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Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hotel review: Trisara, Phuket
Phuket, Thailand 's largest island, has much to offer: white-gold beaches, turquoise waters, upscale beach clubs and an Old Town famous for its colourful Sino-Portuguese houses, street food markets and bustling nightlife. It's also steeped in culture, with Buddhist and Chinese temples, street art murals and traditional music festivals galore. You'll find some of the world's most opulent beachfront resorts in Phuket, offering guests specialised wellness programs, personalised services and fine dining experiences. Trisara, a high-end eco resort on the quiet north-western coast, is a prime example. With a name that lives up to its translation ('The Garden in the Third Heaven'), the five-star hotel is a seaside sanctuary spanning 40 acres of lush jungle surrounds, and a private coastline with impressive rock formations and one of the healthiest coral reefs on the island. Its connection to nature is mirrored through its design. The resort's main buildings and villas feature sloping terracotta roofs, open layouts reminiscent of sala-style pavilions and intricate teak wood carvings, seamlessly blending Thai tradition with modern comfort. Trisara is less than half an hour by car from Phuket's airport, and arriving feels like entering a private pocket of the world. I'm welcomed with a phuang malai flower garland, a chilled jasmine-scented towel and a refreshing drink, before a buggy whizzes me off to my villa. Rooms and facilities Trisara prides itself for offering guests a secluded and intimate experience. Each of its 39 pool villas and suites are cleverly scattered across a forest-covered hillside and boast their own private entrance, outdoor deck and infinity pool screened by lush hedges of birds of paradise flowers. Stepping through the sliding doors of the Ocean View Pool Villa I get to call home for the next few days, I'm transported into an episode of The White Lotus. The focal point of the room is a king bed with crisp white cotton sheets, perfectly positioned towards the water to take in those glistening Andaman Sea views and magical sunsets. The marble bathroom – hidden behind the bed when the turndown crew closes the teak pocket doors at night – contains his and hers sinks, a vanity table, floor-to-ceiling wardrobes with silk hangers, an enormous bath, two showers (indoor and outdoor) and the fluffiest robes and towels (more than you'll ever need). Outside, there are plenty of spots to plop down (I count four comfy sunloungers and a dining set). Having my very own infinity pool is a real highlight. The landscaped gardens surrounding my villa do, in fact, offer total privacy, so a skinny-dip is basically obligatory. But the real luxury is in the details and amenities here. You'll find mosquito repellent (chances are you will get bitten otherwise), a woven beach bag (it's very chic and available to buy in the gift shop) and large, clear umbrellas (in case of a tropical downpour) in your room. A fresh fruit platter, glass jars of chocolate truffles, chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies, Nespresso pods, and reusable glass water bottles are restocked daily. And the hotel buggies, which are only a phone call away, will take you from your villa to the hotel's main buildings. Although the walk down the narrow lanes and steps is quite scenic. Food and drink It's tempting to sit on the deck and order room service (I'm told a lot of guests dine in their rooms) but Trisara is home to five restaurants and one cocktail bar (7.8˚N – make sure to order the Latitude) that deserve to be explored. Breakfast at Cielo & Spice is a spectacular affair, with a buffet spread of fresh fruits, flaky pastries, homemade yoghurt jars and Thai delicacies such as pork dumplings and chicken fried rice. Still peckish? The à la carte breakfast options include cinnamon French toast with fresh mango and eggs cooked in every way possible. Come lunchtime, the seafront restaurant serves up a mix of European and Asian fare. Highlights include the pomelo salad with green apple and chili, the Massaman curry and the cumin stir-fried sliced beef tenderloin. On the opposite side of the deck sits La Crique. Trisara's newest dining destination draws inspiration from the Andaman Coast and the French Riviera with plates of artichoke salad, grilled tiger prawns and beef filet with Bearnaise sauce. Looking to turn up the spice? At Thai Library, authentic Southern Thai classics are served family-style. There's an à la carte menu with a lot of choices, so I ask the Chef for his recommendations and leave more than satisfied. Fine dining foodies will be spoiled at Pru, the island's first Michelin-starred joint, and Jampa, the farm-to-table restaurant located on the resort's farm, where I sample a ten-course sharing menu whilst overlooking the lakes and wildlife. Hotel highlights Despite having a villa with a private pool, I spend most of my time by the 45-metre saltwater pool that stretches along the resort's beachfront for alternating dips in the pool and the Andaman Sea. It's surrounded by sunloungers and umbrellas, daybeds and even a hammock (or two) hanging from the palm trees. If a tropical downpour catches you off guard one day, there's no better place to hide from the rain than the Jara Spa, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the resort's lush greenery. Each treatment here starts and finishes with a cup of herbal tea and candied ginger. I indulge in the Jara Oil Massage: a 90-minute aromatherapy massage during which the therapist guides me through various stretches. What to do Get an active start to the day There are endless ways to get your blood pumping at Trisara: hit the state-of-the-art gym (personal trainers are on call and infrared saunas await after your sweat sesh); brush up on your serving skills on one of the two private tennis courts; or get into ring with one of the resort's expert trainers for a Thai boxing lesson. Alternatively, if you like a slower start to your day, Trisara also organises yoga and meditation sessions in its lush tropical landscapes. Enjoy the complimentary water sports I truly believe there's no better way to spend a week in tropical paradise than on a sunlounger with a good book, but if you're feeling a little more adventurous, the hotel offers complimentary non-motorised water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and snorkeling between the months of December and April. Head into the Old Town No trip to Phuket would be complete without a visit to its Old Town. Though just under an hour's drive from the resort (and that's on a good traffic day), there's plenty to explore in its colourful streets, from traditional ceramics shops to cool cafés and street food snacks. Thalang Road, the oldest and most iconic street, runs through the heart of the area and cannot be missed. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charlotte Vossen (@charvossen)
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Would you travel for food? In Thailand, these regional chefs believe so
What makes a place worth visiting? For some, it might be a tick list of sights; others may favour a sandy beach or a pool by which to sit back and relax. But for a large and growing number of travelling gourmets, it's the number of Michelin stars a region racks up. Advertisement For these epicureans, Tokyo holds the global first place, with a whopping 220 Michelin stars. Paris comes second with 160, followed by Kyoto with 119. Hong Kong ranks fifth in the 2025 edition, with a rather respectable 101 stars. But what about the other end of the spectrum, like, say, Phuket , where Pru, a 36-seat restaurant inside the luxurious Trisara resort, has been the Thai island's sole recipient of a Michelin star since 2018, making its tweezered tasting menu the foremost ambassador for fine dining in a place better known for cheap and cheerful street food served from unpretentious open-air markets. Executive chef Jimmy Ophorst works the open-fire grill at Pru Phuket in Thailand. Photo: Gavin Yeung 'Being the only Michelin-starred restaurant on the island brings a lot of privileges, but because we're in Phuket, it also brings a lot of challenges,' says Pru's executive chef, Jimmy Ophorst. 'The sourcing of ingredients is a lot harder than when you are in Bangkok, for example, where suppliers have their headquarters and you have direct connections.' The Dutch native believes Phuket's unique conditions for fine dining were vital to shaping Pru into its current incarnation. Perched atop a hill in a dedicated villa, the restaurant invites diners to ascend a flight of stairs to its welcome lounge, where a trio of amuse-bouches is served, cluing diners into the locavore cuisine. The main dining room is dominated by a Japanese kappo-style dining bar, where up to 10 diners can peer into the generously spaced, state-of-the-art open kitchen, and out to the Andaman Sea beyond. Durian mousse on a bed of Hua Hin caviar and topped with shiso leaf oil at Pru in Phuket. Photo: courtesy Pru
