Top 10 Best Capella Hotels & Resorts in the World

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Top 10 Best Capella Hotels & Resorts in the World

Capella Hotels & Resorts is one of my favorite luxury hotel brands in the world. What makes Capella particularly special is its remarkable consistency: while some larger luxury brands can feel like a mixed bag, with the experience varying considerably from one property to another, virtually every Capella hotel is sublime. The portfolio remains exceptionally exclusive, with just 10 operating hotels and resorts at the time of writing, although the brand is now on an ambitious expansion roll. Capella properties tend to be relatively small-scale, ultra-luxurious and highly individual, often combining bold contemporary design with local architecture, heritage and a genuine sense of place. Another feature I particularly love is the signature Living Room, a private space for hotel guests where complimentary refreshments are typically served throughout the day and where cultural activities and experiences take place. Add highly personalized service from the brand’s Capella Culturists, excellent restaurants and beautiful Auriga spas, and it is easy to understand why Capella has become one of the most prestigious names in luxury hospitality. Here is my ranking of the 10 best Capella hotels and resorts in the world.

Which one if your favorite Capella Hotel? Leave a comment.

10. Capella at Galaxy Macau, China

Capella at Galaxy Macau is the newest and perhaps most unconventional member of the Capella family. Rather than operating as a secluded standalone hotel, it forms an ultra-exclusive retreat within the enormous Galaxy Macau integrated resort, placing Capella’s intimate hospitality philosophy inside one of Asia’s most energetic entertainment destinations. The 17-story, all-suite hotel was designed by Paris-based Moinard Bétaille as a glamorous “gilded jungle,” with lush colors, art and nature-inspired details softening the extravagance associated with Macau. Accommodation is exceptionally generous: the property comprises 95 suites and penthouses, with one-bedroom suites measuring an enormous 128 square meters and featuring their own indoor relaxation pools. The spectacular multi-bedroom penthouses go even further, offering light-filled terraces and private infinity-edge swimming pools. Guests also have access to the Capella Living Room, Botanica and Pony & Plume, while additional fine dining expands the culinary offering. Its integrated-resort setting means it lacks some of the intimacy and distinctive destination character of the Capella properties higher in my ranking, but the sheer scale and opulence of its accommodations are undeniably impressive.

Hotel website: Capella at Galaxy Macau

9. Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan, China

For travelers seeking a traditional tropical resort experience, Capella Tufu Bay offers a very different side of the brand. Situated on the southern coast of China’s Hainan Island, the sprawling retreat combines lush tropical gardens, a long sandy shoreline and views across the South China Sea with architecture and interiors inspired by the island’s position on the historic Maritime Silk Road. The design blends clean contemporary lines with intricate Chinese craftsmanship, while accommodation ranges from spacious rooms and suites to substantial private villas. The latter are particularly appealing: one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom villas provide expansive indoor and outdoor living spaces, private pools and terraces surrounded by tropical vegetation. Some larger oceanfront villas also enjoy beautiful views toward the sea and dedicated Capella Culturist service. The resort features extensive leisure and wellness facilities, including Auriga Spa, and its generous grounds create a genuine sense of escape. Tufu Bay is perhaps less internationally famous than Capella Ubud or Bangkok, but for travelers looking for privacy, space and a sophisticated beach resort in China, it represents one of Hainan’s most exclusive luxury experiences.

Hotel website: Capella Tufu Bay

8. Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, China

Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li offers something increasingly rare in a rapidly modernizing metropolis: the opportunity to experience a surviving piece of old Shanghai without sacrificing contemporary luxury. Rather than occupying a gleaming skyscraper, the hotel is set within one of the last remaining clusters of traditional shikumen townhouses in the historic Xuhui District. Originally built during the 1930s, these narrow brick residences have been meticulously restored and transformed into one-, two- and three-bedroom villas by the late Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim and his team. Their interiors combine traditional Chinese elements with subtle French influences, reflecting Shanghai’s cosmopolitan past while providing the comfort expected of an ultra-luxury hotel. The result feels wonderfully residential and completely different from the city’s more conventional five-star properties. Gastronomy is another strong point, with Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire holding a Michelin star, while Auriga Spa and the Capella Culturists complete the experience. Capella Shanghai may lack the dramatic pools and expansive resort grounds of some properties higher on this list, but few luxury hotels offer such an authentic architectural connection to their destination.

