Signature Hotels

Making one’s way the last mile to the resort, from the main road down towards the beachfront, something really beautiful suddenly reveals itself around a bend. A large – multi-level wooden estate in the tradition of Hua Hin’s Siam-colonial architectural comes into view, among large tropical trees with wide canopies. I mistakenly believe this to be a private estate, thinking: ‘Now that’s what I call a proper vacation house!’ And then, the realisation: we have arrived! This beautiful estate is the de facto destination for this trip: Devasom Hua Hin resort! Wow; what a start and first impression!

It’s a three-storey wooden building in historic design and with outdoor walkways along the facade, as well as with classic window shutters. The impressive open entrance houses a balcony on its roof, with pillars and railings in white wood.

The courtyard has fine grey-white gravel and parking places with plenty of shade from the lush trees.

An alfresco lobby is directly inside this entrance, with a vista of the resort’s pool garden and the sea beyond it, and a water lily pond in the foreground. And those bungalows alongside it, with full-grown frangipani trees and coconut trees look very appealing – all enjoying views of the sea and the resort’s heart-shaped tree by the pool.

No wonder this is a resort highly loved by Bangkokians/Thais for weekend getaways and among foreign couples having romantic holidays!

Devasom Hua Hin resort¨s Victorian architecture

And getting to take a closer look at the resort’s architecture it becomes clear that Devasom Hua Hin as a hotel boasts a rather unique design. Launched prior to its sister resort in Khao Lak this Devasom serves as a template for the boutique Thai brand’s expertly composed formula based on the heritage in Thailand when it comes to architecture, and the international influences – mainly the colonial – has had on this in the country. Being one of beach resort Hua Hin’s finest hotels it also constitutes a fine nod to Hua Hin’s history, famous for its Railway Hotel, and with focus on Victorian architecture.

This style has been embraced mainly in the form of facades, balconies, balustrades, stairways and shutters, while the resort also has a love for everything vintage. In particular the design of Devasom comes with a characteristic style called gingerbread, which entails elaborately detailed embellishment called gingerbread trim.

Rooms in the main building step out to spacious balconies having this design and that look stunning from the outside! And the dominating light blue colour chosen for the resort oozes vintage and class – where the hue can safely be determined as Victorian blue. Traditional Thai handicraft and cuisine are also core ingredients blending in well with the overall theme.

It begins already with the Thai butterfly pea welcome drink enjoyed in the lobby’s vintage sofa with its luxurious velvet blue upholstering. And this is the starting point for: “O.K; let’s have some ‘Joie de vivre’, wind down and close out the outside world for a little while…

Sink into the velvet blue vintage sofa and open up to relaxation!

Looking around further, next to the reception is a tasteful lounge saloon, functioning as something of a museum, while one can also sit down here for reading and while waiting for transport etc.

The lounge is a haven for things vintage, with a collection of items associated with the Southeast Asian colonial era and 19th century style – perfectly coordinated and furnished. It also serves as great inspiration that this kind of style is also very much available these days, in that many vintage items are replicated and produced anew, to decorate hotels and tasteful homes. Framed wooden walls come in the same Victorian blue, with framed pictures of butterflies, old world maps etc. A piano in tropical wood an old gramophone and a regal work desk with chair are part of the “museum”. Antique hardwood tables have marble counters. The floor tiles are chequered. A large vase with orchid flowers is the centrepiece of the room. Floral decorations is found throughout the resort, by the way.

Devasom Hua Hin resort: deluxe bungalows and afternoon tea

Other elements of Thai is seen in the afternoon tea, served using handcrafted baskets, bowls and trays and being focused on Thai cuisine with canapés, desserts as well as tropical fruit. Also, the Royal Thai meal ‘Khao Chae’ on offer further showcases Thai cuisine heritage.

From what is experienced upon arrival expectations sour about what the actual accommodation will entail. The bungalows’ Victorian-colonial exterior has a beautiful summerhouse vibe surrounded by greenery and with two white rocking chairs and a coffee table on the veranda. There is even a wooden outdoor sofa to sit down on for additional guests.

The interior of Seaside Deluxe (50 sqm) bungalow turns out to be replete with vintage style, a lot of what one associates with the European classic style – including all the bathroom fittings, a table sink and antique-style wood-framed mirrors with cut corners and glass.

A four-poster bed and a claw foot, oval bathtub (standing on a curved dark wooden platform) especially add to the vintage character in the beautiful interior design dominated by neutral soft tones of white, brown and beige.
Wood frames, including door casing are painted in an antique green, while the rustic, dark-brown concrete floor is mixed with tiles in brown and a white vintage-style pattern surrounding the bed. Walls have a pastel yellow hue.

Octagon bedside tables have wooden legs with marble tops. Beautiful yellow lamp shades – bedside and left and right of the TV cabinet – further enhance the cosiness. There are also vintage, white porcelain wall lamps as well as those hung from the v-formed white ceiling, and window blinds. A writing desk by the bed also doubles as make-up table.

Facing the veranda the bungalows also have a “hanging balcony” – in keeping with the Victorian style, but here in the form of an alcove as part of the bedroom, with a brown sofa to rest on.

Separated with brown linen curtains, the bathroom/wardrobe zone comes with a wall-covered (chocolate brown/white classic tiles) outdoor section hosting the toilet and shower, adding to the lodging’s tropical feel. A wood plank across the tub holds towels, rose petals, and bath salt and oil.

There is also herbarium with framed plants and flowers decorating the walls, such as Calliparca Americana (American beautyberry), Dianthus Chinensis (China Pink) and Ageratum conyzoides (Billygoat weed).

