luxury hotels in Bangkok.
↠ Auriga Spa is a heaven for wellness enthusiasts and features unique signature treatments, a hydrotherapy pool, and sensory showers. It’s probably one of the best spas in Bangkok that I’ve set foot in.
↠ Côte by Mauro Colagreco features a Michelin star and is one of the best dining experiences in the city.
Ready to book your stay? Book your stay at Capella Bangkok here.
Everything You Need to Know Before Staying at Capella Bangkok
Location
Capella Bangkok is located in the Sathorn area of Bangkok, right on the Chao Phraya River. It’s located close to Saphan Taksin BTS station as well as a short boat ride from IconSiam, Bangkok’s newest and largest shopping mall.
While Capella Bangkok’s location on a map might seem a little out-of-the-way from most of Bangkok’s major sights, getting around couldn’t be easier- especially by boat.
Capella Bangkok operates a boat shuttle service every hour that takes you to Saphan Taksin BTS station and Icon Siam from which you can continue your journey by boat or BTS. This means that reaching popular areas and sights like Sukhumvit, Siam, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Wat Pho couldn’t be easier.
In fact, traveling by boat is the way to get around Bangkok’s infinite traffic jams, especially during rush hour.
Hotel Facilities
Capella’s top facilities and hotel offerings honestly make it hard to leave the hotel and explore the city. With spa treatments, daily activities, top dining, and a pool to take advantage of, I highly recommend booking an extra night to really take advantage of it all.
Auriga Spa
Intentionally placed at the heart of the property, Auriga Spa promises to take care of all your wellness needs during your stay. The spa boasts many different facilities that you can access as a hotel guest as well as many other treatments and therapies that are available to book during your stay.
As you arrive at the spa, you’ll be greeted in the relaxation room, a beautiful space made for sipping tea and looking out at the tranquil spa garden. The spa also features a steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool, and sensory shower that all guests can indulge in.
There are 7 treatment suites and 2 couples suites too that are spacious, luxurious, and very aesthetic.
The Auriga Spa menu features many different unique and local treatments to indulge in. It’s one of the few places where you can get Thai Therapy Tok Sen or Hammer Massage as well as other traditional Thai therapies. There are also regenerative facials, body treatments, sound therapy, and traditional and modern massage techniques.
During my stay, I opted for the signature massage which was the perfect way to relax and help smooth away muscle tension, especially after a 12-hour flight.
The Living Room
The Living Room is quite a unique concept I haven’t seen anywhere else. It’s where you’ll be taken to check in, yet it’s a world away from a standard hotel lobby. Feeling more like a private home, the Living Room is where you can relax, immediately on arrival, enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and soft drinks and meet with your Culturalist.
Capella Culturists are your local points of contact during your stay at Capella. They’ll be able to help you with anything during your stay from city recommendations to restaurant reservations. If you’re searching for that perfect hidden gem in the city, they’ll definitely be able to help as well as offer their own local recommendations.
Fitness Center
The gym at Capella is located next to the spa and has a wide range of both weights and cardio equipment for a full workout during your stay.
The gym is on the small side but given the size of the hotel, I found there was enough space for everyone there.
Pool
Capella Bangkok has one outdoor pool located next to the living room that faces out onto the river. You can choose between loungers and an umbrella or a cabana to relax in, take a swim and enjoy the area.
The pool temperature was optimal and I never found the pool to be very crowded during my stay even though it isn’t the largest pool I’ve ever seen. The service by the pool was fantastic – you can order a good range of drinks and snacks here too.
Daily Activities & Experiences
Upon check-in, you’ll be given a guide to all the daily activities happening during your stay at Capella Bangkok Hotel. Some of the best to take advantage of are:
Sunrise Yoga – Every morning you’ll find sunrise yoga sessions by the river, a great way to wake up and stretch the body in the morning. Classes are beginner friendly to make sessions more inclusive so if you’re an advanced yogi you may want to give them a miss.
Chin Chin Hours– A daily happy hour from 5-6 pm at Stella Bar. Here you can try some delicious complimentary cocktails and nibbles. The cocktails, prepared by trained mixologists, combine the perfect blend of classic cocktails with local twists.
