Luxurious hillside hideaway celebrates its 30th anniversary this year
Way back in 1988, when the Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa first opened its doors to welcome guests, Phuket was a very different place. But over the past three decades this venerable hillside resort—situated just north of Patong City—has been consistently delivering a standard of luxury as high as their cliffside villas overlooking the Andaman Sea. Although that’s not to say that nothing has changed. In fact, this regal resort continues to expand and improve with each passing year.
The property itself is quite large, and has grown to now include five restaurants, three bars, two outdoor swimming pools, and 16 treatment rooms and an onsen bath in the on-site Diamond Spa. Meanwhile, among the resort’s 310 guestrooms and suites the exclusive one- and two-bedroom private pool villas, built at the very top of the hillside, offer some of the most heavenly views on the island. These stunning and intricately designed high-ceilinged abodes are beautiful examples of classic Thai architecture with modern touches and amenities, offering ample living spaces inside and out, and private plunge pools that face the sea.
Of course, the resort’s other units are just as swanky, with many suites offering an in-room Jacuzzi. The 70 sq.m Diamond Jacuzzi Suite is a perfect couple-friendly choice, complete with plush furnishings, dark hardwood floors, luxurious linens, private balcony, and an elegant marble bathroom with a seaview whirlpool bathtub. The room also features two armchairs, a day bed, wall-mounted flatscreen TV, wardrobe with room safe, separate shower and toilet facilities, and a large mini-bar area that includes a marble countertop and two bar stools (all of which divides the living area nicely).
The resort’s multiple F&B outlets offer something for all tastes, from international buffet breakfasts to authentic Thai and Italian fare, as well as lavish buffets on Monday (Thai), Wednesday (steak), and Friday (seafood). The Diamond Cliff is also home to Kiko, one of the first Japanese fine dining restaurants to open in Phuket. Here the combination of an experienced chef, together with fresh ingredients imported from Japan, delivers an authentic dining experience. However, this restaurant will be undergoing renovations starting in May of 2018, so visit soon.
Another dining experience to entice visitors is the newly opened Sea Salt Lounge & Grill, which is located directly across the main road from the resort itself, and offers panoramic vistas overlooking the beach. The chic and modern décor, combined with a selection of Thai and international dishes—not to mention superb cocktails—makes it one of the best new seaside dining options in Phuket.
Spacious, private, and wonderfully romantic, this idyllic island retreat is a sanctuary for relaxation. And with a free scheduled shuttle bus service, the excitement of Patong’s nightlife is just a few minutes’ drive away. By Bruce Scott
Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa
284 Prabaramee Rd, Patong
Tel: 07 638 0050
www.diamondcliff.com
www.seasaltpatong.com
