Capella Bangkok

We hold the Capella brand in exceptionally high regard. Across our stays at a Capella, two traits stand out consistently: a genuine sense of generosity—from the Living Room concept with complimentary all-day refreshments to inclusive minibars and spa facilities—and a thoughtful curation of local experiences, many offered at no extra charge. These are not gimmicks; they are brand-defining strengths. For this reason, the question at Capella is never whether the stay is pleasant. The real question is more demanding: “is this truly the best hotel in the world?”. Capella Bangkok was crowned #1 globally in 2024—and on that specific claim, we disagree. Unfortunately, some of the shortcomings are structural rather than operational. First, the riverfront location, while guaranteeing river-facing rooms, delivers a surprisingly plain outlook, compounded by large-scale construction across the Chao Phraya. For a property carrying a “best in the world” title, the sense of place simply isn’t compelling enough. Second, comparison is unavoidable. Sitting within the same complex as FS Chao Phraya, Capella positions itself as the more intimate and exclusive option. Yet in practice, it feels like a smaller, more constrained version of its (often cheaper) neighbour, lacking the spatial drama and gravitas that the Four Seasons executes so convincingly. Service is polished and professional, but predictable—excellent, yet missing the spontaneous, memorable touches that separate a great hotel from a truly transcendent one. Food, to Capella’s credit, is very strong across outlets. In summary: this was a very nice stay. A good one. Even a very good one. But the best in the world? Decidedly not—and not even the best in Thailand.

I loved this hotel so much in 2023 that I returned in 2025 with my entire family of 14! Once again, it did not disappoint. The GM, Antonio Saponara, was incredibly helpful in planning the trip and even managed to secure all six of our rooms on the same floor. People are often torn between the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons, and the Capella. Here’s my take: The Four Seasons is massive and very lively; the Mandarin Oriental is steeped in history and boasts the world’s most beautiful lobby—but it can feel like Grand Central Station, it’s so busy! The Capella, by contrast, is a small, beautiful, and tranquil respite. I truly feel seen and valued here; the staff is amazing. I’d love to give special shout-outs to Netti, Nenny, and Sandy. A quick example: I asked Sandy a question about restaurants at the Concierge desk. About fifteen minutes later, she tracked me down all the way by the riverside to personally walk me through the list she’d put together. Both my wife and I looked at each other and thought—wow! I was having dinner back in the States last night with my family, and we were all reminiscing about our trip. My daughter said, “I would give anything to be back at the Capella.”

A world class experience of hospitality and finesse at the very highest level. The entire service team excelled.

I recently stayed at Capella Bangkok for three nights in November, and it was a good hotel experience overall. Every staff member I met was professional and kind. Especially I want to compliment May, who served us at Stellar Bar and also during the Chin Chin Hour. She remembered our preferences, checked in with good timing, and of course always warm and smiling. I really appreciate her excellent service!!! I also liked the Auriga spa a lot. I used the sauna facilities every day and booked two massage treatments during my Capella stay. The spa facilities were clean and well maintained. The treatments were among the best I’ve experienced in Bangkok. The Culturist team secured a reservation for me at a particular restaurant, which is usually very difficult to get. I greatly appreciate their efforts to get it. While the service and people were excellent, I want to mention one major concern: the pool design. The pool overlooks the villa roofs with artificial lawns, and the river is mostly obscured by trees, making the view disappointing—especially for a hotel in this price range. As a result, I did not spend any time in the pool area. Fortunately, the weather was not hot enough for me to need to use the pool; otherwise, it would have been a major issue. I sincerely hope the hotel considers renovating the pool area to create a design that provides a better river view. Additionally, the visibility of the villa roofs from various areas of the property (e.g., from Côte restaurant) is not ideal and, in my opinion, detracts from the overall hotel design. Despite this, Capella Bangkok remains excellent only because of its people. Their dedication and professionalism truly make the hotel shine. However, the overall design of the hotel does not suit my personal taste.

Thanks Nancy for the comfortable Spa，really enjoy！This is my first time to do a Thai massage and oil spa，it was really strong but feel so gentle，can‘t wait to experience it next time in Bangkok！