One & Only Desaru Coast
Perfect for couples with a taste for stylish boutique hotels on miles of beaches.
10/17/2024 Reading time: 2 Minutes
It's a great joy when, after a 2.5-hour highway drive from Singapore airport and a traffic jam at the border, you plunge into dense primary forest and discover the "One & Only Desaru Coast". If I didn't know any better, I would have thought I was in an Aman. No wonder. It was Kerry Hill who once designed the resort. The architect, who died in 2018, created the Amanwella and the Aman Lodges in Bhutan, among others. Here, he designed each suite as a walled retreat. The interior of my mini fortress presents itself as a homely ensemble. The 105 m2 living/sleeping area, veranda and large bathroom are grouped around an atrium with a plunge pool and daybed. At breakfast in the "Ambara", I feel a bit like I'm in the movie "Crazy Rich Asians": The majority of guests love designer bling-bling, and there is a lot of chatter. The selection of Western and Far Eastern dishes is huge and the quality is impressive.
900600
900600
900600
900600
Later, on a walk through the hotel garden with head chef Valerio Pachetti, I get to know the plants, herbs and spices on which the variety of flavors in Malaysian cuisine is based. There is no need to fear intense spices in the signature restaurant "Hoishi". Chef Aizat Nazri's expertise is based on the Japanese syun concept. The small dishes are prepared at the counter and served omakase-style. Delicious: scallops with foie gras and vanilla miso or pink cooked wagyu with yuzu dressing and deep-fried leek. The luxury resort is bordered by miles of beach. If you're looking for company and hospitality, lie down on sun loungers in the beach club. I like a bit of solitude. A narrow path leads from my hideaway through the rainforest to the sea. A kind of Hollywood swing with thick cushions dangles from a gnarled branch. Fall in, let your gaze wander, dream. Wonderful!
