The Slate Phuket Resort on Nai Yang Beach near Phuket International Airport is a superb 5-star hotel in a spacious property with a fantastic and unusual design inspired by the tin mining era of Phuket. It was long known as the ‘Indigo’ hotel and was the brainchild of the famous architect and designer Bill Bensley. The hotel name has changed from Indigo to The Slate, but very little else has changed. The layout, the decoration, rooms and outlets often described as ‘Industrial Chic’ are surprisingly familiar, making it one of the best hotels in Phuket.

The Slate Phuket is just five minutes from Phuket International airport, making it a great weekend escape for those who don’t care about the frantic nightlife of Patong, Kata or Karon Beach. Nai Yang beach is a perfect nature escape for romance and peace. This part of the island is probably the closest to what Phuket used to be before fame started transforming what used to be a paradise island.

With six room types, the resort is immense and features no less than five restaurants, three large swimming pools, including a non-smoking kids pool and a kids-free adult pool (brilliant move here), an award-winning spa and a huge fitness room.

The beach of Nai Yang is superb and often forgotten because it hides away from the main roads. The sand is soft, and the sea is very shallow. There are many local food stalls along the streets to sample true Thai street food, plus a good choice of beach bars, massages and restaurants at reasonable prices.

 

Black Ginger is a fabulous Thai restaurant in a lovely setting inside the Slate hotelin Nai Yang Beach. The cuisine itself is worth the visit, but the design and enigmatic arrival make you feel exceptional, like being in a traditional Thai movie. The Slate hotel itself is a piece of art, each room, each outlet and every restaurant are the designers’ work. The best way to enjoy it is to spend a weekend at the Slate as we did and to explore every corner. Black Ginger is also at the top of our list of Best restaurants in Phuket.

This restaurant received a ‘Michelin Plate’ rating in the Phuket Michelin Guide. A ‘Michelin Plate’ is a recognition of excellent food.