Hua Hin, the regal seaside town a three hour drive from Bangkok, is as low-key a beach destination as they come. Eschewing the heavyweight nightlife scenes in Phuket and, to an extent, Krabi, the stately Hua Hin has since the 1920s been a hidden go-to spot beloved by Thailand’s nobility. But what’s lesser known is the fact that there are direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to Hua Hin, the duration of which takes less than the three-hour chug on the road from Bangkok. And now, Hua Hin’s hotel scene has been upgraded with The Standard Hua Hin, the chain’s first resort outpost in Asia and more of a fly-and-flop beachside idyll featuring a touch of pizazz.
Aesthetically, the 199-key property, sprawled across prime sea-fronting real estate, combines mid-century design specs with a bright and happy Miami Beach vibe and sincere Thai hospitality. This combination, as of now, is unmatched in Hua Hin and possibly around Southeast Asia. Prior to The Standard’s opening, Hua Hin only had conventionally basic chains (and a super-luxe wellness retreat) on its list of high-end accommodations.
The Standard’s design team, along with Onion Architects, Studio Freehand and Shelley Kwok Design, each had a hand in spaces that you might actually feel like living in for more than your two- or three-night stay. Rooms have a residential feel, kitted in waves of calming creams and ivory, splashed optimistically with yellow. There are more than six different room configurations to choose from, each of which is different and unexpected. These range from the cosy Superior Room, which is all about having a weekend getaway with your BFFS, to the standalone Standard Pool Villa, with its own pool and mint-and-white-candy-tiled bathroom that adds an extra shot of Hollywood glam to your Insta feed.
Outside, the beach is a quick walk away. In fact, the sea is mere steps away—perfect for early morning runs to greet sunrise. Hua Hin’s other well-known beachside residents, ponies that one can ride, are in the approximately 15-metre space between sea and shore. But perhaps the whole point of coming to Hua Hin is not to do much at all, besides checking out The Standard’s pool scene comprising well-heeled locals (and their dogs) as well as expats who have come for their escape from Bangkok.
Mealtimes at the resort’s all-day Italian joint Lido is all about sipping on cocktails like the 1919 negroni (composed of Beefeater gin, Campari and Martini Rosso), and zupping on homestyle dishes such as the baked baby chicken or whole baked fish. While at Thai izakaya Praca, a bar and restaurant housed in a heritage structure, tasty yet affordable Southern Thai dishes the likes of crispy pork belly, grilled beef with mint and chilli, as well as pan-fried foie gras and morning glory, come to the fore. The spicier dishes are especially tasty when paired with a couple of glasses of Monsoon Valley prosecco.
And for a spa treatment with a difference, the resort’s Mud Lounge is a novel way to scrub and slather oneself in bespoke silver-tubed mud concoctions (which you can then take home) tailored to your mood. It’s not quite your usual beach holiday, but perhaps this is why The Standard Hua Hin should already be pinging on your wanderlust radar.