Hotel website: Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).

7. Capella Kyoto, Japan

Opened in March 2026, Capella Kyoto marks the brand’s long-awaited arrival in Japan – and it is difficult to imagine a more appropriate destination for Capella’s philosophy of cultural immersion. The hotel occupies a prime position in Miyagawa-cho, one of Kyoto’s historic geiko and maiko districts, close to Kenninji Temple and the traditional streets of Gion. Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates together with Brewin Design Office, the four-story property takes inspiration from the traditional machiya townhouse while interpreting Kyoto craftsmanship through a sophisticated contemporary lens. There are just 89 rooms and suites, starting at a generous 50 square meters and arranged around a peaceful central courtyard and water feature. Twenty-nine are suites, including six particularly desirable Onsen Suites offering private bathing experiences. The magnificent two-bedroom Capella Suite overlooks landmarks including Yasaka Pagoda and Kiyomizu-dera. As expected, the hotel also incorporates the signature Capella Living Room, Auriga Spa and carefully curated cultural experiences. Capella Kyoto is still a very young property, but its intimate scale, remarkable location and deeply considered design give it enormous potential to become one of the brand’s icons.

Hotel website: Capella Kyoto
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Kyoto when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).

6. Capella Sydney, Australia

Capella Sydney is a masterclass in transforming a historic building into a contemporary luxury hotel without erasing its past. The property occupies Sydney’s former Department of Education building, an imposing heritage-listed sandstone landmark dating from the early 20th century in the city’s prestigious Sandstone Precinct. Following a painstaking restoration, the building reopened as Capella Sydney in 2023, with many original architectural details beautifully integrated into sophisticated modern interiors. The hotel features 192 rooms and suites spread across eight levels, making it one of the larger Capella properties, yet the atmosphere remains remarkably serene and residential. One of its most memorable spaces is Aperture, a soaring central courtyard flooded with natural light, while Brasserie 1930, McRae Bar and the excellent Auriga Spa further elevate the experience. The Living Room provides the intimate, guests-only sanctuary that has become a Capella signature. Its central location is another major asset, placing guests within walking distance of Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour. Few city hotels combine heritage, design, location and understated luxury quite as successfully.

Hotel website: Capella Sydney
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Sydney when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).

5. Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

Capella Hanoi may be one of the smallest hotels in the portfolio, but it is also one of the most memorable. Located on a quiet boulevard close to Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter and Hanoi Opera House, this extraordinary 47-room property was designed by Bill Bensley as an extravagant tribute to opera and the glamour of the Roaring Twenties. Every room and suite is individually styled and dedicated to an opera artist, composer, designer or performance, with theatrical memorabilia, richly layered colors and playful decorative details creating an atmosphere unlike that of any conventional luxury hotel. Yet beneath the visual exuberance lies a genuinely sophisticated hotel, with highly personalized service, the signature Living Room and an excellent Auriga Spa. Dining is another highlight: Hibana by Koki offers an intimate Michelin-starred teppanyaki experience, while the atmospheric Backstage restaurant and Diva’s Lounge continue the operatic theme. Even the indoor swimming pool, La Grotta, resembles a subterranean sanctuary created for performers. Capella Hanoi will not appeal to minimalists, but that is precisely its charm: it is daring, romantic, eccentric and utterly unique – a true luxury hotel with personality.

Hotel website: Capella Hanoi
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Hanoi when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).

