The World’s 50 Best organization recently expanded its repertoire from bars to beds with its 50 Best Hotel Awards.
I’ll go into the one that took the top spot – the Capella Bangkok.
As with most luxury hotels, an army of staff await arriving guests, and I am quickly ushered through the enormous lobby to the Living Room. In this library-like space – a staple of Capella hotels – check-in kicks off with a welcome drink (I opt for a Coke, although options include sparkling wine and guava juice).
The 101 rooms, suites and villas all face the river. My riverside room is 61 square meters (656 sq ft) and feels enormous, even though it is the smallest accommodation category.
Clever positioning of a built-in balcony area, separated from the bedroom by glass walls, is why I initially think I bagged a corner suite.
Large glass surfaces mean an abundance of natural light, and it’s only later when I’m behind the bathroom mirrors that there’s nothing but an internal glass wall between me and the bedroom, with its floor-to-ceiling windows.
For a nano-second I panic that the red lights on top of distant skyscrapers are phones from office workers laughing at the oblivious, half-naked Capella guest (me).
The Capella Bangkok tops 2024 list of the world’s 50 best hotels – Tamara Hinson reports
Capella Bangkok has 101 rooms, suites and villas, all facing the Chao Phraya River
“As with most luxury hotels, an army of staff await arriving guests,” notes Tamara. Above is one of the hotel’s luxury ensuites
Additional extras (including sockets and USB ports, thank goodness) abound – the bar’s non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary and my bathroom highlight is the set of packaged laundry items that slide together to reveal a riverside scene.
Across my room I am reminded of a James Bond villain’s lair – in a good way.
Despite being close to Bangkok’s centre, there’s a great sense of space, and it often feels like I’m the only guest as I pass through ceiling-height doors that silently swing open to reveal cathedral-like public spaces with fantastic river views.
The other side of the Chao Phraya River, with its jumble of cranes, is nothing to write home about – it’s the river itself that makes the view.
During the day it is a hive of activity, a constant flow of fishing boats and river taxis tumbling along what is known as Bangkok’s lifeblood.
Later, they are replaced by tourist-laden party boats that deploy retina-burning spotlights from upper-deck dance floors. That’s why it pays to choose your seat carefully in the hotel’s riverside Phra Nakhon restaurant, where iPad menus maintain the minimalism.
I enjoy eating outside, watching the flow of party boats, even if my grapefruit salad comes with a Shakira soundtrack. Somewhat quieter is Michelin-starred Cote by Mauro Colagreco, for dishes inspired by the Italian and French Riviera.
Tamara says that ‘despite being close to Bangkok’s centre, there is a great sense of space’
“It often feels like I’m the only guest as I pass through ceiling-height doors that silently swing open to reveal cathedral-like public spaces with fantastic river views,” writes Tamara. Upstairs is the tea lounge
‘I suspect few guests wander far from the property and prefer to sit by the pool or in the spa (upstairs),’ says Tamara
‘Despite the complimentary river shuttle’, writes Tamara, ‘there are endless reasons to stay’
Tamara writes: ‘I’m not sure how the hotel feels about its (best in the world) award. Maybe it’s a blessing and a curse. When a hotel is named the world’s best, my radar goes up a notch’
My fellow guests include a Brazilian guest shouting business deals into his phone at dinner, and at breakfast, six Americans discussing their love for Fiji.
When I’m not sitting in my room with flashy office workers, my favorite spot is Stella, the Art Deco cocktail bar and – when I’m there – the setting for the hotel’s nightly Cin Cin hour, when guests enjoy complimentary drinks.
I suspect few guests stray far from the property, preferring to lounge by the pool or in the spa – when I ask a concierge for directions to Siam SkyTrain station, she assumes I mean Icon Siam, the luxury mall nearby. and looks bewildered. d want to venture further.
Admittedly, despite the complimentary river shuttle, there are endless reasons to stay, ranging from family-friendly activities like painting workshops to muay Thai master classes.
Tamara explains that the hotel offers activities including painting workshops and muay Thai master classes. Above is a panoramic studio
Tamara says that it’s the river that ‘makes the view’, adding: ‘During the day it’s a hive of activity, a constant flow of fishing boats and river taxis tumbling along what is known as Bangkok’s lifeblood .
LEFT: Tamara’s elegant ensuite. She says of her room: ‘It feels enormous, even though it is the smallest accommodation category.’ RIGHT: One of Tamara’s dinner meals at Capella – shrimp and mushroom soup
I’m not sure how the hotel feels about its award. Maybe it’s a blessing and a curse. When a hotel is named the world’s best, my radar goes up a notch.
Maybe it’s my Britishness, but the night before I stayed at a Singapore hotel where my minibar fridge contained a small milk jug. Fortunately, I bring my own tea bags to the Capella because my tea-related supply amounts to a trio of tea bags (only one of which is English breakfast), and there is no milk.
I also find it slightly frustrating that the television hangs somewhat askew from the wall. Minor complaints, but perhaps ones that shouldn’t exist at the world’s best hotel.
So is it? I have stayed in many, and I would say no, but there are many hotels.
I can think of several that would take higher positions on my own top 50. These include London’s Shangri-La the Shard, with its beautifully furnished bedrooms, Hoshinoya Tokyo, a funky luxury ryokan, and the Swissôtel The Stamford Singapore, where the attentiveness of employees always blows me away.
Best in the world? Maybe not. Top 10? Definitely.