Don’t miss the happy hour for some pre-dinner drinks.
Cultural Activities– Each day, Capella also holds short workshops, crafts, and cultural activities that connect you with Thai culture in a unique and conscious way. Activities change daily but during my stay, I joined a traditional Thai umbrella painting class where I was able to relax, paint and be in the moment for a little while.
They also offer additional classes for those that want to have the opportunity to be more creative.
Movement & Lifestyle – Capella Bangkok also provides guests with a number of movement and lifestyle classes to take during their stay. There’s Hatha yoga, Tai Chi, Personal Training, and my personal favourite Muay Thai training.
Rooms & Suites
Capella Bangkok has a number of different rooms and suites to choose from during your stay. All rooms include superb river views, a personal bar with complimentary snacks and soft drinks, high speed, free wifi, and laundry, and dry cleaning on request.
Riverfront and Riverfront Premier Rooms
All rooms at Capella start at 61 sqm, making them airy and super spacious. All Riverfront rooms have panoramic floor-to-ceiling river views as well as a private balcony, king-sized or twin beds. A living area is also included in all rooms.
All Riverfront rooms have large bathrooms with free-standing tubs as well as a separate shower and toilet.
The main difference between the standard Riverfront Room and the Premier Room is the view. The Premier Rooms are located on the highest floors of the hotel so they have the best views.
I found the rooms to be super spacious, cozy, well-furnished, and design-orientated. The views really are unbeatable and they follow you everywhere you go. Not many hotels in Bangkok have private balconies so having a private one was a real treat.
Suites
There are so many different suites at Capella that you’ll easily be able to find the perfect one for you and your group size. Ranging from 95 to 209 sqm, each suite has a separate living room, balconies, jacuzzi, bathrooms, and large bedrooms.
If you’re looking to spend more time outside make sure to book the Verandah or Verandah Suite for a river-facing jacuzzi plunge pool for the ultimate in-room relaxation experience.
For those wanting to make the most of the views, the River Suites are the ones to go for.
For families and groups, the 2-bedroom Family Suites have everything you need for a private and luxurious stay that’ll allow you to spend quality time with loved ones.
Villas
On the ground floor, on the river’s edge, you’ll find Capella Bangkok’s Villas. Complete with a living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet as well as a small, private garden and jacuzzi plunge pool, the villas are meant for enjoyment and entertainment.
For the ultimate experience at Capella, the 2-bedroom Presidential Villa is the place you won’t forget about in a hurry.
Sound like your kind of stay so far? Book your stay here.
Dining & Drink
The food and dining experience at Capella Bangkok is second to none. While generally food in hotels is known not to ever be better than well-rated spots in the city, the food at Capella really breaks this belief. My meals here were some of the best I’d had during my stay in Bangkok and it was a real highlight for me during my stay.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served at Phra Nakhon restaurant either inside or outside on the terrace right by the river, however, you choose. You can also choose to order breakfast in the room via iPad which each room is equipped with.
The breakfast is a perfect mix of buffet and a la carte which completely makes sense given the size of the hotel. You’ll find many different cold buffet options like cheeses and charcuterie as well as a fruit station and pastry buffet. All hot food is a la carte.
The a la carte menu has the ideal range of both Eastern and Western breakfast options as well as healthy classics like avocado toast, eggs any way you like them, and oatmeal. There are many Japanese specialties on the breakfast menu like Japanese omelet, congee, or grilled salmon. If you feel like a Thai breakfast, the wonton soup and Thai omelet don’t disappoint.
I personally thought the breakfast at Capella was phenomenal, each dish I tasted was just perfect and the choice of options left me scratching my head each morning in wonder of what to order. The only problem? My relatively small stomach just couldn’t handle what my eyes wanted to devour.
Phra Nakhon Bangkok
Post breakfast service, Phra Nakhon is Capella’s casual dining experience that focuses on local Thai food. On the menu, you’ll find many Thai classics, and the dishes are refined to the Capella standard yet still manage to retain that distinctly local flavor and spice.
I sometimes find traditional Thai food a little too sweet but the food at Phra Nakhon was perfectly balanced and seasoned and made for a truly delightful dining experience.
