Everything about this place is aptly named. The hotel is called Destination Beach Resort & Spa – because that’s where you’re headed. The spa is entitled By The Tree – because it’s set within some lovely gardens. And, most relevantly for us, the restaurant is known as By The Sea – and I’ll let you guess why!

Freshly opened in April 2009, Destination Beach Resort is easy to find as it’s located very near Samui’s best known landmark – Big Buddha. As you’re coming from the huge monument, head north and take the first concrete road on your left (which leads to Tongsai Bay). Just a couple of hundred metres further on you’ll cross a small bridge and almost immediately after that you’ll see a large sign on your left for the resort. Follow this road and within 50 metres you’ll come to the hotel car park and reception.

And seeing the beautiful wooden reception with its high vaulted ceiling and teak pillars will give you an indication of how everything here is proudly presented. Follow the small pathway with its lovely rock waterfalls and lily-ponds for a 100 metres and you’ll find yourself by the sea at – By The Sea.

Again, the high vaulted interior of the roof here is a feature in itself, with massive bamboo poles forming part of the structure. There’s seating for 50 inside the main building with room for 25 outside on the covered terrace (also with an interesting ceiling, but this time lower and comprising small bamboo poles), and tables for another 25 on the outer completely open terrace.

And the view from here is truly magnificent. You look out towards Big Buddha on your left and the neighbouring island of Koh Pha-Ngan on your right, with a flotilla of harboured local fishing boats in the foreground. And having the regular Bangkok Airways planes coming across the vista every half an hour or so adds yet another element of interest to the scene.

By the Sea makes a lovely lunchtime destination (full Thai and international lunch menu available from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm), but most visitors arrive around 6:00 pm when they can settle themselves with a pre-dinner cocktail (or two) and watch one of Samui’s famous sunsets from a unique location. And as Big Buddha becomes silhouetted against the dying embers of the day’s sunlight, the stars begin popping on in the night sky – and also in the floor of the adjacent infinity swimming pool. But the latter are coloured and slowly change hue, signifying that magic is, indeed, in the air.

And in conjunction with this idyllic setting comes some very special Thai  and International cuisine. Which comes prepared by one of Thailand’s finest chefs – Khun Saowakit Preeprem. And Khun ‘Kit’ has a long pedigree. For instance, he was the President of the national Thai Chefs Association in Bangkok for an incredible 10 years and worked in many of the country’s premier hotels, including the Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Regent Hotels. Feel free to have high expectations when dining at By The Sea. You won’t be disappointed.

“… and in conjunction with this idyllic setting
comes some very special Thai cuisine.”

So what’s on the menu? Well, quite a lot. There are sections for both Thai and International and these are seafood-based (what do you expect with fishing boats mooring just metres from the restaurant after the day’s catch?). Here are a few of my favourite dishes: Pad Thai Goong Sod – rice-noodles stir-fried with prawns, shallots, chive leaves, tofu and sweet & sour sauce; Talay Phad Pong Karee Kub Kai Kem – stir-fried seafood and salted egg with a delicious blend of curry powder, egg and cream; Kao Phad Man Goong – prawn fried rice with shrimp paste and soya-bean oil; and, finally, a special rendering of the famous Massaman Curry with potatoes, onions and peanuts. And Khun Kit’s recommended dessert, Destination Ruam Mit – mixed fruit, ice, syrup and ice-cream, is probably the perfect dish to end a special Thai meal here.

Should you totally smitten by the food at By The Sea, the good news is that you, too, can learn how to cook it. In June 2009 Khun Kit, in partnership with Destination Resort, opened a full-on cooking school, Pro-Chef, where you have the options of being taught different cuisines from around the world – including Thai.

And I’ve saved one of the top attractions of By The Sea until the end – the prices are VERY reasonable!

The restaurant is open from 6:30 am until late (kitchen closes at 11:00 pm).
For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7741 7300.