Joakim Persson

Seeking blissed-out harmony? Look no further than Centara Karon Resort Phuket! After the travel market imploded due to Covid-19 closures, Centara Hotels & Resorts (known for their expertise in Thai hospitality) was one of the first onto the scene in Karon beach, Phuket, to stage a strong comeback on the island’s famous west coast. Happy Hour Asia got to explore and experience the well-established resort in late April 2022 after it had – initially partly – reopened its garden sections, where guests are immersed in nature (there is also the high-rise The Terraces tower with additional accommodation).

Adjacent to Karon’s centre, the Centara resort is still somewhat of a hidden have, as it is situated behind the shopping and lively dining and entertainment strip, and with Phuket’s verdant jungle as backdrop. This alluring tropical getaway is also enhanced further with rainforest trees that have very large, amazing-looking flowers (tints of rose, white and yellow) for guests to admire; and three pools fringed with swaying coconut palms and other lush vegetation! Being considerate of adults versus families with children etc. the resort is also designed into different zones. Thus, one can for instance relax without noise at the adult’s only, while children have their dedicated sections including a pond with a mushroom fountain, partly covered by a canopy for shading, and a water slide.

The resort also has lawns and walkways snaking between the buildings, and a spa. One can also find hammocks poolside.

Centara Karon Resort Phuket arrival: refreshing drinks

A big surprise, after checking in, is to come to the guest quarters and not only find the welcome drink: ‘Phuket Refreshing‘ (made of Phuket pineapple juice and with hints of fresh ginger) but also an in-room do-it-yourself Negroni cocktail – including the whole kit: a cocktail mixer and an ice bucket! How does that resonate with Happy Hour Asia!? Of course very well!

The room on the ground floor in this wing has direct garden access with outdoor seats. While rooms on floors above have balconies (accessed via passageways along the facade on the backside) – all overlooking one of the pool areas.

The flooring tiles – seemingly – made from earthy natural stones in dark brown, brown and black adds character to the room – smartly accented by a nicely neon mint-hued green wall behind the bed. There is also a framed, white wooden framework with a pattern one associates with nature. The bedding comes with a thick and comfy mattress. Oblong Thai style handicraft ceiling lamps hang on both sides of the bed.

Bedside is a beige upholstered armchair with a round coffee table next to it – perfect for winding down after arriving, with the freshly shaken negroni!

A bended mirror frame hangs on the wall section that has a golden glaze hue, above a counter which houses the mini-bar underneath.

The bathroom comes with a pumpkin-yellow wall, and a counter for the sink made from granite stone.

Lots of one’s time while visiting Centara Karon Resort Phuket will be spent outdoors, where some guests will also want to visit the actual beach, which is only a short walk from the resorts, and that is wide and several kilometres long. But, when staying on the premises there are lots to enjoy, with the swim-up bars and – one has to say – some really fabulous dining!

Facilities include the CenFit gym, Camp Safari kids club and a tennis court. The resort also offers pampering from its Spa Cenvaree, set within its own garden featuring lush paths and relaxation areas. SPA Cenvaree – Centara’s own spa brand – presents a tempting selection of traditional therapies from Thai and Ayurvedic philosophies as well as modern rejuvenation practices.

The Lagoon Pool Bar at the freeform pool serves thirst-quenching drinks and cocktails right from the swim-up bar or delivered to your pool lounger. The pool is lined by sun chairs and white parasols.

Beyond some lush vegetation is another pool (to our understanding upon the visit the adult pool) and bar, Tropix, reveals itself with ample sundeck space and a swim-up bar at tend end of a long blue-tiled lap pool enclosed by the low-slung resort buildings. Tropix serves snack and refreshments. The pool bars also offer happy hour drinks towards the late afternoon.

Centara Karon Resort Phuket’s five-star dining

The all-day Azure restaurant looks really inviting and rejuvenated, and is furnished with blonde wood flooring, and interiors in light blue and white, giving it a true Greek- Mediterranean feel. Semi-private, crescent sofas are backdropped by wooden splint walls, with blue table mats, blue drinking glasses, blue-and-white pillows and textile cushions, and, come evening, also blue table lanterns. Dark-blue pillars with spun ship ropes also add to the character.

The restaurant also comes with a game room with relaxing armchairs and sofas and ping pong and TV games.

Azure serves Thai and International cuisines as well as pasta, pizza, sandwiches and other snacks, which work well as guests dine poolside and caters for every taste bud.

The breakfast served here includes favourites with quality such as biercher muesli, cheddar cheese and Egg Benedict.

At lunch Original fried calamari (deep fried and served with spicy marinara sauce and, grilled lime) is a good-tasting perfect starter. This is followed by choosing a Gourmet Pizza, Focaccia Luna that has grilled zucchini, eggplant, onion, mushroom and gouda cheese as ingredients. It is cut into triangle pieces and is a form of sandwich pizza. As dessert, a delicious Chocolate Lava Cake served with whipped cream, vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce, almond crumble and berries completes the meal leaving me more than fulfilled.

Dining at Azure offers a surprise in that the Thai executive chef has accomplished a big lift of the food, where not a single meal lets me down either when it comes to taste or presentation. The Food plating is picture-perfect, served to the silver metal embossed dining table.

Dinner starts with Cream of vegetable soup served with truffle cream and grilled sour dough bread, and with Garlic bread and grissini stick served with butter and homemade masala curry dip on the side. The chef informs that the soup also contains cauliflower, pumpkin and carrot for the recipe of this awesome soup!

This is followed by a Special Amuse Bouche by Chef: Southern style betel leaf fritters and deep fried shrimp cake served with homemade spicy mayonnaise – beautifully presented with a shrimp cake ball at the centre of the dish.

As main course Azure serves the Seared local white snapper (with a crispy skin) on a bed of mashed potato, here with grilled mixed vegetables including green asparagus, cherry tomatoes and tempura mushroom and a curry sauce – a great-looking and tasty dish!

A Thai dessert classic, Khao Niew Mamuang (Fresh mango and sweet sticky rice served with coconut sauce, coconut ice cream, almond crumble, berries and cold and warm pandanus), end the dinner on a high. The Mango is cut into tiny bullets, the dragon fruit into small cubes. It’s an innovative presentation of this classic not seen before!

This dinner is on the level of fine dining; five-star dining experience.

Wine by the glass to go with the meal is Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Brancott Estate Pinot Noir, or Jacob’s Creek Reserve Sparkling. Signature Cocktails are plenty. Three examples: Bequest: Havana Club 3 Years, cardamon, lime juice, honey water, egg-white; Basill Dock: Beefeater, Thai basil, apple juice, lemon juice, sugar syrup; The Select: Absolut Elyx, campari, cranberry juice, lime juice, sugar syrup, angostura bitters.

The resort’s second restaurant (not included in this review), Lotus, serves International & Thai. A World of Flavours also include vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal dishes.

All things combined – the spacious and nicely designed guest quarters, awesome tropical surrounds with pools and swim-up bars, and the five-star dining – makes this a highly recommended resort experience.