TripsThailand.com The Boathouse Inn & Restaurant

There are many reasons why The Boathouse has become the most popular boutique resort on the island of Phuket. Its intimate size and informal atmosphere, personalized service, excellent menus, world-famous wine cellar and an idyllic location directly on one of Phuket's best beaches make it the perfect place to escape from the mundane into a world of timeless relaxation.

The 36 rooms and suites at The Boathouse are tastefully decorated with traditional cottons and wood, and no room is more than 25 metres from the beach. A terrace-style restaurant, air-conditioned dining room serving flambe specialities, elegant bar and lounge, and a very private swimming pool and large Jacuzzi fill out the list of amenities which make The Boathouse an ideal retreat for discriminating travellers.

ML Tridhosyuth Devakul, one of Thailand's foremost architects and entrepreneurs, established The Boathouse Wine and Grill some twelve years ago. It soon became renowned both locally and internationally for its excellent Thai cuisine and seafood. The "Boathouse" name came from the hand-painted native "long-tail" boat displayed under a rattan roof which decorated the entrance. Though M.L. Tri later converted it into an intimate inn, he maintained the focus on fine dining and a superb wine list, which recently became the first in Thailand to receive an "Award of Excellence" from Wine Spectator magazine.

For over seven years, The Boathouse has been proud to count royalty, diplomats and celebrities among its regular guests. General Manager Bart Duykers has been charting a course to excellence at the helm of The Boathouse since 1993. An affable Dutchman with a ready smile and infectious laugh, Mr. Duykers takes a very personal approach to managing the hotel, making a point of greeting every guest by name when he chats with diners in the restaurant in the evenings.

The reputation of The Boathouse as a unique resort is in large part based on the quality of the cuisine available in The Boathouse Wine and Grill. The responsibility for maintaining that quality rests squarely on the shoulders of Executive Chef Tummanoon Punchun. Chef Tummanoon oversees a hand-picked kitchen staff which produces a menu featuring over two-thirds Thai food and nearly one-third Mediterranean dishes prepared with Thai ingredients and a definite Asian sensibility. His success is evidenced in the numbers of guests who travel nightly from the island's other top-class resorts to enjoy dinner at The Boathouse.

Guests of The Boathouse can even learn a few of Chef Tummanoon's secrets, too, at weekend culinary workshops. After a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning, participants will learn about Thai spices, herbs and vegetables, and create under Chef Tummanoon's tutelage such dishes as Goong Sarong (Shrimp in a Sarong) and other delicious appetizers or salads. Classes are followed by lunch featuring the same dishes prepared in class.

Sunday morning's class includes the preparation of several impressive main course dishes and a selection of tempting desserts, again followed by lunch featuring the dishes prepared in the workshop. Certificates of completion of The Boathouse Culinary Workshop and a set of Boathouse recipes are given to all participants . Afternoons are left free for guests to enjoy the beach or rejuvenate themselves in die " newly-opened Boathouse Health Centre, which offers herbal steam treatments and a variety of traditional Thai massage techniques by certified therapists.

Under the umbrella of the Chao Phraya River Club, The Boathouse Art Gallery exhibits a new artist every month. The Literary Society hosts readings by professional and amateur authors, and Phuket's first wine club, co-founded by M.L.Tri and American wine educator Ron Batori, holds tastings every month at which guests can learn about such topics as wine evaluation, purchasing and proper storage.

In addition to all of this, The Boathouse boasts The Galley Bar, a picturesque open-air venue in which to enjoy cocktails and the best view of the sunset on Phuket. The Island Lounge, located on the upper deck of the restaurant, is the perfect place for small conferences or private banquets.