8/10
“Great stay.”
Excellent location, friendly helpful staff. Spotlessly clean. Good size room.
Unable to use the rooftop nat due to a private function.
Bangkok · the famous one and its lookalike
Capella Bangkok vs Riva Arun Bangkok
Priced on the same night, 2026-10-25: Riva Arun Bangkok is $694 a night less. They are 4.2 km apart.
Riva Arun Bangkok
$120/ night, 2026-10-25
+ $8 taxes & fees · Free cancellation
Book takes you to the exact room at that rate on HotelDupe's booking partner. Confirmation arrives by email; manage or cancel any time from Find your booking.
The honest take
Book Riva Arun Bangkok unless budget is genuinely no object. At $148 a night against $773, with a higher review count and near-identical guest scores, it delivers the river-facing romance of old Bangkok for a fraction of Capella's rate. Capella wins on scale and resort facilities - spa, pool, fitness centre, hot tub - but Riva Arun's whole point is the view across to Wat Arun, which no amount of marble at Capella replicates. This is a case where cheaper does not mean lesser experience, just a different one.
The look and the feel
Capella Bangkok
Capella Bangkok sits on the Chao Phraya in a low-slung, glass-and-timber compound designed by Bill Bensley, all pale stone, dark wood screens and long reflecting pools that blur the line between architecture and garden. The lobby is hushed and vast, with soft daylight falling through slatted timber onto minimalist furniture in muted tones - the aesthetic is contemporary Thai luxury rather than temple pastiche. Rooms have deep soaking tubs, balconies over the river or garden, and the sense of being cocooned from the city entirely. It draws an international crowd of design-conscious travellers and honeymooners who want anonymity and five-star polish rather than street noise.
Capella suits travellers wanting a self-contained luxury resort experience with spa, pool and fine dining, and who don't mind paying for it.
Riva Arun Bangkok
Riva Arun occupies an old shophouse-style building directly across the river from Wat Arun, and its whole identity is built around that view - white-washed walls, exposed brick, industrial-chic lighting fixtures mixed with reclaimed wood furniture, and an open-air rooftop restaurant where the temple's spires glow at sunset. It has the feel of a converted riverside warehouse turned boutique guesthouse: compact, characterful, slightly worn at the edges in a way that reads as charm rather than neglect. The crowd is younger, more independent-traveller, people who came for the Old City neighbourhood of Pranakorn and its temples, markets and narrow lanes rather than resort seclusion.
Riva Arun suits travellers who want to be immersed in Bangkok's old riverside district, on a modest budget, with an unbeatable view thrown in.
At $148, Riva Arun gives up the spa, pool, fitness centre, hot tub, parking, breakfast and golf that come with Capella's rate - it's a boutique riverside inn, not a resort.
Riva Arun is the more beautiful place to actually sit and watch the evening: Wat Arun lit up across still water beats any spa, however good the marble is.
The numbers
| Capella Bangkok | Riva Arun Bangkok | |
|---|---|---|
| Price, same night | $814 | $120 |
| Guest rating | 9.6/10 | 9.3/10 |
| Reviews | 177 | 564 |
| Stars | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Facilities on our list | 9 | 1 |
| Distance apart | 4.2 km |
What one has that the other doesn't
Only Capella Bangkok has
- Spa
- Pool
- Pet
- Fitness
- Parking
- Breakfast
- Hot tub
- Golf
Only Riva Arun Bangkok has
Nothing on our list that Capella Bangkok lacks.
What guests actually say
Capella Bangkok
- friendly, attentive service
- excellent room quality and facilities
- billing/refund problems with card payments
Riva Arun Bangkok
- excellent location near old town attractions
- friendly, helpful staff
- clean rooms with good views
- rooms and bathroom layout a bit small
“Excellent location, friendly helpful staff. Spotlessly clean. Good size room.”
Riva Arun guests seem happier overall, praising the unbeatable location and friendly staff with only minor space complaints, while Capella's mostly high scores are undercut by one guest's serious unresolved billing dispute.
Rooms & rates, 2026-10-25
Capella Bangkok
- Riverfront RoomBreakfast Included · free cancellation$814
- Riverfront KingBreakfast Included · free cancellation$814
- Riverfront RoomBreakfast Included$829
Riva Arun Bangkok
- Superior Double or Twin RoomRoom Only · free cancellation$120
- Riva Arun SuperiorRoom Only$124
- Riva Arun SuperiorRoom Only · free cancellation$126
In guests' own words
Riva Arun Bangkok
8/10
Fantastic location to explore the old town.- You can walk to many attractions! Rooms with a view of Wat Arun.. Clean rooms
The bathroom layout in double room.
About each
Capella Bangkok
Luxurious Accommodation with Diverse Dining Options Capella Bangkok - SHA Plus Certified, located in Bangkok, offers a lavish stay with an outdoor pool, fitness center, and garden. Enjoy a variety of facilities including a shared lounge, terrace, and bar. The hotel provides free WiFi, a sauna, and evening entertainment. Indulge in rooms with balconies and…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Riva Arun Bangkok
Stunning River Views and Stylish Rooms Perfectly set across the Chao Phraya river with stunning views of Wat Arun, Riva Arun offers stylish rooms equipped with a wide range of facilities. All rooms feature comfortable bed options, air conditioning, and en suite bathrooms with premium shower amenities. Delightful Dining Experience by the River Indulge in…
Check-in — · Check-out 12:00 PM
Facilities, in full
Capella Bangkok
- Fitness facilities
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Parking
- Free Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- Fitness center
- Swimming pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Business center
- Terrace
- Family rooms
- Garden
Riva Arun Bangkok
- WiFi available
- Free WiFi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Air conditioning
- 24-hour front desk
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Laundry
- Bar
- Daily housekeeping
- Cooking class
Where they are
300/2 Charoenkrung Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120, Thailand392/26 Maharaj Road, Phraborom Maharajawang, Pranakorn
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Rates are live for 2026-10-25, one night, two guests, fetched together so the two are comparable. Facilities and reviews are from each hotel's own listing. The honest take is written by our AI from the listing, the reviews and what is widely known about each hotel. HotelDupe earns a commission if you book, which never changes the verdict. All comparisons