This is the second hotel I stayed at in Bangkok. I liked it so much that it deserves a dedicated post.
Bangkok can be described as a battleground for luxury hotels, with various brands showcasing their unique charm.
Before visiting Bangkok, I was hesitant about which hotel to “favor.” The Mandarin Oriental (MO) was decided on first; staying at this “legendary” place in Bangkok was a must. As for the other hotel, I wanted to choose between Bangkok’s “new elites,” oscillating between the Four Seasons and Capella, liking both.
There are only four top-tier hotels in Bangkok: MO, Capella, Four Seasons, and The Siam. Having not visited Bangkok for three years, I wanted to choose the ones most worth staying at.
My friend FIFA suggested I go with Capella.
He said the standard rooms at Capella have large floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies, offering panoramic views of the Chao Phraya River. In contrast, at the Four Seasons, you need to opt for a third-tier room type to get a river view, and he doubted I’d be willing to upgrade to the third tier.
Additionally, he mentioned that the same owner is behind both Capella and the Four Seasons. The two hotels are situated back-to-back, so I could easily walk along the river to experience both. That made a lot of sense.
As you can see in the picture below, Capella is on the left, Four Seasons on the right, and the tall building in the middle belongs to the owner.
Capella Bangkok is in an excellent location.
Think about it: this area is home to Capella, Four Seasons, MO, Peninsula, and Shangri-La, some of the priciest in Bangkok. Luxury brands have the best eye for location.
Located on Si Lom Road, one of Bangkok’s oldest streets (dubbed Bangkok’s Huaihai Road), Capella Bangkok is in a historic area. Landmarks like the Old Central Post Office, Old Customs House, and Prince Theatre are nearby. Nowadays, it’s also a hotspot for Michelin-starred dining in Bangkok.
Capella Bangkok is also particularly suitable for someone like me, who isn’t proficient in English.
The hotel has Chinese-speaking butlers, sales staff, and even Chinese-speaking waiters in the restaurant, making communication in Mandarin absolutely stress-free.
When ordering in the Thai restaurant, there’s a QR code on the menu that you can scan to view pictures of the dishes. I may not understand the menu, but I can definitely order by looking at the pictures.
This shows that the hotel places a high value on the Chinese market.
The main role of Capella Bangkok’s front desk is to guide you. The butler will take you to the Living Room to check in.
You can enjoy coffee and desserts while checking in, which feels great—certainly better than waiting in a queue at the front desk.
At Capella Bangkok, each room has a personal butler. Since I’m Chinese, they specifically arranged a Thai lady who speaks Chinese as my butler, which was really considerate.
When I booked the room, I thought Capella Bangkok was expensive; even with the stay 3 pay 2 deal, it was over 4,000 per night. However, after the butler introduced the hotel to me, I felt it was quite worth it.
Firstly, the standard room at Capella Bangkok is a suite, and each room has a large terrace with direct views of the Chao Phraya River.
Secondly, the Capella Living Room is equivalent to an executive lounge, where guests can come in anytime to have coffee, as well as some small desserts and pastries.
Every evening, there is a Happy Hour in the bar where a professional bartender will make drinks for you.
There are 2-3 activities every day, such as yoga in the morning, Thai cooking classes, and wine tasting in the afternoon, all of which are free to join.
The hotel’s spa also has an indoor soaking pool, which hotel guests can use for free.
Capella Bangkok focuses on city resorts, so if you are staying for 3 days and 2 nights, these activities will keep you perfectly occupied.
The rooms at Capella Bangkok start at 61㎡, with floor-to-ceiling windows and large balconies, offering unobstructed views of Thailand’s “sacred river,” the Chao Phraya River.
Capella Bangkok opened in 2020, so the hardware in the rooms is quite good.
The large balconies are equipped with loungers so you can lie down and watch the Chao Phraya River.
There is also a large bathroom.
And a large walk-in closet.
The layout of the rooms at Capella Bangkok is quite standard, in a rectangular shape, so a 61㎡ room feels more like 70-80㎡.
In the walk-in closet, there is a Capella tote bag that you can use while traveling around Bangkok.
There are two bathrobes, one cotton and one silk. The double bathrobe setup has now become a standard in luxury hotels.
On the table, there is a book from LHW (Leading Hotels of the World). Capella Bangkok is one of only two LHW hotels in Bangkok (the other one is The Okura).
The room service can deliver breakfast for free, and I suggest if you are staying for two nights like me, have one breakfast delivered to your room.
Having breakfast while facing the Chao Phraya River gives you a really nice feel.
During my 3 days and 2 nights stay at Capella Bangkok, I barely left the hotel (just took a boat to the Peninsula to do a live stream and then visited the nearby ICONSIAM).
Such an expensive hotel, focused on urban retreats, you must really enjoy it to the fullest.
There are plenty of activities at Capella Bangkok.
Every morning at 7 a.m., there is yoga on the terrace by the river, taught by a very professional instructor.
There are also afternoon activities, which vary each day. During my two-day stay, one day featured a Thai cooking class with the head chef, and another day offered a wine tasting, both of which were free.
You can also participate in some paid tours organized by the hotel, such as a morning alms giving or a tour of the historic Charoenkrung district led by hotel staff, where you can witness the history and glory of Bangkok.
Every hour, a boat ferry takes guests to the nearest BTS station and ICONSIAM.
ICONSIAM is really worth a visit. It is currently one of the most interesting malls in all of Bangkok. The entire first floor of the mall is like a large night market, which is particularly engaging to explore.
During my stay at Capella Bangkok, I even stumbled upon a local Thai wedding. Listening to the teachings of the high monks with everyone was quite an interesting experience.
Capella Bangkok is also very visually appealing.
The Instagram-worthy staircase is stunning. I took at least 10 photos of it.
The infinity pool facing the Chao Phraya River is Tiffany Blue in color.
The Michelin-starred French restaurant Côte is also beautiful. The restaurant has a light French vibe, lacking the aloofness of a high-end restaurant, instead exuding a very strong sense of romance.
The utensils were especially to my liking.
Additionally, the restaurant Cin Cin, where you can enjoy Happy Hour every evening, is practically a work of art.
I also liked the afternoon tea, particularly because the desserts and tableware were so harmoniously matched. Later, I found out that the tableware is Wedgewood, a royal porcelain, which is incredibly expensive—a set costs tens of thousands.
Now, let’s talk about the dining.
Capella Bangkok mainly has two restaurants, Phra Nakhon, serving Thai cuisine, and the Michelin-starred French restaurant Côte.
Phra Nakhon is a riverside restaurant with a nice ambiance and reasonably priced dishes at about 200-300 RMB per person. As a result, the good spots during lunch and dinner are always packed.
This restaurant features an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs preparing Thai dishes right before your eyes.
The other one is Côte, the Michelin-starred French restaurant, with a chef who likes to print his own photo on the menu—a bit narcissistic, I must say.
It’s not easy to get a reservation at this place, so I suggest you have the butler make a booking in advance.
Since it’s a fine dining experience, make sure you set aside plenty of time to enjoy your meal.
Lastly, mention some of the public areas at Capella Bangkok that I haven’t covered in my article.
The indoor hot tub is a highlight, and all guests can use it.
The gym is quite spacious and has great equipment.
There’s also an area called the Chef’s Garden, reportedly planted by the executive chef himself, focused on herbs, and exclusively supplied to Capella’s own restaurants.
I recommend wandering along the Chao Phraya River when staying at Capella, whether you have something to do or not; it’s very pleasant. This area is shared with the Four Seasons.
