Villa Syrah

Villa Syrah sits right at the water’s edge in Plai Laem, one of a small group of contemporary villas on Samui’s quiet north-east tip, with steps down to the sand and a rocky shoreline below. It is a striking two-level home of raw concrete, warm timber and wide glass, softened by a manicured lawn and tropical planting. Every bedroom faces the sea, so the bay is the first thing you see each morning and the last thing you see at night.

Outside, a fourteen-metre infinity pool runs the length of the terrace, with a gently sloping shallow end that suits younger swimmers. Loungers and broad timber parasols line the deck, and an L-shaped outdoor sofa looks out over the pool to the water. At dusk the villa lights up against the darkening sky and the sea turns silver, and the lawn and little beach below are lovely for an evening stroll.

The ground floor is one bright, open space, with sofas, a dining table for ten and a sleek modern kitchen, all opening through a glass wall onto the pool. Upstairs, three en-suite bedrooms, two with their own balconies, look straight out to sea, and a separate TV room can double as a fourth bedroom when you need the space. Breakfast is cooked to order each morning, the villa is cleaned twice daily, and a return airport transfer is included.