Perched atop Phuket’s Cape Panwa, Sri Panwa is a discreet luxury resort designed to relax and restore, discovers Gayatri Bhaumik.
When Sri Panwa first opened, it was billed as a hip retreat for music lovers, where guests could lounge in luxury during the day and party with international DJs by night. But the party atmosphere has since transferred to sister resort Baba Beach Club – which opened last year – leaving Sri Panwa to become a bastion of luxury,
The Luxury of Space
It’s hard to get a sense of just how huge Sri Panwa is when you arrive under the cover of night. I get my first inkling when – after a thankfully efficient check-in at 1am – the lone staffer at the reception building bundles me into one of the resort’s ubiquitous tuk-tuks to whisk me off to The Habita building where my Pool Suite is located.
This is just the first of many
It quickly becomes clear, though, that its size is one of the resort’s biggest advantages. With so much space to work with, buildings and villas are spaced well apart and allow a great deal of privacy. I’m told that rooms are completely booked out for this weekend, so it’s surprising how quiet the property is. The only time I see more than a few guests is at the Baba Poolclub, since this is where you’ll find the breakfast buffet, an alfresco bar and 25-metre infinity pool, and the concierge desk.
A Private Oasis
Villas are the accommodation of choice at Sri Panwa, but last year, the resort added The Habita, a quiet enclave of 20 Pool Suites and 10 Penthouses. Like all the villas here, The Habita’s rooms come with private infinity pools and super-king beds that face floor-to-ceiling glass doors and offer postcard views of the azure Andaman Sea.
Sri Panwa’s signature aesthetics blend tropical touches with Thai motifs, and my Pool Suite is no different. With plenty of wood, glass and earthy tones, it’s stylish without being ostentatious. There’s a flatscreen facing a bed-like couch and a table laden with tropical fruits, a complimentary minibar stocked with plenty of local snacks and drinks, and in the bathroom, a spacious rainforest shower and a deep-soak tub with all the amenities.
Technology is key here, so yes, there is complimentary high-speed wifi and curtains open at the touch of a button. But there’s also a docked iPod by the TV which comes pre-loaded with all manner of playlists, and both the bedroom and the bathroom have control panels that guests can use to set different lighting themes.
A Laissez-Faire Affair
The idea at Sri Panwa is to do as little or as much as you want. The resort offers a range of facilities and activities for guests that want to stay busy or explore, like boat trips to Phi Phi island, diving or fishing excursions, private yoga classes, and even training sessions at the onsite boxing ring. But if your mission is to indulge in some good old fashioned
I opt for a little pampering at the Cool Spa, which combines Moroccan aesthetics with Thai wellness; there’s even a surprisingly extensive spa menu that boasts a few appropriately manly gents-only treatments. If you’re simply looking to work out a few muscular aches and pains, though, the Sri Panwa Serenity and Aromatic Thai Oil massages are thoroughly
Gourmet Delights
Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to food here, and you could certainly spend a few days working your way through Sri Panwa’s different restaurants. Mornings here start with a full Champagne breakfast at Baba Poolclub where you’ll find an extensive buffet of Eastern, Western and healthy options, along with made-to-order hot dishes like Eggs Benedict and French Toast. The resort’s signature restaurant is Baba Soul Food, and it’s worth planning an evening here to sample delicious, authentic Thai fare – the Massaman curry is delightfully rich and piquant, and yes, there is mango sticky rice for dessert.
You’ll want to book well ahead to get one of the twelve tables at Baba Nest – I struggle to get a last-minute reservation, even though the bar is half empty when I arrive for my booking the next evening. Sri Panwa’s exclusive rooftop bar is a signature experience that shouldn’t be missed, even if you might have to deal with camera-toting guests in unnecessarily fashion-forward outfits trying to take the perfect picture for Instagram. It’s worth it though – you’ll be rewarded with stunning sunset views, great cocktails and a menu of Mexican bar bites.
The Verdict
There are plenty of places that offer an escape from the world, but Sri Panwa offers something a little different. To create a retreat that offers luxury,
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