‘Good things come to those who wait’ seems to be the mantra in Bangkok’s hotel scene as of late, and that’s certainly the case for the highly anticipated Capella Bangkok. Sandwiched between the city's oldest paved road and the Chao Phraya river, the brand's first Thailand outpost was initially slated to launch in 2013 but finally opened its doors this October.
Spearheaded by Singapore-based architecture firm Hamiltons International and interior design studio BAMO (whose portfolio includes the Four Seasons Bora Bora and Ritz-Carlton in Chicago), the design offers a decidedly modern interpretation of the district’s rich history as a cultural meeting point between East and West. In the double-height lobby, swathed in marble, taupe and cream, local touches can be found in the little details. A set of armchairs covered in artfully woven rattan. Sunlight seeping through Thai-inspired latticework. Wall-spanning fine art drawing from ancient Thai craft techniques.
But the Chao Phraya river, the aorta of old-time Bangkok, steals the scene. Intentionally, because from the home-like Living Room lounge (hosting cultural workshops such as indigo tie-dye classes) to the hotel's three restaurants and 101 guest rooms and suites, every space has been designed to draw the outside in and frame panoramic river views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Muted interiors offer minimal distraction and architectural lines guide eyes towards the water.
Raising the bar for luxury accommodation in the city, the ‘Verandah’ rooms open to private terraces with raised plunge pools overlooking the river. Other room types, all straight-lined cream-and-wood affairs with travertine marble bathrooms, have access to generous balconies to take in Bangkok’s cacophonous river scenes. The prime real estate, however, is reserved for the hotel’s seven riverfront villas. The first of their kind in Bangkok, these private retreats come with plunge pools, separate dining and living rooms, and private gardens leading right up to the waterside. On the food front, the hotel has tapped Italian-Argentine chef Mauro Colagreco of 2019 World’s Best Restaurant
Mirazur in France to bring his vision to its signature restaurant, Côte by Mauro Colagreco. Here, in a classic dining room flanked by white wall panels, antiquated mirrors, and a rustic-chic show kitchen, menus feature contemporary riffs on French and Italian coastal cuisine paired with natural wines from around the world. On the riverfront, Phra Nakhon takes over a glasshouse-like dining area and tree-shaded alfresco terrace with punchy Thai recipes inspired by the long-standing Thai restaurants spread around the district.
And then there’s Stella, a pan-Asian cocktail bar and 'omakase patisserie' celebrating heroic women of the East in made-to-order pastries and playful cocktails incorporating Asian spirits and herbs. Like its cocktail list, the boudoir-esque drinking den touches upon a variety of Asian design references with an Art Deco finish. Under a mirrored ceiling, a taxidermied white peacock takes centre stage, while another nook is decorated with throne-like chairs and hand-painted frescoes that wouldn’t look out of place in a Qing Dynasty palace.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
300/2 Charoen Krung Rd
Bangkok
-
This surreal new seafood restaurant in LA is the stuff of mermaid's dreamsAt Cento Raw Bar, delectable fare is complemented by playful, oceanic interiors by Brandon Miradi
-
What’s new in the wearable world of smart glasses, and extended and augmented realityAre you ready for AR? Meta, Google, Snap and more are gearing up to compete with Apple and deliver frames-based communications devices – complete with AI integration
-
Italian-Japanese fusion’s a joy at east London’s Osteria AngelinaA Victorian warehouse in Spitalfields has been given a slick modern makeover to house a unique Italian-Japanese restaurant
-
Retreat to Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, a sleek city sanctuaryAman returns to its Thai roots for its third civic outpost, weaving past and present to create an urban pleasure dome
-
Tour the best contemporary tea houses around the worldCelebrate the world’s most unique tea houses, from Melbourne to Stockholm, with a new book by Wallpaper’s Léa Teuscher
-
How Four Seasons Hotels became The White Lotus’ unofficial starAs The White Lotus season three whisks us to Thailand, Marc Speichert, chief commercial officer of Four Seasons Hotels, discusses the luxury group’s perfect synergy with the hit HBO series – and where you can live the experience
-
Tour an iconic 1970s Bangkok hotel rebornA new generation of luxury awaits at the entirely rebuilt Dusit Thani Bangkok, with interiors by André Fu Studio
-
Aman’s cabana pop-up shop arrives with an eye to sustainabilityFind the new Aman cabana pop-up shop, in collaboration with Luxury Frontiers, at Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, and coming soon elsewhere
-
InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping is a graceful sanctuary in Thailand’s northern capitalFrom welcoming chimes to a skybar, InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping blends five-star hospitality with Southeast Asian culture
-
Navigator: the Wallpaper* guide to BangkokWhat to see and do in Bangkok, from sprawling retail stores and dazzling restaurants to awe-inspiring contemporary galleries and impressive new hotels
-
Elephant World wins Best Sanctuary: Wallpaper* Design Awards 2021Including exhibition space set amid courtyards and pools, the Elephant World's architecture nods to both human and elephant needs; all, to a design by Boonserm Premthada's Bangkok Project Studio in Thailand