Luxury in-room facilities include a chargeable music player, a Nespresso coffee maker and daily replenishment of the mini bar is provided. Warm tea is served at turndown service with fruit carved into a beige rose flower! The Tea comes from Boon Rawd, which offers ‘Premium Blended Tea’, including peppermint green tea.

All interiors are done with great finesse, just as the architecture is an achievement with great excellence at this exemplary resort!

Then, as a great continuation of this blissful beachside holiday, what could be better than afternoon tea, served to your room, and preferably enjoyed on the veranda, where the sea and greenery can be enjoyed in equal measure. The ‘Devasom Afternoon Tea Set’ comes with a handpicked selection of famous Thai desserts (like like mango with sticky rice) from Phetchaburi province, served on a Thai handicraft tray and a three tiered tray. There is also Thai fruit cut nicely, like watermelon into small balls.

Another highly recommended Devasom Hua Hin activity for couples is the beach picnic. It is served beach front in a corner with more privacy under a sun-shading canopy.

A canopy is rigged with a beach mat, mustard-hued pillows, a picnic basket, and even a beautiful blue sunhat for ladies and vintage-style travel suitcase! The cutlery has a bespoke copper tone.

The picnic for two includes shrimp cocktails, finger food like paprika and carrots, barbeque skewers and rolled ham & cheese sandwiches – all placed in white picnic boxes, along with a fresh Devasom coconut, a tropical mocktail, and crème brulée as dessert.

There are other daily crafted activities from the resort at no additional cost such as Thai dessert making class and yoga workout and guests are served and all guests are served a daily ‘Sunset Evening Cocktail’ with compliments of Devasom Hua Hin. This cocktail an also be combined with happy hour – which here is the 2-for-1 variant. Having a couple of sunset drinks on a beachfront daybed is blissful indeed! Two rows of sun beds and parasols are positioned just above the shore. Next to them an outdoor rain shower is installed in the garden.

Coming here for sunrise overlooking the sea is also a highlight – just as dining is also a delight.

Devasom Hua Hin resort dining

Deva Bistro Restaurant & Bar is the resort’s epicurean point of pride serving Fine western and traditional Thai cuisine. And it is a very impressive and comprehensive menu indeed to be such a small resort – and definitely a draw also for outside dining guests.

First on the menu comes a selection of signature dishes that include: Grilled tiger prawn with Thai-styled tamarind sauce, Moroccan Spiced Chicken (Grilled chicken rubbed with warming Moroccan spices), Thai famous Massaman curry soup with chicken, Saeng Waa Koong (Spicy shrimp mixed with herbs in traditional Thai style).

For this dinner experience Happy Hour Asia opts for two signatures: Crab bisque soup – a smooth and flavourful bisque with crab meat – followed by Grilled duo fish alla red pepper & spinach sauce, which is salmon fillet and sea bass fillet accompanied with parsley potato & butter spinach.

The duo fish is smartly presented as a shape that resembles a stingray on the plate, with two halves with one sauce each, where two fish pieces rest on top along with the condiments.

Other samples from the menu include appetizers such as Bruschetta with tomato, feta and basil, or Seared scallops with green asparagus and Hollandaise sauce.
Salads include Mediterranean orange salad with tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese and mint. Soups include French Onion Soup.

‘From Our Grill’ offers Grilled Australian beef tenderloin with ‘Jim-Jaew’ dip – a Thai local-styled sauce, Grilled pork chop red panaeng sauce – also a Thai-style curry sauce.

‘Seafood at Hua Hin’ includes Grilled seabass with ginger sauce – a Chef’s Special.

Pasta dishes also marry Italian cuisine with Thailand’s catches from the sea, including Alla marinara piccante, with seafood, olive oil, garlic and sweet basil or All’ Arrabbiata con Gamberi with fresh prawn in spicy tomato sauce.
There are also Sandwiches and burgers, Spicy Thai salads, and Curry & Soup such as Tom Yum pla with seabass (a well-known Thai hot & sour dish), or Kaeng Leung grilled salmon – a special Thai-style hot & sour yellow curry with diced grilled salmon.

Grilled, stir-fried and deep-fried includes Stir-fried asparagus with prawn, and Sautéed beef in oyster sauce.

Rice & noodle and vegetarian dishes also have sections on the menu, featuring for example Bell pepper lasagne. Desserts include Crêpe suzette flambé served with vanilla ice cream and roasted almond.

A not as comprehensive but similar mix of dishes will satisfy many different tastes at breakfast, including: Poached egg Benedict; Bratwurst, knacki sausages, Red curry panaeng with chicken; Roasted pork with pepper sauce; or Black ink spaghetti with squid.

Nice wine is also available to go with the wine, both by glass and per bottle, including the sparkling wine Opera Prima, Pink Moscato. Delheim, Chenin Blanc; Apopo Sauvignon Blanc, Laurent Miquel, Cinsault Syrah Rosé; Altivo, Barrel Selection Malbec; and Vina El Principal, ‘Calicanto’ are among the wine bottle choices upon this visit.

House wine served is Yvon Mau, Colombard, Chardonnay, and Yvon Mau, Merlot
The drinks menu includes whisky, cognac & brandy, rum, campari aperitif and tequila aside a number of the classic cocktails and signature cocktails named ‘Devasom Sunset’, ‘Devasom Moonlight’

As for the service quality at Devasom Hua Hin it’s a resort where understated, punctual and precise Thai hospitality at its best comes into play. And – as described – it is a resort that wonderfully pays homage to Hua Hin’s royal heritage and European-inspired colonial architecture in Southeast Asia. The resort serves also as a lesson in Thailand’s architectural history that will make guests curious about what they are seeing, and possibly explore more of this part of Thailand’s architectural gems. And Devasom Hua Hin itself is one of them.