Hua Hin, Thailand has so much to offer travellers. Whether you’re a backpacker or an adventurer, a family tripper or a luxury vacationer, there will be something for you there. You don’t have to stay long. Our six-night stay at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa was more than enough. You can find out more in Our Hua Hin Family Holiday, a Great Escape for All. For me, a café hunter, I wanted to see what Hua Hin Cafes had to offer. Instagram was my guide (as always) and because staying in one place for too long made me twitchy, I convinced my husband to rent a car so we could go to a couple specific locations. We then travelled further afield.
First priority – Hua Hin Cafes
Seenspace Hua Hin was our first stop. Touted as the area’s first ever beachside mall, it oozed everything trendy and chic. I wouldn’t call it a mall though. It’s more of a haven for the beautiful and hip, with cool vibes, food, drink and a beautiful infinity pool that stretched the length of its beachfront location. There are a few boutiques there but not enough to call it a mall. Another tip… don’t get there before noon. In fact, I would go in the evening when the air is cooler, the sun is setting and you can really chill out and soak it all in.
Seenspace’s Instagram worthy beachside infinity pool and lounges.
A sprinkling of retails shops. Most of them sold locally made designer food, clothes and cosmetics.
Seenspace’s food court (cutely named Food Space) served various types of food. You’ll find Mexican, burgers and of course, Thai.
Thai street food at Seenspace’s Food Space.
Quite a few options for food here but don’t bother coming until past noon as nothing opens earlier.
I found Space Oddity on the second level where you can grab a good iced coffee or something refreshing like a lime juice and soda.
The Sundance Lounge for tea and finer things.
I would have loved to have taken tea here. Maybe another time.
I reluctantly left Seenspace, feeling a bit like I hadn’t spent enough time there. We had arrived a wee bit too early for all the shops to be open and it was a scorcher of a day so we took the kids back to the resort for some R&R. I think the early evening would be the best time to go so you can enjoy cooler breezes, the sun setting and some chilled drinks by the pool.
A day out in the country
Hua Hin itself is beachside but if you drive inland, you’ll find beautiful hills and a more rural, unspoilt part of Thailand. Having said that, we also found a Thai winery called Monsoon Valley which was well worth the visit, even if just to have a look.
There is a lot of agricultural action going on in the outskirts of Hua Hin. Fields and fields of pineapples are grown here with a gorgeous backdrop of hills that find their way to Burma.
The views from our table at the Monsoon Valley restaurant where we sat back, relaxed and enjoyed lunch. We spotted an elephant wandering through the vines.
The Thai style beef salad at the restaurant overlooking the fields was delicious. Expect to pay a bit extra because of the location.
I don’t drink much wine so wouldn’t know if it was good but I did enjoy the cold dessert wine that is being poured here.
Spelunking!
On the way back to Hua Hin, we went a bit off the beaten path to explore some caves. As I’ve said before, I’m not much of an adventurer but these were pretty cool. We followed the GPS until we thought we were lost. Then we came across a shed by a hill and a little sign that said Lub Lae cave. For a small donation at the shed, they’ll give you a flashlight to take with you. Then it’s a short climb up a flight of stairs to the mouth of the cave. A sacred Buddha sits watch at the entry but then you can easily make your way down through stairs carved into the floor.
The Lub Lae cave was easily accessible with stairs hewn into the rock that led down to the base. There are even lights put up here and there so you can see better.
Down below, you can walk through a cavern filled with bats hanging from the ceiling (if you’re brave enough) and explore further.
I wish we had taken another hour or two to go further towards Burma and find the waterfalls that are in the area. This we will have to do on our next adventure to Hua Hin.
One final Hua Hin Cafe
I must have a thing for places called spaces because our last cafe before leaving Hua Hin was coincidentally called Air Space. It’s on the other end of Hua Hin town but I was delighted to find it.
A mod yet rustic setting, Air Space was a great chill out location for us all.
On a cooler day, it would have been nice to sit outside on their bright red cushions and read a book with a cool drink.
The coffee was amazing.
Hua Hin, you have really won my heart and I hope I will get to come back very soon!
