Villa Essenza

Villa Essenza is a sleek, beachfront home on Natai Beach, just north of Phuket, set in nearly an acre of lawns and palms that run right down to the sand. Walls of glass, timber-lined ceilings and pale stone floors keep the whole house bright and open to the breeze, and from almost every room the eye is drawn out to the Andaman Sea. It is under half an hour from Phuket airport, yet the long, quiet sweep of Natai feels a world away from the island’s busier beaches.

The star is a twenty-five-metre infinity pool that stretches from the house towards the shore, lined with loungers and daybeds, with a shallow wading pool beside it for toddlers. At the far end of the lawn, a thatched beachfront sala with cushioned benches looks straight out to sea and is the place to be as the sun goes down. Indoors, an open-plan living pavilion in black and white flows into a long glass dining room for twelve, while a media lounge and a billiards table give everyone somewhere to unwind after a day on the beach.

Six air-conditioned bedrooms sleep up to twelve. Two master suites face the sea, and the guest rooms mix queen and twin beds, so families with children of any age fit in easily. Bathrooms come with deep tubs and rain showers, several opening onto garden views. Breakfast is included, the private chef cooks Thai and Western dishes on request, and a villa manager, housekeeping and security staff take care of the rest. Kayaks are on hand for calm days, and Phang Nga Bay’s limestone islands are an easy day trip.