We review Devasom Khao Lak, where spice-route design meets slow-living beachfront calm
A retreat shaped by nature and thoughtful design on Thailand’s Andaman Coast.
Thailand is a treasure trove of design-forward hotels that take inspiration from their unique settings. And on the Andaman Coast, just an hour’s drive north of Phuket, Devasom Khao Lak’s unique position shapes both the mood and the design. The resort’s architecture draws on the centuries when traders crossed this peninsula, blending Thai, Indian and Middle Eastern influences into a coherent whole. We recently checked in to learn more.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Review of Devasom Khao Lak
The arrival experience
While the approach to Devasom Khao Lak through coconut plantations is understated, the open-air lobby overlooking the lagoon, gardens and the broad beach beyond provides a glimpse of what’s to come.
As we stepped from the lobby through the antique doors into the resort’s central courtyard, staff marked the transition with a gong, a gesture tied to the Sanskrit roots of the resort’s name Devasom: the residence of angels.
The first hint of sea air and the sound of the breeze moving through the palms catch our attention, and it is this blend of architecture and nature that becomes the rhythm of our stay.
Plastered olive-toned walls, towering antique-style carved doors and vaulted arches hint at coastal temples and palaces. The low-rise layout settles easily into lush gardens, while the more native sea hibiscus and beach morning glory line the lagoon and beach, where all 69 rooms and villas look towards the water.
The rooms
We stayed in a 150 sq-m Beach Pool Villa with a private infinity-edge pool and barefoot access to the sand. The L-shaped villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows draw in views of greenery and sky. Inside, the palette follows the resort’s design language: warm neutrals and an easy sense of space.
The living area is generous without feeling formal, and the bedroom sits a step above the rest of the villa, anchored by an expansive king bed. The bathroom is notably well laid out, with a full-sized tub and double rainfall showers that feel almost theatrical in scale.
We appreciated the complimentary premium non-alcoholic mini bar and in-room espresso machine. Another thoughtful detail was the water urn and coconut-shell scoop set by the steps from the garden to our deck. After beach walks, I’d rinse my feet there before heading inside. It was a simple, practical, and unexpected touch.
A long daybed and plunge pool with spa jets occupied the villa’s deck. Each morning, I sat there with a coffee as Ornate Sunbirds chirped and darted between heliconias. This quiet, broken only by the surf, was the kind I settled into quickly.
Food and drink
Both resort restaurants are mentioned in the Thailand Michelin Guide, but the Beach Grill & Bar became the place we returned to most. Positioned beside the supersized, split-level resort pool, it has the atmosphere of a Mediterranean-leaning beach club.
The open grill is its centrepiece, sending soft drifts of smoky, charred aromas across the deck. A trevally ceviche bright with citrus was one of my standouts. The wood-fired pizza was crisp and blistered, and accomplished, as was the Kurobuta pork with mango and lime salsa.
Takola, the all-day dining room, shifts from breakfast to Southern Thai cuisine at night. Breakfast ranges from fruits and salads to Asian dishes and an egg station. I particularly enjoyed the daily small bottles of Energy Juice — fresh and flavourful. In the evening, the kitchen leans into spice and coastal produce. The goong sarong, prawns wrapped in noodles and fried crisp, were irresistible, and a fish curry with tamarind and basil arrived fragrant and clean and was a textbook example of the region’s flavours.
Wellness & other facilities
The Devasom Spa sits at the heart of the resort, its entrance marked by large antique wooden doors. After a short consultation, I chose a deep-tissue massage in a calm, light-filled treatment room. Below, marble-paved open-air massage salas sit over shallow water. The design leans toward Romanesque motifs but stays in harmony with the resort’s broader aesthetic.
Active guests have options across the day: kayaking or paddleboarding, yoga or Thai boxing in the open-air spaces, and a well-equipped gym. Resort front, Khuek Khak Beach provides its own menu of activities from beachcombing and walks, to swimming or surfing. And the sunsets – quietly stunning to totally cinematic. On our first evening, the sky shifted to rose and amber, with guests instinctively drawn to the beachfront in awe.
Excursions to Khao Lak’s key attractions, like snorkelling or diving in the Similan Islands Marine Park, can be booked through the activities team. There are waterfall visits and trekking in National Parks, while a walking tour through Takua Pa old town, once the region’s tin mining capital, offers Sino-Portuguese architecture and insights into local life.
More locally, hotel guide Bao led us on a bicycle tour, venturing through coconut groves, village laneways and to a small exquisite Buddhist temple. It was an easy ride with a glimpse of the area’s quieter corners. The next morning, during a spice garden walk, staff member Ada introduced me to several herbs grown onsite for cooking and traditional medicine.
The library, set in the central garden, is another surprise — a quiet space for reading or work, which transforms into the Listening Lounge on Wednesday evenings for jazz and cocktails.
The verdict
Devasom Khao Lak brings together a clear architectural narrative, a strong sense of place and a wide range of activities. The design borrows from the region’s maritime past without losing sight of its natural surroundings, and the result is a resort that feels both rooted and restful. Service is thoughtful, dining assured, and our Beach Pool Villa offered the kind of easy comfort that makes slowing down inevitable.
For travellers seeking a design-aware beachfront stay shaped by nature, calm and a touch of history, Devasom Khao Lak is an appealing choice and one that rewards a longer visit.
Find out more about Devasom Khao Lak or Book through Booking.com Book through Expedia
But wait, there’s more…
- These are our favourite boutique hotels in Thailand
- Discover where to stay in Bangkok (for all budgets)
- And we recently stayed at the gorgeous Further Hotel in Bali
