In recent times, I’ve been writing a series about some of the world’s small luxury hotel groups, including Airelles, Aman, BVLGARI, Cheval Blanc, Oetker, One&Only, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, etc. One brand that I haven’t covered much is Capella Hotels & Resorts, so in this post, I’d like to take a look at that.
While Capella has a small collection of properties, they’re incredibly high quality, and typically represent among the best hotels in their locales. The brand is heavily focused on Asia-Pacific, but we’ll finally see the brand expand beyond that in the next couple of years, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out. There’s also even an interesting loyalty program angle to Capella.
In this post:
Basics of what makes Capella Hotels & Resorts special
Without the massive footprint or decades of legacy that competitors possess, Capella Hotels & Resorts has managed to build an impressive reputation in recent years. While I don’t exactly put much weight on these rankings, Capella as a brand, plus the individual properties, have earned a disproportionate number of awards, and they seem to be well deserved.
The backstory of Capella is interesting, as it was first founded in 2001 by Horst Schulze. He was also the co-founder of Ritz-Carlton back in 1983, long before Marriott got involved. Then in 2017, Schulze sold Capella to Singapore’s Kwee family, and it’s really since then that the “modern” Capella brand was born.
To expand on that a bit, virtually all of the initial Capella properties from a couple of decades ago have been rebranded. For example, Breidenbacher Hof Dusseldorf, Cala de Mar Ixtapa, Rosewood Washington DC, Waldorf Astoria Pedregal Los Cabos, etc., were all former Capella properties.
In many ways, Capella’s new and boutique portfolio has allowed the company to remain heavily focused on quality. I like Capella’s stated vision — “visionary design elevated with honest-to-heart hospitality” — and it’s quite a contrast to so many of the other mass market hotel groups you’ll see out there.
I also like the company’s vision, and I think it paints a pretty accurate picture of the kind of experience the brand offers:
Our vision is to combine tradition, discovery, individuality and a twist of the unexpected, to create the perfect stay for each guest. Our destinations are designed by world-renowned architects. Our restaurants offer authentic flavours imaginatively reinvented. From the Auriga spas to each location’s dedicated and personal guest services, the Capella spirit is holistic, generous and bespoke.
One way I like to think about Capella is that it’s similar to the early days of Aman, except with more of a focus on city properties than rural retreats.
Capella Hotels & Resorts locations
Capella Hotels & Resorts currently has just eight properties in its portfolio, so it’s among the smallest hotel collections out there, with all properties being in Asia-Pacific.
However, the brand should expand by 50% in the next couple of years, with upcoming properties in Kyoto in 2026, and in Florence, Riyadh, and Shenzhen, in 2027. As you can see, we’ll finally see Capella make its European debut. So while there’s a lack of geographic diversity in the portfolio, Asia-Pacific is such a good region for hospitality, so you’ve gotta appreciate how this also allows the brand to have stellar properties.
One other thing I should mention is that Capella also owns Patina Hotels & Resorts, which currently has properties in the Maldives and Osaka. This is a separate hotel group, but also very well regarded, so it’s worth being aware of.
With the above out of the way, let’s go over the details of Capella’s current properties.
Capella Singapore
Set on Sentosa Island just off Singapore’s southern coast, Capella Singapore opened in 2009 as the brand’s flagship. It was built first in the 1880s and provided military housing for the British Royal Artillery. Today, the resort has 112 rooms, suites, villas, and manors, spread across 30 acres of gardens that blend British colonial buildings with modern architecture. Capella Singapore is a standout in the city, given its setting on Sentosa, and historical significance to Singapore.
It’s a great option for anyone who is looking for a resort-style vacation in Singapore. While I don’t put much weight on this, in 2024 Capella Singapore was recognized as one of the World’s 50 Best Hotels, ranking 33rd on the list.
Capella Bangkok
Capella Bangkok opened in 2020 on the Chao Phraya River, and offers 101 rooms, suites, and villas, all of which offer uninterrupted views of the water. The location along Charoen Krung Road and next door to the Four Seasons Bangkok puts guests within Bangkok’s historic waterfront district. One of the unique features of the hotel are the Riverside Villa and Presidential Villa, which offer private riverfront pools and gardens.
Capella Bangkok has quickly established itself as one of the best in Asia and Bangkok. It debuted with a 1st place ranking on the 2024 World’s 50 Best Hotels list, and followed up with a 3rd place ranking in 2025.
Capella Ubud, Bali
Capella Ubud consists of just 23 tents, each with a private saltwater pool. The resort opened in 2018 and caters toward couples, with 22 tents having one bedroom, and one tent having two bedrooms. Every structure at the resort is elevated within the jungle canopy and surrounded by vegetation, and is intended to offer a “glamping” experience. The resort features a tented gym called The Armory, an open-air spa, and a beautiful main pool among the jungle’s treetops.
