Best food & drink

1. Tambu Phuket

Located in a luxurious rooftop tent, Tambu Phuket is the resort’s Michelin Guide Indian restaurant, renowned for its 7-course tasting menu cooked by “Iron Chef Thailand winner”, Saurabh Sachdeva. As soon as I arrived, the journey through India began, framed by candlelights, yellow cushions, terracotta walls and elephant paintings, while traditional Indian music softly played, transporting me to India’s Mughal era.

With Indian cuisine being a personal favourite, the anticipation was well rewarded by a dining experience that is among the most exceptional I have experienced. The journey was a theatrical performance in progressive Indian charcoal cuisine. From street-food-inspired bites like classic samosas and spiced beetroot chops, to the show-stopping Jhal Muri, prepared tableside with smoked avocado snow and crisp puffed rice, each dish was carefully choreographed through India’s regions with a historic story behind it.

The highlight of the menu was the crab kutcha, cooked to perfection with curry-spiced crab encased in smoked bread, accompanied by condiments including cucumber and mint yoghurt. The main course offered a medley of signature curries and breads, while dessert concluded with delicate miniature sweets from around the country, including saffron pistachio biscuit and dark chocolate-infused paan.

2. Sizzle Rooftop Restaurant & Bar

Sitting across the rooftop from Tambu Phuket, this is another of the resort’s Michelin Guide restaurants and bars. Offering incredible scenery of Patong hills and the Andaman Sea, Sizzle Rooftop Restaurant & Bar has al fresco dining, allowing you to take in the views while enjoying one of their award-winning cocktails. It’s the perfect place to take in the vibrant sunset over Phuket, while the DJ spins laidback house music, adding to the ambience. It’s renowned for its premium steak, seafood and innovative cocktails after receiving recognition for Excellence in Grilled Specialities in the Top 25 Restaurants 2024

I sipped a refreshing mocktail made up of tonic, mint and cucumber exclusively created by the leading mixologist, Arjun Ghai. I enjoyed iberico croquetas to start, made up of bechamel, aioli and 24-month iberico ham. This dish is inspired by Chef Alvaro de la Puerta’s Spanish heritage, bringing Mediterranean flair and European expertise to the restaurant. I then indulged in a Black Angus beef cooked with impeccable precision and finished with a sizzling sorbet that was presented with ice-cold smoke.

3. Vista Restaurant

This is the resort’s primary restaurant, offering a diverse menu of international dishes from Thai to Italian cuisine. Every corner of this resort tells a story, and this is particularly evident in Vista. Influenced by its surroundings of the Andaman Sea, it adopts an under-the-sea design approach, embellished with shimmering blue walls, elegant pillars that resemble coral reefs, and finished with decorative touches of shell and marine ornaments. It’s a relaxed setting with indoor or al fresco dining overlooking the jungle and ocean.

Nestled in a serene tropical paradise, above the resort’s main pool, Vista is the perfect setting for a leisurely lunch or intimate dinner. I ate here many times during my stay, enjoying a mix of both Thai and international dishes. The highlight for me was the pesto and mozzarella sourdough sandwich, paired with the chocolate lava cake, its molten centre flowing decadently with rich chocolate – the perfect indulgence, offering a sense of comforting luxury away from home.

Stay

Avista Hideaway Patong Resort & Spa Phuket – MGallery Collection hosts 150 rooms and suites, with nine different types to choose from, including deluxe rooms with garden views, premier rooms with ocean views or the Hideaway Suite with a private pool. Stepping inside the Hideaway Suite felt like entering my own secluded sanctuary. This lavish space instantly drew me in with its effortless blend of modern luxury and intricate Thai touches inspired by hillside and riverside communities.

The suite is unparalleled in space and comfort, featuring an indulgent king-size bed, a dressing area, a writing desk, an indoor bathroom, and an outdoor bathroom with a rainfall shower and a freestanding tub – all adding to the tranquil hillside experience. The main bathroom and bedroom lead to the outdoor terrace with a plunge pool, a sumptuous daybed, and a dining and kitchen area. Here you can unwind, entertain, or simply soak up Phuket’s beauty in complete privacy. Every detail is thoughtfully designed for tranquillity, whether you spend mornings by the pool, afternoons relaxing on the daybed, or evenings soaking in the freestanding bath under the glistening sky.

Explore

There are three idyllic swimming pools throughout Avista Hideaway Patong Resort & Spa Phuket – MGallery Collection, each with a different ambience, some more secluded than others and one specifically designed for adults only, allowing you to savour every moment of peace. The pools are surrounded by nature, which can be seen from every space throughout the resort, allowing you to immerse yourself in a calm setting under the sun.

The lobby is one of the most striking elements of this resort. It welcomes guests with a calming, neutral palette, giant clay plant pots, and a show-stopping chandelier that nods to Thai tradition, sat beside a gigantic glittering sun sculpture – it’s the ideal setting for a high tea amongst jungle and sea views. The high tea is served in a decorative wooden cage with decadent delights that look too beautiful to eat.

Although situated above the hill tops, this resort is within convenient reach of Patong and many other Phuket attractions. It’s nestled around many of the island’s beautiful beaches, including Paradise Beach, Freedom Beach and Patong Beach, yet only a 40-minute ride to Nai Harn Beach and Promthep Cave for a scenic sunset spot.