Hotel choice in Phuket, Thailand is a tricky affair. Although many hotels line the 3 main beaches, Kata Beach, Karon Beach and the notorious Patong Beach, only a handful are actually on the beach with the majority set back across the main road.
I don’t know about you but I don’t relish the daily schlep back and to the beach crossing the main road each time, so I eventually managed to grab a few days at two of the hotels with direct access to the glorious, yellow soft sand beaches that adorn Phuket. This was no easy affair as my plans were frantic last-minute ones coupled with the fact that it was over the busiest period of the year, early January. My stay was at The Boathouse on Kata Beach. I was determined to stay there because of its legendary reputation of having one of the best restaurants on the island.
The Boathouse was the very first establishment in Thailand to have been awarded a Wine Spectator award in 1995. In 2006 The Boathouse made history again by being the first in Thailand to win the Wine Spectator “Two-Glasses” Best of Award of Excellence. Known for its gourmet Thai and French Mediterranean cuisine, The Boathouse Wine & Grill restaurant is now headed by Executive Chef Jean-Noël Lumineau, Thailand’s only Maître Cuisinier de France. The food was magnificent. There’s a comprehensive a la carte menu as well as two tableau h’ote menus all with a choice of either French or Thai dishes.
The wine cellar is vast, and it will take you half an hour to scour the wine list to eventually decide on your choice. Little wonder that, 25 years ago, it was the restaurant that was voted best in the world with its international reputation growing quickly by attracting celebrities and royalty from Europe, America, and Asia. The hotel section was only built because the famous diners wanted to stay for a few days longer to continue to eat the magnificent food.
This luxurious boutique hotel has 33 rooms, 3 suites, and 2 pool villas, all facing the sea. However, the standard rooms are adequate without being large and luxurious. That is countered by the fine food and the easy direct access to the private beach with sun umbrellas and loungers exclusively reserved for guests.
I was looked after by the charming Lisa Sol, PR Manager who managed to get me in the Saturday morning cooking class where, along with around 10 other guests, we learned to cook a variety of classic Thai dishes.
I would recommend this fabulous hotel and like many of its other guests, I would rush back.
For more information please visit The Boathouse Phuket
