Situated on the southeastern corner of Cape Panwa, Phuket, Thailand, Sri Panwa is a luxury 5-star resort built across a 40-acre headland, perched 60 metres above sea level.
The hotel’s distinguished alumni include the likes of Rita Ora, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and Gordon Ramsay, and yes, this is a holiday brag I will not stop talking about.
As we arrived at reception, we were greeted by the charming, welcoming team, who offered a refreshing glass of their speciality iced tea, which (through the floor-to-ceiling glass reception area) we enjoyed alongside uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea.
A-List luxury: exploring Sri Panwa’s world-class amenities
It was quickly becoming clear why Sri Panwa has earned its five-star reputation. Via one of their abundantly available buggies, we were taxied through the tropical shrubbery to our pool suite, taking in the many facilities the resort has to offer. From private tennis courts, clifftop pools, a luxury spa and a private beach, we were spoilt for choice. The hotel also boasts many different venues to eat and drink, so this was certainly going to be the place to indulge and switch off, following several busier days exploring the rest of the island.
Private pool suites and indulgent spa treatments
In terms of accommodation, Sri Panwa offers multiple options depending on what you’re looking for. These range from a five-room villa to their luxury pool suites (where we stayed). The suite itself offered uninterrupted 360-degree views from the king-size bed, which again was but a few relaxed footsteps from our very own infinity pool and rainfall shower.
Privacy was a very important part of the overall design. We really felt like it was just us and the sea. Occasionally, you’d spot ant-like figures on the stretches of beach in the distance or aboard a passing ship, but otherwise, the view felt entirely our own, with just the crashing of the waves and local wildlife providing our soundtrack. The secluded nature of the resort makes it the perfect honeymoon retreat.
One night, there was an incredible storm at sea. The sound of rain hitting the floor-to-ceiling windows around our room was like someone had switched on a white noise machine. As we lay wrapped up in bed, with the occasional flash of lightning, it felt rather magical.
We had few reasons to leave the enriching clifftop quiet, but the award-winning on-site spa was calling. As we arrived at the steps and were led inside, it felt like we were living out our very own White Lotus dream as we wandered through lush tropical gardens, dotted with tranquil ponds and colourful fish, before making our way into the beautiful indoor spa area.
© Sri PanwaThe treatments on offer range from a wide selection of spa treatments to doctor-led wellness programmes targeted at improving hormone health, supporting stress recovery and restoring sleep. We opted for the famous sticky rice massage, which begins with a gentle exfoliation followed by their 60-minute signature back massage, performed by the expertly trained team.
Dining above the Andaman Sea
All this relaxing leads to quite an appetite, and fortunately, the hotel boasts multiple restaurants dedicated to Chinese, Japanese, Italian, and Thai. Did I mention Gordon Ramsay had stayed here? Yes, well, if the food’s good enough for him, then it’s safe to say, no complaints.
© Sri PanwaWhat really sets Sri Panwa apart are the two rooftop bars. Again, this resort isn’t here to mess around, with its bars having been voted among some of the best in the world. The music, cocktails and food are beaten only by the breathtaking, heavenly views.
Exploring beyond Cape Panwa: day trips and local sightseeing
Outside the hotel, we found getting around Phuket really easy, using their Grab taxi app – which is a similar experience to Uber. Whilst Cape Panwa is known to be a slightly quieter stretch, it’s only 15 to 30 minutes from Phuket old town.
© Sri panwaSome of our standout places locally would be the mountain-top Big Buddha, which offers majestic views, Phuket Old Town and Kata Beach for the sunset and beachside cocktails. We also took a boat ride to the tropical paradise of Long Beach – safe to say Phuket really does spoil you.
How to book
Prices start from £273.12 per night, depending on room type and season; visit sripanwa.com.
Katy was a guest of Sri Panwa Phuket. All hotels and experiences have been independently reviewed by our expert writers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis, but this never affects our review process.
