THE sumptuous Sunday brunch at InterContinental Hua Hin’s Azure Restaurant has just been given a gourmet makeover with the addition of more mouth-watering grilled dishes and a bubbly extra – a complimentary bottle of Chandon for every two diners. What’s more, the feast is now held from 1pm-4pm and priced a very reasonable B1,700++ per person.

LUXURY villa project Black Lotus may be best known for its spacious and private accommodation, but it’s not the only reason to venture to this slice of paradise in the hills. Pay a visit to the project’s High Zoe restaurant and you’ll find a decent selection of international eats at great value for money, as well as daily deals too good to miss.

Located at the front of the project, the restaurant features a modern dining room decked out with paintings of classical music, as well as a poolside terrace which looks out over Black Lotus’s lovingly manicured gardens.

A BLAST of flames, a duck-like quack, and a rapid drumming of spatulas on the grill – meals at Hagi Japanese Restaurant’s Teppanyaki tables are anything but ordinary. 

Where else in Hua Hin can you watch a chef juggle eggs and then catch them in his pocket, or arrange fried rice into the shape of a heart and then make it beat, or spin utensils around on his fingers with the dexterity of a circus-clown?

NO doubt about it, Australia’s largest home-grown cafe group, The Coffee Club, has been a runaway success in Thailand. Since opening its flagship branch around two years ago at Major Ekkamai in Bangkok, the chain has gone on to open in key areas all around the kingdom and now operates 14 cafes here. 

Hua Hin’s first branch, which opened just last month, follows the brand’s well-honed formula to a tee, and therefore offers the same range of UTZ certified coffee (beans sourced from farms using sustainable methods in South America, Asia and Africa) and extensive selection of comfort food that you’d find at any The Coffee Club branches in Thailand.

LUXURY has always been about attention to detail. From the little things, like a welcome drink on arrival, to the big, such as an infinity pool looking out to sea, the best hotels always have everything in place to make guests feel like superstars.

NO matter how hard they try, big international hotel chains can never fully replicate the kind of homely atmosphere you find at a family-run operation such as Veranda Lodge, a lovely tropical getaway located next to the sands in the middle of Hua Hin Beach.
   
Run with passion, heart, and soul by Khun Mae (literally Mum) together with her grown-up children, Veranda Lodge has developed from what was once the family’s beachside home to become a moderately-sized resort featuring a selection of suites, bungalows and villas, all set within wonderfully manicured gardens.
   
The stars of the resort’s accommodation
options include Veranda on Sea ­– a 40sqm beachside villa with a private sea view balcony; and the 62sqm Balcony Suite, which boasts a large bedroom and separate living room making it perfect for families with young children.

BANYAN The Resort occupies one of the most beautiful areas of Hua Hin. Nestled between verdant rolling hills in a private valley far removed from any ugsome form of pollution – blaring music, bright lights, petrol fumes coughed and spluttered from bikes and cars – it’s a true haven of relaxation, one where you can really hear yourself think, where time seems to flow at a more reasonable pace, and where, on a cloudless night, you can marvel at a vista of a million and more stars.

HUA HIN’s dining scene has been given a sizzling boost with the arrival of The Admiral on Damnernkaseam Road.
   
Specializing in premium cuts of New Zealand and Australian beef, lamb, and tuna, all served up on searing 300 degree volcanic stones, this family-friendly establishment has been carefully crafted to offer a memorable dining experience that beats back hunger in delicious fashion – and at great value too.

SZECHUAN and Cantonese dishes served in true gourmet style have put White Lotus Restaurant on the map as being the place to go for top quality Chinese food in Hua Hin.        
   
Located on the rooftop of the Hilton Hua Hin, adjacent to the hotel’s popular Sky Bar, the restaurant boasts a 180 degree panoramic view across the Gulf of Thailand and surrounding mountains making White Lotus the perfect spot for a romantic tête-à-tête with a loved one, or simply a casual get together with friends.

LOOSEN your belts, take off your ties, and get ready ‒ Hilton Hua Hin is joining Germans the world over in celebrating Munich’s annual Oktoberfest festival by hosting three fun-packed party nights at the hotel’s Beer Garden next to the Hua Hin Brewing Company.
   
Held from Nov 7-9 (6pm till late), the Oktoberfest celebrations will feature traditional Bavarian food such as Bratwurst, Thueringer, Roast Pork knuckle, onion soup and much more, alongside home-brewed and imported beers like the original Paulaner Hofbraeu Beer 2013. Hilarious live entertainment will be provided by the world famous Anton & The Funny Guys, and guests can also take part in drinking contests, sawing and hammering games, and more Oktoberfest-inspired activities.