Capella Shanghai
Capella Shanghai occupies a collection of restored shikumen townhouses in the former French Concession. The property opened in 2017, and offers 55 villas and suites, each spread across multiple levels, with private courtyards and interiors that blend elements of China and Europe.
Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire offers French dining, and the Auriga Spa, along with the library lounge and serene courtyards, give guests plenty of places to unwind away from the city. So the property really feels like a resort within a city, something that Capella is good at.
Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan
Capella Tufu Bay opened in 2019, as a contemporary beachfront escape on the southeastern coast of China’s Hainan Island. The resort has 190 rooms, suites, and villas, all of which face the South China Sea. The property emphasizes wellness, with yoga, tai chi, and holistic spa treatments, forming a key part of the experience.
Capella Hanoi
Opened in 2021, Capella Hanoi brought the brand to Vietnam’s capital, with 47 rooms and suites located in the city’s French Quarter. Designed by Bill Bensley, the property takes inspiration from the world of opera, with Art Nouveau interiors that contrast with Hanoi’s historic streets.
The small scale of the hotel creates an intimate and residential feel. Koki, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, has also become a local highlight. Guests have access to the Auriga Spa, an indoor pool, and a collection of artist-inspired suites, with period antiques and custom artwork. This is unarguably Hanoi’s best hotel.
Capella Sydney
Capella Sydney opened in 2023, transforming the city’s former Department of Education building, an early 20th-century sandstone landmark, into a hotel with 192 rooms and suites. The renovation took seven years and proceeded slowly in order to retain much of the building’s heritage detail, while making the interiors contemporary.
Located in Sydney’s central business district, Capella Sydney is just a few minutes walk far the world famous Opera House, the Rocks, and Sydney Harbour. While the Park Hyatt Sydney used to be regarded as the city’s best hotel, many now think the Capella Sydney has taken over that title, especially in terms of service and amenities.
In 2025, Capella Sydney made its debut with a 12th place ranking on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, earning the distinction of being named “Best Hotel in Oceania.”
Capella Taipei
Capella Taipei opened in April 2025, with 86 room and suites, and is the newest addition to the portfolio. Designed by André Fu, the hotel is meant to offer a “modern mansion” aesthetic. The property features an Auriga Spa, a small, serene indoor pool, a Cantonese restaurant, a European brasserie, and a patisserie with views of the hotel’s garden.
This is without a doubt Taipei’s best hotel, and has elevated the hospitality standard in the city. It’s a property I really want to check out in the near future.
Best way to maximize value with Capella Hotels & Resorts
Unlike some other small luxury hotel groups, Capella does participate in a hotel loyalty program. Specifically, it’s part of GHA Discovery, which is an often overlooked loyalty program. Not only does GHA Discovery offer elite tiers, but the program also offers 4-7% back on your spending, in the form of credits you can use toward future GHA stays. So you absolutely should take advantage of this program is booking a Capella property.
On top of that, Capella properties participate in Virtuoso and similar preferred partner and credit card programs. Booking through those channels usually includes:
- Daily breakfast for two
- A room upgrade, if available
- A resort or spa credit, typically $100 per stay
- Early check-in and late check-out, if available
Given the rates, it’s worth booking through a program that offers these benefits. So whether you book through a premium credit card program or a travel advisor affiliated with Virtuoso, this is the best way to book these properties. The good thing is that booking through Virtuoso still makes you eligible for GHA Discovery rewards, so you can double dip.
Bottom line
Capella is one of the world’s most well regarded luxury boutique hotel brands. Capella currently has eight properties in Asia-Pacific, and seems heavily focused on quality over quantity. I’d almost view Capella as being what Aman used to be in its early days, but with more of a city focus.
In particular, in Bangkok, Hanoi, Shanghai, Sydney, and Taipei, Capella properties are considered to be the best in their cities. I haven’t stayed at a Capella property in a very long time, and I look forward to checking out a couple of these in the near future.
If you do book a Capella property, make sure you book through Virtuoso or a similar program, and double dip it with the GHA Discovery program.
If you’ve stayed at a Capella property, what was your experience like?
Capella Sydney is simply extraordinary. We are headed there for our third stay in two years, and just love the place. The food, the service, the spa, the space--it is wonderful. We came to it after staying in the Sentosa property and also loving it.
fun fact, the Capella Taipei is right next to a STARLUX themed 7-11 that sells exclusive merchandise and is decorated all in STARLUX glamour.
Also it is about 10 minutes walk from their futuristic flagship store.
Marc von Arnim is the GM of the Capella Sydney, so it's not surprising in the least that the Capella Sydney has appeared at the top of the Asia Pacific hotel rankings.