The brilliant staff were on hand to make recommendations- the menu was overwhelmingly full of deliciousness that I definitely needed help choosing- and their cocktail and wine suggestions were also just what I was after.
If you love Thai food, definitely do not skip a meal at Phra Nakhon- you’ll be missing out on one of the best Thai meals you’ll have in Bangkok. In fact, even if you’re not staying at Capella you should definitely come to Phra Nakhon for a meal when in Bangkok.
Stella Bar
Stella Bar is visually stunning and a world away from your standard hotel bar. Full of lights, textures, and shiny and reflective surfaces, it’s a visually decadent place.
You might find yourself here for Chin Chin Happy Hour but things don’t normally get busy until the evening when you’ll find the bar to be full and the talented singer performing some of the latest hits.
If you still fancy a post-dinner drink on your return to Capella, make sure to come down to Stella Bar for a delicious cocktail and a bit of fun.
Côte by Mauro Colagreco
Three-star Michelin chef Colagreco is behind Côte, a European-inspired restaurant at Capella Bangkok. The restaurant too has one Michelin star and reservations here are wildly sought-after so if this dining experience is on your bucket list- make sure to book a table here as soon as you make your room reservation.
Service
One thing that makes Capella Bangkok really stand out from other 5+ star hotels in Bangkok is the service. The service here is exactly what you might expect great service to look like and more. Great service should be both present and invisible and the staff here are always one step ahead- there before you’ve even asked.
Staff seemed to know my name everywhere I went, everyone was extremely polite and helpful, the room was always timely made up when I wanted it to be and turndown service was well thought out with little personal touches like securing my messy charging cables with Capella branded leather cable tidies.
While facilities in most amazing hotels don’t vary widely, it’s really the service that makes a good luxury hotel great and when it comes to service, Capella Bangkok really is miles ahead of the rest.
Wellness
When it comes to wellness, Capella Bangkok Hotel really exceeds all expectations. The space itself is so calming and harmonizing and as soon as you step into the property you feel like you’ve entered an inner city oasis. It’s a space made for relaxing and escaping the city.
The hotel does have everything you might need for a wellness-focused stay in Bangkok. Auriga Spa is easily one of the top spas in Bangkok boasting a range of classic and local, traditional treatments you just won’t find anywhere else.
With so many other cultural activities, fitness classes, movement options, and healthy food choices in all their restaurants, it’s never difficult to continue with your healthy lifestyle at Capella Bangkok. Alternatively, this stay is also superb for those wanting to explore Bangkok by day but also be able to balance that with spa treatments and fitness in the evenings.
Would I Recommend Capella Bangkok?
Absolutely. My stay at Capella was really special and I’d highly recommend a stay at Capella Bangkok for anyone looking for a luxurious, wellness-focused, and unique base in Bangkok.
The service, facilities, and wellness offerings at Capella Bangkok are second to none and there are few other places in Bangkok where you can wake up slowly, raise the blinds, and watch the morning boat traffic go by on the river as you sip your morning coffee.
The only thing I’d advise you to do is plan to extend your stay because, honestly, it’s difficult to leave this beautiful urban sanctuary.
How Do I Book a Stay at Capella Bangkok?
So you’ve decided you want to stay at Capella Bangkok, how do you book your stay? There are multiple ways to book your stay at Capella Bangkok.
You can book your stay directly on the Capella Bangkok website.
Capella Bangkok is currently running an offer where you can stay for 3 nights and just pay for 2 so I highly recommend taking advantage of that. It can be found on their website.
You can also use your favorite hotel booking platforms such as Booking.com, Hotels.com or Expedia.
Don’t forget that Hotels.com give away one night’s stay for free when you book 10 nights stay at any hotel, non-consecutive, so personally, it’s my hotel booking platform of choice nowadays.
[Thank you so much to Capella Bangkok for hosting this lovely stay. As always, all opinions are my own]
Planning your stay at Capella Bangkok? Let me know your questions and comments below, I’d love to hear from you.
Planning a trip right now? These are just some of my favourite websites I use to book everything from hotels to rental cars!
Rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for quick and easy car rentals worldwide
Booking.com for great deals on hotels
Hotels.com also for great deals on hotels
Get Your Guide and Viator for tours and adventures around the world
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