Setting the Standard for Hua Hin with a slice of retro-futurist coolness in this insta haven.
As soon as we walk into The Standard we can tell that the cool kids have arrived in Hua Hin. We’ve just weaved ourselves past some young influencers (sorry to spoil your shot) propping themselves along curvy sculptures and posing under flower-covered canopies, and there’s a very hip-looking crew filming a beautiful woman for what we assume are some future resort videos. It’s all very photogenic so we can hardly blame them for using it as a backdrop – we certainly end up doing the same.
Lemon yellow and white clad staff match the yellow loungers, the yellow and white towels and the yellow and white umbrellas which decorate the lido pool. The yellow theme continues to pop throughout the resort; on balcony chair cushions, in the room, suite and villa furnishings, and on the flowers of the trees, it’s a constant bright splash that we fully approve of.
We’re staying in a ‘Standard Suite’ where rattan rugs and lampshades are mixed with light oak furnishings and minimal Scandi styling. A bright sunny throw on the bed and headboard add some colour, as do the cushions on our sofas, otherwise, it is white and crisp.
The 54sqm suite is split into two sections; entering into the main bedroom, with its big king bed, there is also a good sized room that can be closed off, which is a great chill-out cosy den space with a mini bar, tiled table, sofas and large wall hung TV, as well as a couch that can be turned into a second bed.
The garden view from our balcony is fairly secluded as a huge tree shades us from the sun and much of the other rooms, but from where the main resort hotel buildings are based there isn’t too much to see. The further towards the beach you get the resort’s villas are dotted along the walkway and look like a version of a 1960s futurist village with their curvy white walls and rounded windows.
My Fitbit kicks in on the daily walk to the lido pool area which is on the seafront. Passing through the lush tropical fauna is a real treat each day and reminds us of our much smaller version of these plants back at home which would thrive in this climate. You’ll get a fairly decent step count in walking the resort as it takes up a long stretch and is close to The Hilton, Night Market and lively bar streets – not that you can hear any of that.
The entire resort is a nod to The Standard’s first waterfront resort in Miami and it really does have that South Beach feel. There are 199 rooms, suites and villas in total which is complemented by a spa, a chilled-out pool scene, and a variety of drinking and dining options and includes: All-day indoor or al fresco dining at Lido, elixirs and fresh pressed juices at The Juice Café, and Praça where authentic Thai food is served in a setting of tropical green planting and beach views.
Breakfast is buffet-style at the Lido restaurant which is situated next to the pool, and sees a great selection of food for hotel guests each morning. The layout has an indoor/outdoor feel with verandas that are opened up and a mix of materials and levels, making it appear as if there are several different spaces. We choose to sit at the end of the restaurant where the doors are open and the sun starts to track around at about 10am for a perfect coffee sipping space. And because we’re obsessed with Asian breakfast we get to make up our own Congee and Noodle soups – luckily we’ve watched enough people making them to know what to do.
The Italian all-day dining spot moves from a calm and casual eatery to transform into an intimate dining experience on an evening with locally sourced seafood, meats, and seasonal produce paired with craft cocktails and wines.
On our final full day, we find out that Praça is open to Villa and Suite guests to enjoy cocktails and nibbles (vegetable crisps and honey-coated sesame nuts on the day we go) for an hour from 3pm each day. It hadn’t been mentioned on the check-in and is fairly quiet so we’re not sure if it is supposed to be a secret for those in the know. This also happens to be where we find the sweetest staff who serve everyday Thai street favourites and refreshing boozy concoctions from the elegant restored Heritage House that is the restaurant’s backdrop.
On check out we also learn that as a Suite or Villa guest, there is a 1000THB food allowance per day. Because we haven’t used ours the front-of-house staff suggest we grab a drink and snack to take on our journey, which is a nice touch. We grab a Berry Berry Collagen and Liver Lover smoothie – after indulging in sun and cocktails we switch between the two hoping that they might restore some of the damage we’ve done.
Check it out: If you are looking for the perfect central location in the city where a walk will get you to the main shopping hubs of Market Village and the Night Market.
Make a booking if: You love a mix of clean, crisp designs and a great backdrop for those selfies.
Make a comparison: By making it a double trip with a stay at the equally beautiful, but very different, The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon.
Find out more here.
