John Blanco, general manager of Capella Bangkok; right: the newly opened Soho House The hotel he designed from tip to toe, The Siam, remains an utterly beguiling urban sanctuary in the residential Dusit district, but the headlines these days are coming by way of a surge of international newcomers, many of which also feature that local artistry Bensley so treasures. Rosewood opened just before the pandemic, and other standout newcomers include The Standard and Soho House, while both Ritz- Carlton and Aman have already started construction on forthcoming hotels. But it’s a new riverside complex housing both Capella and Four Seasons that is making the most headlines. The latter is best for public spaces – great restaurants, one of the world’s best bars, an art gallery and more – but Capella is unbeatable across the city for guest experience. With just 101 rooms, all of which face the slow-moving waters of the Chao Phraya river, the hotel can be very personalised in helping guests plan their days. “More and more people don’t want to hide away in the city’s hotels – they want to get lost and explore,” says the hotel’s general manager, John Blanco. “They are looking for accidental tourism and things that aren’t available anywhere else.” Some of the private experiences Blanco organises include a multi-hour bar tour with Anuman in Chinatown; a Muay Thai class with champion kickboxer Kru Toom; and a dancing class with a supremely charming yai (Thai grandmother) – among many others. “There are so many different communities across Bangkok,” enthuses Blanco. “You can always find something extraordinary.” Bedding Down Both new, Capella Bangkok (capellahotels.com) and Four Seasons Bangkok (fourseasons.com) sit side by side: choose the former for privacy and views, the latter for public spaces. Up the river, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok ( mandarinoriental.com) underwent a refurb in 2019 and still sparkles – a true icon. Also opening in 2019, Rosewood Bangkok (rosewoodhotels. com) lacks the brand’s defining “sense of place” but has spacious, elegant rooms and an unbeatably central location. The Siam ( thesiamhotel.com) is a design-led hideaway tucked in a residential neighbourhood that is worth the journey for aesthetes. Top Tables International flavours are dominating the city. Don’t miss Chef Pam at Potong (restaurantpotong. com) in Chinatown. For more traditional Chinese fare, try Nan Bei at Rosewood Bangkok. Mexican cuisine reaches spectacular heights at Ojo (standardhotels.com), which sits on the 76th floor at The Standard (the neighbouring bar has nibbles from the same kitchen and even better views). Villa Franztén (villafrantzen.com) might be the best Nordic cuisine in Asia, while just down the street Sühring (restaurantsuhring.com) offers two-Michelin-starred German dishes. It’s chef’s table only at Gaggan Anand ( gaggananand.com) near the new Soho House, a truly otherworldly experience. For Thai cuisine, try historic dishes with a modern twist at Aksorn (aksornbkk.com), chef David Thompson’s latest venture, and elevated street food at Samlor (@samlor.bkk). After Hours Nowhere beats BKK Social Club at Four Seasons for sophistication, and if there you also have to visit Stella at Capella: it’s just next door and hosts live music every evening. Asia Today (@asia_today_bar) focuses on Thai honey (try the bitter variety from stingless bees) and is the pick of Niks Anuman’s clutch of bars (Teens of Thailand, TAX and Independence are the others), all of which are set in a bustling corner of Chinatown, along with Tep Bar (tepmahanakhon. com) and Ba Hao (ba-hao.com). Try Vesper (vesperbar.co) for European chic and Tropic City (tropiccitybkk.com) for tiki vibes. Lennon’s at the top of the Rosewood hotel boasts both superlative tunes and views. PHOTOS FROM LEFT: GEORG ROSKE, JASON MICHAEL LANG 80 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
Raise a glass of something special and receive up to £125 back * Explore champagnes, fine wines and spirits with Clos19, the luxury drinks emporium – and get up to £125 back as a statement credit every quarter, until 31 March 2025. That could be up to £500 annually. Clos19 exclusively stocks champagnes, fine wines and spirits from Moet Hennessy, Ardbeg and Château Cheval Blanc. The online store goes beyond a retail experience to offer lifestyle advice on food-pairings and mixology. In-house experts can help you discover the perfect accompaniments for everyday meals or special occasions. Enrol now To enjoy up to £125 in credit at Clos19, every quarter, please scan the QR code to enrol. *Terms and Conditions apply. American Express Services Europe Limited has its registered office at Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9AX, UnitedKingdom. It is registered in England and Wales with Company Number 1833139 and authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
