THE BARAI Hua Hin: A New Expression of the Beachfront Retreat
Words: Pasuta Phongam Photos: Pasuta Phongam
Long associated with its monumental spa, THE BARAI Hua Hin now offers a broader reason to stay. Newly built accommodation and a dedicated Wellness Hub have expanded the beachfront address into a 98-room resort, marking the Thai debut of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Set along the Khao Takiap coast, it brings rooms, gardens, dining and wellness into closer conversation with the sea.
The changes are apparent in the landscape as much as in the buildings. Refreshed gardens frame shaded pathways, while sheltered seating areas and planted corners give the grounds a sense of privacy. Walking towards the beach, the outlook shifts between tropical foliage, architectural details and glimpses of the Gulf of Thailand.
Our Forest View Corner Suite combines a king-size bed with a generous balcony overlooking the greenery. A deep soaking tub and rainforest shower extend the emphasis on relaxation into the bathroom, while the garden-facing setting gives the room a secluded character.
Privacy corner for your relaxation
Designed by architect Lek Mathar Bunnag, THE BARAI Spa remains the property’s architectural centrepiece. Sculptural walls, shaded corridors and enclosed courtyards create a sequence of spaces shaped by light and shadow. References to water, fire, earth and air appear through material, colour and shifting degrees of enclosure.
Its labyrinthine pathways make the approach to treatment part of the experience. Narrow passages lead into more open spaces, with unexpected shafts of light changing the character of the walls throughout the day. During our visit, an aromatherapy massage offered time to settle into this setting, with the architecture establishing the mood before the treatment began.
Elsewhere, two pools offer different relationships with the surroundings. The Forest Pool sits within a shaded garden, while the Beach Pool opens towards the Gulf, moving the atmosphere from enclosure to an uninterrupted coastal outlook.
The two-storey Wellness Hub extends the programme beyond conventional spa treatments. A fitness studio, yoga studio, holistic zone and wellness shop support activities addressing sleep, movement and emotional wellbeing, guided by integrated wellness practitioner CM.D. Chuthamat Srinoi, known as Dr. Cash.
We joined her for a Seed Mandala session, working with seeds to create a pattern through mindful art. The practice brought a more active form of reflection into the stay, directing attention towards small details and the process of making.
Credit: McFarland House
Dining introduces another aspect of Hua Hin’s seaside history. McFarland House occupies a restored 19th-century beachfront pavilion that once served as the retreat of Dr. George Bradley McFarland. Its domestic scale and position overlooking the Gulf give the restaurant much of its appeal, with Modern European cooking led by Chef Benn Rowe.
Smoked tuna carpaccio brings together crème fraîche, avocado, almonds and caperberries, combining creamy accompaniments with smoke and briny accents.
Homemade squid ink tagliolini is served with tiger prawn, salmon roe and lemon crumble. The dark pasta provides a striking backdrop to the seafood, with citrus adding a contrasting note.
More substantial choices include a 300g, 270-day grain-fed rib-eye, while mixed wild mushroom soup is accompanied by Parmesan and toasted sourdough.
For dessert, Our Mango Sticky Rice reworks the familiar Thai combination through fresh mango, mango jelly, coconut panna cotta and coconut sorbet, finished with peanut crumble.
White Cottage draws on a different strand of the coast’s architectural heritage. Preserved timbers from Ban Chom Khluen, meaning “Seeing the Wave”, have been reassembled into a restaurant recalling the seaside summer houses of Siamese nobility. Mornings begin with breakfast, followed by a menu centred on seafood, plant-forward dishes and Thai flavours.
Yum Som-O Goong Yang pairs pomelo with grilled prawns, bringing fruit and seafood together in a Thai salad.
Designed for two, Pla Kapong Daeng Yang Bai Toei Jaew Makuea presents grilled snapper wrapped in pandan leaves, accompanied by an eggplant chilli dip.
Khao Khayam Pu combines crab meat and jasmine rice with chilli, lemongrass, makrut lime leaf and seafood sauce, placing aromatic herbs at the centre of the dish.
THE BARAI Hua Hin’s expanded identity is most apparent in the time spent between its main attractions: on a balcony facing the trees, along a shaded garden path or over a meal beside the Gulf. The spa remains its architectural anchor, while the new rooms and broader wellness programme give guests more ways to inhabit the setting. What emerges is a beachfront resort whose appeal rests as much on privacy and a slower daily rhythm as on its celebrated treatments.
THE BARAI Hua Hin Contact: +66 32 511 234 Reserve: thebaraihuahin@hyatt.com Location: 91/29 Hua Hin–Khao Takiap Rd, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand Socials: Instagram @thebaraihuahin | Facebook @thebaraihuahin
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