4. Capella Singapore, Singapore

Capella Singapore is the grande dame of the brand and remains one of Singapore’s most appealing luxury resorts. Located on Sentosa Island yet just over 10 minutes from the city center, the hotel occupies 30 acres of tropical gardens overlooking the South China Sea. Its architectural centerpiece consists of two beautifully restored Tanah Merah colonial bungalows dating to the 1880s, which Foster + Partners incorporated into a sweeping contemporary resort. The 113 rooms, suites, villas and manors are spread throughout the lush estate, creating a wonderful feeling of space that is almost impossible to find elsewhere in Singapore. For maximum privacy, the villas feature outdoor terraces and private plunge pools, while the standalone Manors offer an extraordinary residential experience. Three cascading swimming pools, Auriga Spa and several dining venues complete the resort facilities. I particularly love the Living Room here, housed within one of the historic colonial buildings and offering refreshments alongside cultural activities organized by Capella Culturists. Capella Singapore may no longer be the newest or flashiest property in the portfolio, but its combination of history, tropical surroundings and understated luxury has aged exceptionally well.

Hotel website: Capella Singapore
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Singapore when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).
Review: read my review of Capella Singapore here.

3. Capella Taipei, Taiwan

One of the newest additions to the portfolio, Capella Taipei has immediately established itself among the brand’s very best hotels. Located on tree-lined Dunhua North Road in Taipei’s Songshan district, the property was conceived by celebrated Hong Kong designer André Fu as a sophisticated “modern mansion.” Its 86 rooms and suites combine European elegance with subtle Asian influences, warm residential details and enormous windows framing the Taipei skyline. Some Skyline categories enjoy spectacular views of Taipei 101, while the exceptional Pool Terrace rooms and suites add private outdoor plunge pools – a rare luxury in the heart of Taipei. The hotel also features an outdoor swimming pool, an elegant Living Room, an impressive wellness center and five culinary concepts, including the two-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Mizue. What impressed me most during my stay was how effortlessly everything comes together: the architecture, refined interiors, intimate atmosphere and exceptional attention to detail all feel unmistakably Capella. For an urban hotel, Capella Taipei also has an unusual resort-like quality, particularly around its elevated pool terraces. It is already one of Taipei’s most luxurious hotels and, in my opinion, one of Capella’s greatest achievements.

Hotel website: Capella Taipei
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Taipei when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).
Review: coming soon

2. Capella Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Capella Ubud is not only my favorite Capella property but also one of the most extraordinary luxury resorts in the world. Hidden in the rainforest of Bali’s Keliki Valley, north of Ubud, the resort was designed by legendary architect Bill Bensley as a fantastical 19th-century expedition camp. Rather than clearing the site, the resort was constructed around the existing landscape, allowing the jungle to remain the star of the show. There are just 22 one-bedroom tented retreats plus the two-bedroom Lodge, all featuring large outdoor decks and private saltwater pools. The interiors are wonderfully theatrical, filled with antiques, patterned fabrics and eccentric details inspired by the imagined characters of early explorers. Facilities include the spectacular Cistern swimming pool, intimate Auriga Wellness tents and several excellent dining venues, while immersive activities introduce guests to Balinese spirituality, nature and local village life. Capella Ubud manages the rare feat of being whimsical without becoming kitsch and adventurous without sacrificing comfort. Few hotels anywhere provide such an intoxicating combination of design, privacy, nature and genuine sense of place.

Hotel website: Capella Ubud
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks at Capella Ubud when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50-minute massage for up to two people, per room).

1. Capella Bangkok, Thailand

Occupying a coveted position directly beside Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, Capella Bangkok is arguably one of the finest urban resorts in Asia. Despite being located in one of the world’s busiest cities, the property feels wonderfully calm and secluded, with a low-rise design that places the river at the center of the experience. Its 101 rooms, suites and villas are exceptionally spacious, starting at 61 square meters, and every accommodation offers an outdoor space from which to watch life unfold on the Chao Phraya. Most impressive are the seven riverside villas, which sit directly at the water’s edge and feature private gardens and plunge pools. The hotel also excels gastronomically, with Côte by Mauro Colagreco holding two Michelin stars, while the Auriga Wellness facilities provide a peaceful retreat from Bangkok’s frenetic energy. As at every Capella, the Living Room and Capella Culturists add a residential and highly personalized dimension to the stay. Capella Bangkok feels less like a conventional city hotel and more like an intimate luxury resort that just happens to occupy one of Bangkok’s best locations.

Hotel website: Capella Bangkok
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD hotel credit).