Local, but make it luxe

Just because you want the “local experience” doesn’t mean you have to look for it in some grungy shophouse out in the suburbs. If you want an authentic taste of Thailand using the finest materials, or coming with first-class service, check out these upscale brands for their sophisticated spin on various aspects of Thai classics, from food, beauty, fashion or lifestyle.

Moo Krata at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

“Moo krata will heal everything” is a common phrase in Thailand – if you have problems, this Thai barbeque is going to magically solve it… somehow. The street-side favorite across all of Thailand literally translates from “pan pork”, with a grill component a la Korean barbeque, as well as a soup component as in a Chinese hotpot. It’s paired with a dip of sukiyaki sauce. Enjoying hearty moo krata is all about spending time around the grill with friends and family. Usually available at local open-air restaurants or food stalls, it’s not exactly the most glamorous meal, but now it can be, if you have it at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.

Served at Koh Thai Kitchen or in the privacy of your own villa, you can grill your meal against the picturesque backdrop of the sea. The cuts are more premium than your usual fare: think tiger prawns (THB 3,400++), free-range chicken (THB 3,000++), Angus beef (THB 3,600++) or an assortment of everything, including pork (THB 3,500++). A side of mixed vegetables is also part of each set, as well as starters of somtam and Thai spicy grilled beef salad. Just when you think it couldn’t get better than sizzling meats, a hot broth and cold beers, it does when paired with the Four Seasons service.

Siamese Water from Panpuri

Steeping jasmine petals in water is an ancient Siamese tradition to refresh the senses. The water bowl with floating petals is usually placed in rooms to give an uplifting fragrance, but sometimes, the water makes its way into dishes too. This is to add an extra aromatic kick to summery refreshments such as khao chae (fragrant chilled rice). This iconic scent, named Siamese Water, is now distilled into a recently released line of Extract Perfume Oil by upscale spa brand, Panpuri. Unlike typical perfumes, this one with an oil base uses pure perfume extract at the high concentration of 25-30%, which is even higher than Eau de Parfum (a usual concentration of 15-20%). As oil clings onto skin, the scent evolves over the course of the day and also stays on for longer.

Out of the 10 new scents, One Night in Bangkok is a quintessentially Thai fragrance. It alludes to Pak Khlong Talad – the flower market – which comes alive at nighttime as batches of flower deliveries line the street. The air is filled with the heady scent of tuberose, which the perfume captures and mixes with the spicy kick of black pepper for an upbeat yet mature touch. Bottles inspired by a Buddhist chedi and holding 50ml are priced at THB 3,450, while the 10ml rollerballs are priced at THB 1,450.

Siri Sala Private Thai Villa

If you love the charming aesthetics of Thai-style wooden stilt houses but also want the modern luxuries, you’ll find the waterfront Thai villa Siri Sala in the unassuming neighborhood of Bangkok Noi. Traditionally, living in these houses meant dining on the floor and having to go the the toilet in a separate outhouse. Over five painstaking years, the new owners Irma Go and Kirati Thepsoparn have reimagined and reconstructed a magnificent Thai home and a Heritage Bar, all made from original parts of the three dilapidated wooden houses that used to stand on the land. Air-conditioning and glossy in-suite bathrooms are promised.

This riverside beauty looks very Thai on the outside, but it’s fitted with a 20m saltwater pool, a fully-equipped kitchen, a grand 20-seater dining table, spacious gardens and pond, four bedrooms and two flexi-purpose rooms. Traveling families that don’t want to stay at a hotel will appreciate the immersion and proximity to Thai culture that Siri Sala offers: their resident chef can whip up fantastic feasts showcasing river prawns and time-honored recipes, while river boat tours, massages, boxing classes can also be arranged. The ultimate highlight however, is the Heritage Bar – it’s decked out like a posh gentleman’s drinking lounge, making it a great place for jazz jams, karaoke sessions or wine tastings. Guests of the villa will have access to intriguing selections of niche Thai spirits such as Grandma Jinn’s sugarcane-based gin or Bussaba wheat beer as part of their stay.

Wearable flowers by SARRAN

In the past, Thai women would adorn themselves with flower garlands as accessories. Luckily, Sarran Youkongdee’s eponymous brand of floral jewellery, SARRAN, will never wilt. The award-winning designer brand has made a name for itself with its flower-centric accessories, bringing a touch of Thai history and culture to life with jewellery pieces fit for gala events. The first collection started out using recycled, light-weight, paper-like materials that were infused with perfume, which made the items look and smell just like real jasmine garlands.

The latest collection in store now, End of Ramayana, builds on its storied collection of flowers. Grander than any of the previous collections, it takes inspiration from the epic, khon costumes, and from paintings of flowers in murals at Wat Phra Kaew. Alongside earrings, ear cuffs and collar necklaces, there are also statement pieces such as head gear and bejeweled shoulder armor. Find these breathtaking floral masterpieces at Club 21 Gaysorn Village.

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