This setting, at the tip of the Koh Samui headland with 270 degree views, is one of the most beautiful we have come across. We were knocked out by the sheer purity of design: simple, sun-bleached decks overhanging the rocks. There are nine levels cleverly placed around the shoreline for intimacy (for ultimate privacy, request Table 99 which is totally apart). The “New Asian” menu puts an innovative twist on flavours you’ll already know from the region - and there is something pretty glam about nibbling on the champagne-infused grapes while the candles in the glass lanterns glow and the waves hiss onto the rocks around you.

I’m always interested in seeing competitor's luxury accommodation up close while I have the chance, so I brought the family for dinner at Chewang’s hottest new conceptual resort, The Library. The design says ‘tropics, schmopics;’ it’s not about coconuts here. The strong white, modernist cube design really pops in the glaring Southern Hemisphere light. The architecture looks like a zen, ultra modern version of a 1920’s Le Corbusier building.

The whole thing is done brilliantly and the unique signature design feature, a beautiful red pool, positively glows. It is literally five paces away from the beach and quite startling. There is something cool about water in a completely alien colour!

We sat on the outdoor dining terrace in the oceanfront breeze as strollers by lingered to take in the wow factor of the contemporary Koh Samui resort. The menu is fusion! A real mix of Thai and Western which is great if your group is divided about which way to go. I love that you can have a really sensational yellow-fin tuna tartare, sautéed crabmeat or Thod Man Kung prawn cakes yet someone else could cave in and go for the lamb cutlets - especially with kids along who were getting Asia’d out and needed some comfort mash.

The staff were polished and positively glided through the experience. The service was so good that I’ll go out on a limb and say it was the best we had in Thailand.

We returned by day to tour the luxury hotel and goof around with the modern statues: white figures that prop on seats and lie on benches. The duplex suites and studios, with their snow-white glossy floors, slab furnishings and giant shutters with oversized slats were impeccably designed. They were like Milanese showrooms! Each suite has an Apple IMac - in fact Apple could have designed the whole place.

The see-though gym is “The Fit,” and the amazing glass library with floor to ceiling shelves is “The Lib.” I could easily imagine staying four days here for a unique experience right on Chaweng (although Sheira usually finds that as much as she can admire minimalism intellectually, her bum prefers a comfortable maximalist seat!)

The concierge here also recommended another interesting restaurant THE PIER in Bo Phut for dinner which we’ll try on our next visit…

We rented a car for the hour drive to this lunch experience on the West Coast - and it was right up our alley. We always seek out the small corner / mum-and-dad beach restaurants on the Greek Islands and were thrilled to find the Koh Samui version. It’s well worth the excursion.

We worked up an appetite by taking a swim right by the popular restaurant at Tailing Ngam Beach. It’s beautiful in itself and overlooks 5 islands from a single vantage point. I was already getting into the little thatch structure of the restaurant - I’m just not a marble and gold taps kind of guy, I like it natural! I really loved the way fishing boats would deliver their catch right to the restaurant for the lunch to come.

It was great, simple, tasty food - I just love for my kids to get real and see food prepared in its natural environment.

Join Jonathan Said and his family on their luxury travel journeys as they share their best restaurants experiences and luxury hotels and resorts holidays around the world. The comprehensive travel tips and ideas include some of the most popular things to see and do at each destination including a local shopping guide, photos, video, music and much more.