The Sarojin

Eating

One of the pleasures of The Sarojin is that food can be eaten wherever you want: in the restaurants, the gardens, in your suite or on the beach.

Breakfast is served in the Ficus Restaurant, a fairly small room leading onto a terrace with tables. Early in the morning this is a lovely place to be: the croaking of frogs in the lotus pond and the steady hum of cicadas provides Mother Nature's soundtrack, along with carefully selected lounge-y music drifting out from inside. Kick-start your day with a healthy breakfast (museli, fresh fruit, apple and cinnamon compote, porridge) or something more indulgent (eggs any style, Thai omlette or beluga caviar with blinis and melba toast!). There are freshly squeezed juices, various teas and coffee or you can get into holiday mode with a glass of champagne.

In the evening, Ficus transforms into an intimate restaurant, which acts as the heart of the hotel with tables set intimately around and amongst the ancient ficus tree's hanging branches. Open-sided walls keep air flowing though, and elegant Chinese vases steal the eye. The dinner menu is a mix of Thai and Italian cuisine: think pan-seared king prawns with garlic and rice, Australian beef steaks and spinach tagliolini with fresh lobster. Afterwards, visit The Cellar for an after-dinner drink; the well-stocked bar has over 450 wine brands.

If you'd prefer something less formal, head to the wooden pavillion next to the beach, The Edge, with terrific vistas out onto Andaman Sea. This serves international and Thai and seafood delicacies: think curries, noodles, spicy soups and steamed fish dishes. Beachgoers can order tropical drinks and cocktails here throughout the day; it's a great spot to sit in the shade and watch the sea roll out over the white sand. There are also 3 family-owned beach shacks along the sand; ideal if you want a cheaper bite to eat.

However, if you're a die-hard romantic, you can choose to be totally private for an evening. Staff will set up a spot on the beach, on a pool island or in the garden of your residence, and build a palm fence to separate you from the chef. At the end of the meal you'll be given a spirit balloon, which you light and let drift away on the sea breeze.