Checking Into Ana Anan: A Luxury Haven on Jomtien Beach
Set along the soft sandy beach of Na Jomtien, Ana Anan Resort & Villas lies in an incredibly private part of Pattaya, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The property opened in 2019 and remains a serene, secluded haven on a quiet stretch of the gulf — roughly 2 hours from central Bangkok and 20 minutes from central Pattaya. At first glance, Ana Anan is one of the few properties where every room type looks chic (you won’t believe how hard this is to come across) and boasts a view.
It’s relaxed luxury mixed with retreat vibes, where you can sit in any corner of the hotel and let your thoughts drift away with the sea’s ebb and flow.
Rooms and Villas
Ana Anan is divided into several buildings, with all 263 rooms and villas taking on sleek contemporary aesthetics that ooze laid-back, sanctuary vibes. Most room types are located in the main building that rises like a slate wall, each with its balcony cleverly angled away from other rooms.
Our Skydeck Pool Villa was located on a separate, low-rise building complex. I’m not a massive fan of pool villas, but the unparalleled privacy of the villa-front pool with its stepping-stone path and cabana was love at first sight. And because we had a private pool, we were given a floating breakfast in-room in Thai or Continental style at the hour of our choice. It was lovely to tan while eating, but you want to be quick, or the chirpy sparrows will start hovering around to pick at your leftovers!
As you draw the curtains close, a sliding door separates the sleeping space from the bathroom with a free-standing bathtub. (In honesty, the bathroom alone is bigger than most apartments in Hong Kong.) While clad in black, light filters through the stairwell, which leads up to an upper-floor deck where you can unwind with a sundowner with views of the Gulf of Thailand. Every day before dinnertime, the staff would check on us and deliver traditional crackers to wind down the day, which we found to be a lovely gesture.
To change things up, the Skydeck Pool Villa also has access to a semi-private pool shared by other villa residents. Villa units are very limited – all of the cabanas we saw were stunning, and we’d love to go for the Villa Cabana that opens directly into the shared pool (talk about convenience!) or the Oceanfront Pool Villa with a panoramic view of the sea and an in-room bathtub.
Facilities
Lobby Area
Ana Anan had one of the most impressive lobby entrances we’ve seen in Thailand. Upon arrival, guests are whisked down the stairs to a spacious hall, where they can recline on the rattan chairs, pick up a cup of coffee or browse a handpicked selection of local products and resort amenities.
Swimming Pool and Gym
If there’s one thing that Ana Anan does not have a shortage of, it’s swimming pools.
The main pool, open to all guests, is very much the focal point of Ana Anan. Set on the beach end of the property, the double-decker pool has the Splash Bar and kids pool on the lower deck, with a transparent tank and a hammock bed on the upper. The best part, though, is the slide connecting the levels. Just grab an inflatable doughnut, and the pool staff will ensure you slide safely down the ramp! We had so much fun going down; it felt like we were kids all over again. That said, mornings after breakfast hours were the most popular with families looking to squeeze in another splash before checking out.
Overlooking the lower pool deck is also a chic gym, with complimentary water and fruits provided.
Sora Lounge
The exclusive club lounge offers afternoon tea canapes and happy hour drinks, only available to guests in particular room and villa categories. We fit in a bite before our pool session, which was perfect for tiding us over until dinner.
Dining
Over the Moon
We had the most unreal sundowner at Over the Moon, an open-air lounge with a panoramic sea view. It’s the spot to watch the sky change colours ever so slowly as the sun sets over the shimmering horizon.
Everyone clambers for a front table at sunset, so book a table in advance to avoid getting turned away (this happens more often than you would think). We went with the reception package that came with Thai oysters (absolutely creamy goodness that was bomb) and two cocktails (perfect for light drinkers like me who prefer a tad of sweetness.
During our visit, part of the bar was under renovation, so we didn’t enjoy live music, but it was magical nonetheless.
Under the Sun
Under the Sun is the casual beachside restaurant serving bites for old and young (I loved the subtle reference to Over the Moon!) The eatery is decked out in a bold shade of red resembling the setting sun, and lights up at night, giving off playful vibes that encourage guests to enjoy a fun meal together.
Take your pick of seating from the bean bags on the lawn under candescent bulbs, chic chairs at the tiled tables or cosy beanbag sofas. The menu includes fusion dishes like pizzas and salads that appeal to Asian influences, a seafood grill and an extensive drink list.
Splash Bar
While it may look small, Splash Bar serves a wide array of drink options right by the pool. So take a seat and kick up your feet while the kids splash about.
Blue Tang
Ana Anan’s coffee spot is tucked away in the lobby and serves drinks and sweet bites. The location is quiet and breezy, a perfect place to unwind for some me-time.
Squid & Co.
The restaurant runs all day, serving Asian and continental dishes.
We opted to skip our floating breakfast for the second day and checked out the buffet spread here instead, which came with an incredible selection, including Thai skewers, noodles and sticky rice (I could eat this all day).
Room Service
I rarely order room service, but it felt like the most logical thing to do when we had an entire villa to ourselves. The first thing we noticed was the sprawling menu supplied by Ana Anan’s various restaurants that covered most dishes you could imagine. And everything looked sumptuous on the screens – there’s even a midnight menu to satisfy your late-night cravings.
I felt like because the crew had to gather dishes from various kitchens and make the trek to the villa (we were in the only block away from all the eateries), it took a while for dinner to come, and it was a little less than piping hot. That said, the traditional Thai dishes were absolutely delicious and very affordable for resort pricing standards.
Thoughts
When I think of Pattaya, tropical resorts and sparkling waters don’t immediately come to mind; that’s more for the likes of Huahin and Phuket. But Ana Anan has proven to be a beautifully quiet and well-thought-out property. It’s been immaculately kept since its opening, and the service was top-notch.
I’m not a fan of destination weddings. But if I had to pick a hospitality option (and Thailand would be a surefire destination), Ana Anan would be high on my list of intimate getaways where you could quickly oscillate between fun and privacy.
While Jomtien Beach may not be the most convenient location, and there’s no shuttle bus service to downtown, Ana Anan is well-fitted enough with plenty to do on the grounds to ensure you don’t have to leave the property for the entirety of your stay. Three days were the perfect sweet spot for us to walk around and do some of everything while enjoying our villa thoroughly.
Ana Anan has been one of my favourite properties we’ve visited this year, and we’re definitely returning to check out the other villas when we revisit Pattaya.
A special thank you to the Ana Anan team for a complimentary stay in exchange for press coverage. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission when you click and make a purchase.
Related Posts
