Amari Phuket — a resort on a quiet headland at the end of Patong Beach, escaping the noise without going far
Patong is famous for being loud, enough to put many travellers off — but Amari Phuket sits in a different world from the bars and night markets. It's perched on a rocky headland at the far south end of Patong Beach, with its own small private cove below. A few minutes by car or on foot puts you in the buzz of Bangla Road, yet back in your room it's as quiet as another town. This is a long-established Amari resort, open since 1984 and given a major renovation in 2013. Its 380 rooms by the sea start from approx. THB 4,500/night. Scored 8.6 from 371 reviews on Trip.com.
The first thing guests always mention is the location. Amari Phuket isn't in the crowded middle of Patong Beach — it climbs onto a rocky headland at the far south end, where the beachfront road ends and bends up the hill. The result is a small cove all its own, with clearer water and far fewer people than the main beach. Yet it's still only a 5-minute drive or walk to the main Patong Beach, Bangla Road and the restaurants — quiet and convenient in one place.
The 380 rooms split into two main zones. The Ocean Front Wing is the main seaside building, where entry-level Superior and Deluxe Ocean Front rooms of 33–34 sqm have balconies looking straight out over Patong Bay. The newer Ocean Suites Wing holds the one- and two-bedroom suites with access to the Coral Lounge. Most reviews call the rooms clean and the sea views well worth the price, though some note that the furniture and bathrooms in the older building are showing their age — if newness matters to you, choose the Ocean Suites side.
"Opened the curtains to a balcony full of the Patong sea, walked down to the private beach below with hardly anyone on it — I couldn't believe this was the Patong I'd been afraid would be chaos."
The resort has three pools stepping down towards the beach — the Rim Talay and La Gritta pools on the Ocean Front side face the sea, while the Club Pakarang Pool is reserved for Club guests. There are seven dining venues, and the one that comes up most in reviews is La Gritta, an Italian restaurant on the rocks where you eat pasta with a view of the sunset over Patong Bay. Rim Talay serves Thai food and seafood by the pool, while TreePod Dining suspends a nest-like pod in the trees for a photogenic special meal. The breakfast buffet draws praise for its variety.
There's also a Breeze Spa, a fitness centre, a kids' club and water activities off the private beach. Service is the most-praised part in many reviews — warm, attentive staff who remember guests, especially the beach and restaurant teams. To be fair, though, at 380 rooms the resort can feel busy at peak season, with full pools and restaurants, and a few reviews report inconsistent service from some staff — par for the course at a large resort rather than a small boutique.
The location is at the end of Meun-Ngern Road on the headland at the south of Patong Beach, in Kathu district — about 5–10 minutes by car from Bangla Road and central Patong, roughly 10 minutes to Karon Beach, and 45–50 minutes to Phuket Airport. Because it's built on a hillside, the paths within the resort involve a fair few steps and ramps; there are lifts and buggies to help, but anyone with limited mobility should request a lower floor or a room near a lift. A 8.6 from 371 reviews on Trip.com and 8.2 from 2,704 reviews on Booking.com are solid numbers for a long-running resort.
To be honest, Amari Phuket is not a brand-new luxury resort where every corner is flawless. It's an older property that has been renovated and still has parts that show their age. But what it genuinely offers — and is hard to find in Patong — is a quiet headland location with a private cove, full sea views, and a starting rate of around THB 4,500 that undercuts the luxury resorts over at Bang Tao or Surin. If you want to experience Patong without sleeping in the middle of the noise, this is the sweet spot.
A tip from reading many reviews here: pay the bit extra for an Ocean Front or Ocean View room that faces straight out to sea — the Patong Bay view from the balcony is the highlight, and rooms facing the hill or garden waste much of that. If your budget stretches and you want a newer room, choose the Ocean Suites Wing, which comes with Coral Lounge access.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet headland location at the end of the beach with a private cove, clear water and few people
- ✓ Beautiful Patong Bay sea views from rooms and pools
- ✓ Warm, attentive service, especially the beach and restaurant teams
- ✓ Good value for a 5-star beachfront resort in Patong
- ! Parts of the resort and the older building show their age, with dated bathrooms
- ! Built on a hillside with steps and ramps — tiring to walk at first
- ! Busy in peak season, with crowded pools and restaurants
- ✓ The private cove and sea views are what guests love most
- ✓ La Gritta and the breakfast buffet praised for taste and variety
- ✓ Far quieter than central Patong hotels, yet still easy to reach the town
- ✓ Ocean Suites Wing rooms are newer and larger than expected
- ! Some room types in the older building could use further renovation
- ! Service can be inconsistent at times, as some reviews note
- ! High-season rates climb, and the private cove is fairly small
- 💡If you're in Patong mainly for the Bangla Road nightlife — this sits at the far south end and means a 5–10 minute ride into town each time → if you want to walk back to your hotel after a night out, a central Patong hotel is more convenient.
- 💡If stairs are difficult for you, or you're travelling with elderly guests or a wheelchair — the resort is on a hillside with a fair number of steps and ramps → request a lower floor or a room near a lift, and ask about the internal buggy service before booking.
- 💡If you expect a flawless brand-new luxury resort — parts of this property show their age → choose a room in the newer Ocean Suites Wing, or look at a recently renovated resort if newness is a priority.