Capella Bangkok

Capella sits on Charoenkrung Road and the moment you arrive, the city noise just cuts out—complete silence that feels almost unnerving. The lobby frames the brown, churning water of the Chao Phraya like a moving painting, and within moments, you're settled with a cold towel while a staff member known as a Culturist greets you by name before you've even introduced yourself. There are 101 rooms here, every single one facing the river. Book a Verandah room and you'll get a jacuzzi plunge pool, arguably the best spot in the city to watch sand barges struggle upstream. The water pressure in the shower could strip paint, which I love. Skip the Michelin dining at Côte unless you enjoy stiff service and tweezers. Go to Phra Nakhon instead, where the curry is properly spicy and the terrace sits right on the water's edge. The mosquitoes are vicious at dusk, but the gin helps. It's obscenely expensive here—you'll pay it happily.