The Standard, Hua Hin
"Why book? In a beach town dominated by could-be-anywhere mega-resorts, The Standard Hua Hin brings a much-needed dose of youthful energy to a place usually associated with snowbirding retirees and hi-so (high society) Thais driving down from Bangkok. Set the scene After the 3.5-hour highway schlep from Bangkok, the breezy brutalist-looking lobby spells a breath of (literal) fresh air in Hua Hin’s hotel scene. No typical teakwood floors, jasmine garlands, or Thai-inspired lattice work here, but fresh contemporary art, mid-century modern furnishing, and a small booth selling resort wear and artsy souvenirs by local designers. A lush garden dotted with Alice in Wonderland–esque quirks (keep an eye out for the garden gnomes hidden in the shrubbery) protrudes from the lobby and leads guests to the resort’s main wing, which looks like a Palm Springs apartment block surrounding a giant banyan tree. From here, a pathway palisaded with bamboo and bougainvillea snakes to the villas, each one part of a quaint cul-de-sac with sandboxes, picnic tables, or lounge nooks. Closer to the beach, the action centers around a swimming pool surrounded by tiles covered in calligraphy by Brooklyn-based artist Romon Kimin Yang (aka Rostarr). Here, you’ll find Bangkok’s beau monde lounging in tiny bikinis under candy-striped umbrellas, perpetually trailed by their camera-toting Instagram husbands. This is also the setting for the two restaurants: the Italian-inspired Lido for all-day eating, and the romantic Praça, right on the beach, for drinks and Thai-with-a-twist bites until well after nightfall. The backstory After Thai real estate conglomerate Sansiri acquired a major stake in the fun-loving American hotel group, a Thai outpost has been a long time coming. While a Bangkok flagship is still in the works (opening in May 2022), the brand made its Thai debut in Hua Hin at the end of 2021. The rooms Rooms can be divided into two categories, and each will have you experience the resort differently. The bulk of the rooms and suites are housed in the two main buildings which, with their ’60s-style façades and snug balconies, look a lot like the brand’s (now closed) West Hollywood outpost. These are the rooms to book if you plan on spending most of your day by the pool or around town—they’re lovely, with boho-beachy rattan furnishing and textiles in sunshine yellow, but too small to spend a whole day in. The villas, on the other hand, have serious staying-put appeal. They’re placed closer to the beach (though none have direct beach access, and only a few have sea views) and are clustered in sets of three or four around small courtyards teeming with palms and bougainvillea. They have a similar ’60s vibe, with licks of Matisse-inspired artworks and a touch of Palm Springs in the white, round-edged exteriors. Most of them open to private pools and outdoor lounge nooks, but also offer plenty of space to kick back indoors. I particularly loved the terrazzo-clad bathrooms, which have roomy showers and tubs, lots of natural light, and disco balls dangling from the ceiling. Food and drink The resort’s three bars and restaurants brilliantly encapsulate The Standard brand ethos: they’re fun, easygoing, and anything but standard. My days here started at Lido, a bamboo-clad dining spot near the pool serving buffet breakfast (pastries, rice porridge, fruits, the works) until 10:30 a.m., after which Italian specialties dominate the menu for the remainder of the day (try the burrata with tomato sherbet). I preferred Praça, though, which takes over a gorgeous heritage house near the beach and has a toes-in-the-sand terrace shaded by thatch umbrellas. The dinner menu here is billed as “Thai Izakaya,” which translates into shareable fusion dishes such as mini krapow tacos and zingy tom yam kung ramen. They match beautifully with the Thai-inspired cocktails incorporating local ingredients such as coconut milk, makrut lime, and guava. To nurse a hangover the next day, just follow your ears to the mellow tunes seeping from the music-themed juice bar near the lobby. The spa The spa’s open-air mud lounge, where you can lather yourself in skin-purifying muds infused with rosewood oil, cinnamon, or patchouli, is an obvious nod to the brand’s spa retreat in Miami, which offers a similar program. There are also treatments with crystal-infused healing coils and guided sound bowl meditations, but that’s as new age-y as it gets. The neighborhood/area The resort sits on Hua Hin’s lively main beach, from where you can easily reach a multitude of local restaurants and cafes on foot. That said, the town stretches out over almost 12 miles of coastline, so most outings will require a taxi or tuk tuk (dinner at the new Som’s Table on the southern end of town is particularly worth a trip). The service We’re in Thailand, so warm service is pretty much a given, and the (mostly Thai) staff here is no exception. The front desk team excelled at friendly chit-chat, though some of the waitstaff in the restaurants could’ve been a little peppier—this is The Standard, after all. For families The vibe is more grown-up, but that doesn’t mean young guests won’t have a good time here. I brought along my three-year-old, and he was well taken care of with kid-friendly menus (think mini sliders, spaghetti, and chicken cutlets) in the restaurants and a huge coloring page in our room upon arrival. Much to my son’s delight, the swimming pool had plenty of shallow spots to splash around in. Eco effort Pretty standard. There are no plastic straws, and water in the rooms is served in recyclable glass bottles. Accessibility Yes, there’s an accessible room for disabled guests, and all restaurants can be reached via a ramp. Anything left to mention? Note that Hua Hin’s beaches don’t deliver the powdery white sand, azure-hued sea, and jungle fringe you typically spot on Thai postcards. You’ll have to travel much farther south for that—Hua Hin is more of a close-to-Bangkok getaway. Finally, in 100 words or less, what makes this hotel worthy of Hot List? Rarely does a hotel sway the general perception of a town, but with its cooler-than-thou attitude, lounge-y villas, and arsenal of playful bars and restaurants, The Standard Hua Hin makes it clear: This is not your grandma’s Hua Hin anymore." - Chris Schalkx
