The Library Hotel

Koh Samui, Thailand

Hidden among Koh Samui’s palms and coconut groves, this sleek resort with 46 studios, suites and villas – known here as ‘pages’ and ‘chapters’ – overlooks the white sands of Chaweng Beach. But it’s more than an island getaway – the eye-catching, conceptual interiors make for a textbook in design. Minimalistic furnishings are offset by moody lighting and a palette of scarlets and greens. As the detail unfolds, in some suites you’ll find custom-made 3.3m-wide beds, private saltwater pools complete with Antony Gormley-esque statues, and even outdoor cinemas and barbecues.

True to its name, The Library is a bibliophile’s sanctuary, with over 1,400 tomes to sink your teeth into beside the atmospheric crocosmia-red pool, and kayak and windsurfing equipment is available for hire when you want to get active. A Thai-fusion restaurant serving samrab plates is ideal for setting you up before day trips to the golden Big Buddha Temple and Na Muang waterfall nearby.

Doubles from £86. 00 66 7742 2767, thelibrarysamui.com

Words by Megan Dickson.

This review was taken from the October 2021 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.