Indeed, unlike many other luxury hotels in the city, where you’ll find many Thai-inspired features (like hipped roofs and elephant statues), Capella Bangkok’s architecture and design—the work of architectural firm Hamilton International, founded by Norman + Fosters alums Andy Miller and Richard Scott Wilson, and interior design firm Bamo—is one of a modern, quiet elegance. Think a soothing palette of soft neutrals with warm wood, marble floors, mirrored surfaces and crystalline water features. It’s enough to make you forget you’re in one of the buzziest metropolises in Southeast Asia.

Our trip to Capella Bangkok started at the airport, where the hotel’s Mercedes Benz S-Class picked us up. The journey is one of comfort, with snacks, drinks and fresh towels at the ready.

A regular boat service takes guests between the hotel and Sathorn Pier, which is right by Saphan Taksin BTS station.

Guests check in in a welcoming space dubbed the Living Room, a tastefully decorated lounge with views of the river and located just by the resort-inspired infinity pool. 

We were upgraded from a riverfront premiere into the stunning verandah: upon entry, the 1,475 sq ft suite’s pièce de résistance—a plunge pool located on the private terrace—comes into view through floor-to-ceiling windows. The terrace also has a daybed and outdoor furnishings—an ideal spot for an intimate dinner. Inside, soft, muted tones dominate. The space has a king-sized bed, lounge area and study, and the bathroom has his-and-her vanities and a freestanding soaking tub.

An elevated version of all the usual suspects in a five-star hotel of this calibre can be found here: think Capella Bangkok’s signature champagne, bottled exclusively for the hotel by the Vranken Pommery champagne house, as well as a variety of Capella Bangkok-branded goods, like white chocolate in the mini-bar and hand sanitisers and mosquito sprays. Finally, in the bathroom, expect quality brushes and slippers (branded, of course) that you will definitely want to take home with you.

The attention to detail at Capella Bangkok is astounding. Staff are friendly yet discreet—and always thoughtful. From offering to take away the empty soda can in our hands as we enter the lobby to tidying up the messy charging cables on our bedside tables with a wrapper—these small yet impactful gestures mean that guests can fully unwind—and perhaps even switch their brains off altogether—during their time here. 

Every guest staying at Capella Bangkok enjoys access to a concierge dubbed the Capella Culturist, who is just a WhatsApp message away and offers assistance around the clock. This includes everything from advice on beating Bangkok’s notorious traffic (at rush hour, take the BTS instead of a taxi—but you’d still need to budget extra time, because just about everyone else has the same idea); a 9pm request for insiders’ tips on the best local eatery offering a classic Thai-style Hainan chicken rice; and a 24-hour bubble bath service, where staff will fill up your tub. 

Like all its sister properties, Capella Bangkok places a strong focus on celebrating the heritage and culture behind its location. Capella Curates, a programme that offers a variety of experiences to guests, includes activities that immerse visitors in the culture of Bangkok, headed by a Capella Culturist—think a tour of Charoenkrung Road and lessons with Thai grandmothers, who share their knowledge of disappearing traditions like Thai stage performances and the making of classic desserts.

Capella Bangkok has five restaurants and bars: the Michelin-starred fine-dining establishment Côte by Mauro Colagreco, which offers a reinterpretation of French and Italian riviera cuisines and with fresh Thai ingredients; Thai restaurant Phra Nakhon; the stylish cocktail bar Stella; and the Tea Lounge in its lobby.

Read more: Why Bangkok is Asia’s most exciting food city right now

Côte, headed by Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco, was awarded a Michelin star in 2020, the year it opened—and then again in the following year. We were lucky enough to visit Côte the night before it closes for renovations—it will reopen in June.

The menu is always a surprise: dishes are created based on the fresh ingredients of the day, and it’s evident plenty of thought went into the flavour profiles of each dish.

Here, we sat down to a seven-course meal. The pigeon, date, kumquat and cauliflower dish was a standout—the meat is sweet and earthy, with a tender and delicate texture, as well as a subtle, nutty undertone. The lobster, white asparagus and matcha hollandaise, meanwhile, offered a combination of a rich, buttery taste from the crustacean and a nutty flavour from the white asparagus, offset by the strong, earthy, bitter notes of the matcha hollandaise.

Wine pairing is available, and includes top-notch varieties like a 2010 R Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, a Rioja DOCa of Spain, and 2021 Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage Blanc of Rhone, France, paired with the above dishes respectively. 

Phra Nakhon prides itself on serving authentic Thai flavours, but this is far from an empty promise: there is no watering-down of spices used, so expect to dig into some well-seasoned crowd-pleasers like green papaya salad and deep-fried grouper.

The Tea Lounge’s afternoon tea is an elegant affair, with desserts that have Thai-inspired touches, created by the hotel’s award-winning executive pastry chef Sylvain Constans, as well as a large selection of teas, including those sourced in Northern Thailand’s tea-producing regions.

Finally, Stella is a sexy spot to see and be seen, where glamorous crowds work the room, and crooners perform classic R&B tunes. The menu offers classic cocktails and those with a twist, along with extravagant seafood spreads and caviar.

As is the case with many offerings inside a five-star hotel of this calibre, a treatment at Auriga Spa is an uber-luxe experience. It begins with a consultation, identifying areas you wish to focus on or avoid, and choice of aromatic massage oils. This is followed by time spent in the vitality pool, sauna, and rain showers, should you so wish.

Our two-hour massage treatment was thorough, starting with a gentle warm-up to help the muscles relax, followed by a series of light pressure and long sweeping strokes that released knots and tensions in areas like the shoulder and temples. The result? Deep relaxation, which is what we all want in a spa treatment.

Bangkok has long been—and continues to be, in the post-pandemic era—a popular spot for Hongkongers. For those after city weekend jaunts and also a resort vacation, Capella Bangkok offers the best of both worlds.

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