Marc was the former GM of the Park Hyatt Sydney; his absence is noticeable and unfortunate, and the PH Sydney lost a superstar when he left.
He was in my office a few weeks ago and is just the best. That loss for PH cannot be understated.
Someone else said this too, but echoing that I had an INCREDIBLE stay at Capella Hanoi last year. It's probably my favorite city hotel, even above La Reserve in Paris and some of the best Four Seasons city hotels such as Geneva, Florence, and Milan.
@Gary Leff, you beat me to it!
@Ben Schlappig, I've always wondered why you have never covered GHA Discovery Loyalty program. I've been a Titanium elite member for 5+ years nw as it is super easy to obtain by just staying at three participating brand each calendar year. For that I get a 7% rebate on my spend at the hotels. you can then apply that rebate to future stays. Their US footprint is weak...
@Gary Leff, you beat me to it!
@Ben Schlappig, I've always wondered why you have never covered GHA Discovery Loyalty program. I've been a Titanium elite member for 5+ years nw as it is super easy to obtain by just staying at three participating brand each calendar year. For that I get a 7% rebate on my spend at the hotels. you can then apply that rebate to future stays. Their US footprint is weak but getting better. They have some great brands in the program including Kempinski, Anantara, Pan Pacific, Cappella, plus over 40 more. You really should look at this program. I don't travel anywhere enough to get hotel elite status via nights, money, or stays. I find this program is great for those who have the budget to stay in boutique and luxury hotels and resorts but don't travel a lot.
@Michael Yeah. That is a good point. Are the hotels good?
‘super easy to obtain by just staying at three participating brand each calendar year’. It should be three different brands per year like a Marco Polo, a Kempinski, and a Pan Pacific or Capella.
Most of the hotel groups that participate are small and this is a way they can reach a broader audience. I've stayed at 7 different brands, Kempinski, Viceroy, Doyle Collection, Pan Pacific, ParkRoyal, Avani, and LORE, I've yet to have a bad experience. I will say that the Elite recognition is mostly good, but some stays i did not get an upgrade, The DuPont Circle DC (Doyle) and Lyle DC (LORE) were the most common...
Most of the hotel groups that participate are small and this is a way they can reach a broader audience. I've stayed at 7 different brands, Kempinski, Viceroy, Doyle Collection, Pan Pacific, ParkRoyal, Avani, and LORE, I've yet to have a bad experience. I will say that the Elite recognition is mostly good, but some stays i did not get an upgrade, The DuPont Circle DC (Doyle) and Lyle DC (LORE) were the most common offenders. Overall my upgrade experience is about 80% successful (the Viceroy DC has been 100%). We have an upcoming trip to Europe and will be staying at some of the NH Group properties, these seem comparable to most standard limited service hotels. Haven't yet tried any of the resorts other than the Pan Pacific Whistler which was great.
In terms of other Elite benefits they are slowly rolling out free breakfast for Titanium members at participating properties. Hopefully this expands quicker in the future. It is super easy to redeem the Discovery Dollars rebates, just tell the front desk at check out to apply the amount you want to your bill at check out. They usually have a fall promo to purchase Discovery Dollars at $0.85 per Discovery Dollar (ended Oct 31 2025), I always take advantage of that as it is effectively a 15% discount on your all your room rates until you use all your Discovery Dollars.
So for me it works great as I would never amass enough Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott points to ever get 5-7 free nights at a top property and I generally use my MR and C1 points for Business Class flight redemptions. We always look for a Discovery Loyalty property first then we go through Amex FHR if they overlap and if there are no Discovery properties it's a Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott based on most convenient.
And yes I probably should have said "different brands" I guess I assumed it was implied, no worries.
Didn't see the mention of NH! They aren't 'limited service' hotels, they're full service midscale/upper midscale. Service levels are directly comparable to Novotels but they tend to have a bit more personality.
It may be worth noting that, at least in Taipei and Osaka, breakfast is included with all their rates.
Some Capella hotels belong to LHW as well.
Capella is part of GHA Discovery, so you should be stacking that with your booking.. Titaniums receive early checkin/late checkout and double room upgrade are subject to availability, complimentary breakfast, plus 7% rebates, there have been status match opportunities.
@ Gary Leff -- Can't believe I overlooked that, thanks! Updated.
Yeah Gary. But those status match will cost you depending on the elite tie
Yeah Gary. But those status match will cost you depending on the elite tier
It's also worth noting that they operate Patina hotels (Maldives and Osaka), which are also pretty great.
@ pstm91 -- Good point, I added a mention of that to the post, thanks!
The Capella Hanoi is one of the finest hotels in which I have ever stayed in a life fortunate enough to have a healthy list.