Capella Bangkok

Worth getting out of bed for

Pulling yourself out of bed is a pretty painless affair when there are panoramic river views to wake up to. Leaving your room, however, is another matter entirely, especially when breakfast on your private balcony is an option. If anything can lure you out, though, it’s surely the scent of steaming pots of herbal tea, wafting up from the living room. Snuggle up there on a river-facing sofa as you sketch out the day’s itinerary, or brush up on your craft or cookery skills with one of the expert-led masterclasses. Sleepy souls, you’re spoiled for choice. Swing by the spa for a stress-melting treatment tailored to your needs, join a guided meditation session or go for a sun-soaked paddle in the pool. And if that all sounds a bit too much, there are always the four-poster loungers, ready and waiting for a well-earned riverside snooze. If it’s adventure you’re after, the hotel’s culture experts have it covered. Whether you want to roam the district's storied streets on a boat and bicycle tour, meet and meditate with monks from the neighbourhood’s oldest temple, or take on a world champion at Muay Thai, just say the word – they’re seasoned string-pullers. Further afield, the Bangkok National Museum is home to a huge collection of age-old artefacts and traditional Thai art. And a glimpse of the glittering Wat Arun is a must – whether in the flesh or leaning against the railings of a rooftop bar is your call. Wherever the day takes you, toddle back for a cake-laden high tea in the tea lounge, then make a date with a paperback in the palm-shaded courtyard. Come dusk, craft cocktails and custom-made patisseries beckon in the bar.

Local restaurants

For a taste of Thai fine dining, you won’t do better than Blue Elephant. If the high ceilings and carved teak panels of the colonial-era building don’t have you feeling like royalty, the food soon will. Gourmands flock there for the massaman lamb, but there’s a lengthy menu of pad thai, pomelo salads and French-influenced plates to choose from, too. For a feast fit for a king, plump for the seasonal tasting menu.

In a city as celebrated for its street food scene as Bangkok, it would be rude not to swing by a stall, or three. Top of your list should be Jok Pochana, an easy-to-miss institution on a tucked-away side street where Mr Lek and his team serve up steaming bowlfuls of curried crab and hunger-banishing helpings of fragrant fried rice.

Torn between haute cuisine and an on-the-hoof snack? For the best of both worlds, look no further than the tiny tiled kitchen helmed by Jay Fai, Thailand’s queen of street food who stir-fried her way to a Michelin star in 2017. Find a seat on the street outside and tuck into the seafood-stacked noodle bowls that secured her crown.

Local cafés

For a caffeine stop with the Bangkok cool crowd, head to Hands and Heart Café. It’s just as cosy as the name suggests – except cosy here means fresh pastries piled high in clear perspex cubes, cool marble benches scattered with monochrome cushions, and above all, the warming scent of single-origin, hand-brewed coffee.

Magic is on the menu at Featherstone. Shelves lined with jewel-hued glass bottles, mysterious drawers marked with brown-paper labels and sprawling wildflower bouquets give this boutique-come-cafe the air of an old-world apothecary. There’s an impressive menu of drip coffee and house blends, but if the setting has you itching to play alchemist, order the lavender soda – it’s served deconstructed, with flower-infused ice cubes to stir in as you sip.

Local bars

For craft cocktails served against a glittering cityscape, Stella, the hotel’s opulent bar and patisserie, can’t be beaten. If you know where to look, though, the Bangkok bar scene is awash with local-secret spots – slip down the right unassuming side street and you’ll be treated to craft spirits and a celebration of the city’s many cultures. At Tep Bar, it’s all about ya-dong, a Thai herbal whisky that pairs perfectly with the nightly performances of traditional local music. Ask the bartenders about their tried-and-true family recipes, then head up to the roof for a birds eye view over Old Town.