Chonburi

Costa Well Resort (www.costawellresortpattaya.com) brings Santorini style to the quiet fishing town of Bangsaray. A white and blue color scheme runs throughout, and the expansive views make for a peaceful, airy vibe. Tucked out of sight of town, the resort is in a perfect location for families with the nearby attractions of the Cartoon Network Water Park, the Nong Nooch Botanical Garden and the Pattaya Floating Market. The Deluxe Jacuzzi Room starts at B4,048/night while the Two-Bedroom Suite Jacuzzi goes for B12,969.

Kanchanaburi

Z9 Resort (www.fb.com/Z9Resort, 063-239-4459), near the Srinakarin dam, sets a new high-water mark in floating luxury. The design by Dersyn Studio manages to be both classical and futuristic, each room stepping out onto a private terrace with unobstructed views of the reservoir. Lounge on beanbags on the communal floating deck or retreat to shore and the resort’s restaurant and bar. On weekdays, the 50-sq-meter spaces go for B6,600; weekends are B8,600 (breakfast and kayaking included).

Meena Cafe’s (www.fb.com/meenacafe2017) view is the stuff of oil paintings. The entire glass-walled front faces out onto lush rice fields with the pagodas of Wat Tham Sua in the distance. With this view in hand, the owners clearly decided that any decor would be secondary, and the bare industrial decor is fittingly casual. Take a cold coco (B60) out to the mesh seats outside that sit level with the fields. For a snack, orange cakes and blueberry cheese pies go from B70 a piece. The cafe’s best hour is sundown.

Set across five spruced-up barns looking out over green expanses, The Village Farm to Cafe (www.fb.com/TheVillageFarmToCafe) has Kanchanaburi day-trippers in a spin. Inside is just as lush as the mountainous surrounds, with dangling ferns, cacti and dried flowers. The kitchen spotlights locally sourced ingredients in photogenic forms like a turtle-shaped bun that comes with a fresh melon wedge and melon soft-serve (B185). Before heading back to Bangkok, chow down on the barbecue ribs served with a huge salad portion, French fries and garlic bread (B650).

Petchaburi

Kofuku Coffee & Bistro (goo.gl/Bd4SBG) is Petchaburi’s contribution to the DIY dining trend. Get your coffee snob on by moonlighting as roaster and barista, a process that will take you from green bean to steaming cup. The cafe does have a drum roaster (no, you’re only allowed to use the little pan) where New Guinea and Kenya beans are roasted. For a novel drink, order the rainbow latte (B80-100), which is poured with milks of different color. Purists, try the ristretto (B80-100). The cafe also serves Thai food, but it’s quarantined in another section. 

Shrouded in the lush green countryside of Petchaburi are the eight cabins of Riverbed Cabin Resort (riverbedcabins.com). The cabins, which are built with Russian teakwood, have a Scandinavian minimalism to them and start at B3,600 for the studio room. Wake up to yoga on the riverbank or join the outdoor body combat class, which, conducted to a pumped-up playlist, the resort calls a “healthy party.” The poolside restaurant specializes in barbecue and seafood.

Ratchaburi

Next time you take a day trip out to sleepy, artsy Ratchaburi, find your way to Mali Cafe & Cuisine (www.fb.com/malicafeandcuisine). Amid arched windows, neutral-pastel tones and Thai motifs, an all-day menu boasts Thai and fusion dishes. Our favorite is the colorful khanom jeen (fermented rice noodles, B130) made from seven different herbs and served with green curry. On the fusion end, the fermented Thai sausage spaghetti with crispy tuna (B120) packs an umami punch. You can’t go wrong with the dessert of lot chong (pandan-colored, rice-flour droplets in coconut milk, B55) topped with purple sweet potato and coconut ice-cream.

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