The Spirit House

It’s like stepping back in time at the restaurant. One moment you are amid the chaos of Chaweng, then you step through the white arched entrance set in the red brick rampart and you in a different tranquil world. Inside it resembles a Thai village of yore with most of the buildings being transported from the ancient capital of Ayuthaya, just outside Bangkok. There are open-air salas, a temple, rice paddies, spice garden, canals and ponds. And the facilities also include a cooking school and beautiful spa that includes a rock pool with cascading waterfall. Candles, red lanterns and flaming torches at night make it romantic spot for couples.

A two-storeyed teakwood and brick sala serve as the dining room, where staff outfitted in period costume serves a menu that focuses on traditional Thai dishes. The set menu is a good sampler of what’s on offer, or be adventurous and order what catches your eye like the ancient appetiser, ‘wild rainbow lilies’, wild betel leaf, filled with fresh sea prawns, shredded coconut, crushed peanuts, spices and a tangy sauce. Or the ever-popular succulent sea prawns dipped in light coconut batter. Meat lovers will also enjoy the house specialty, massaman curry with chargrilled tender fillet steak accompanied by potatoes and peanuts. Nothing finishes a meal here like the ladyfinger bananas drizzled with rum syrup and accompanied by coconut ice cream.