Capella Bangkok

Capella has one of the most peaceful spots on the river. The Chao Phraya flows past the front, and Charoen Krung Road runs behind. Step out of the gates, and you're among old Chinese shophouses, antique dealers, and the Thailand Creative & Design Centre in the former Grand Postal Building; the Old Town and its temples are an easy boat ride upriver.

Inspired by life along the river, Capella is a low-rise, intimate hotel with the feel of a boutique pied-à-terre, and every suite and villa faces the water. The design offers a calm, contemporary take on riverside living, with the Chao Phraya as the centrepiece of every room.

Even the entry rooms measure 61 square metres, with floor-to-ceiling windows and either a private balcony or a verandah with a jacuzzi plunge pool. Seven villas sit on the river's edge, including a two-bedroom Presidential Villa, each with a private garden, a plunge pool, a riverfront daybed and indoor and outdoor showers.

Dinner at Côte is a highlight of any trip to Bangkok. Côte by Mauro Colagreco holds two Michelin stars for its Riviera-inspired cuisine, served in light-filled rooms overlooking the river. The Thai restaurant, a sunlit conservatory in a riverside garden, celebrates traditional family recipes, and a tea lounge by a lily pond serves high tea. A patisserie and cocktail bar also serve mood-matched drinks.

Auriga Wellness sits in a riverside garden, with treatments built around Thai ingredients such as mung bean, black sesame and riceberry, alongside Tok Sen hammer massage and Biologique Recherche facials. A vitality pool, water therapy, a sauna and a steam room complete the facilities. The 24-hour infinity pool overlooks the river, and the fitness centre is open around the clock.