The Slate Phuket Hotel Review: A Heritage-Centred Design Resort

The Slate is the epitome of cool, slick and laidback – a hotel of bold contrasts all wrapped up in a lush garden paradise. Read on for my review of The Slate in Phuket.

The Bill Bensley-designed hotel could almost be described as “whimsical-meets-steam-punk”, with striking steel, concrete and glass softened by warm wood finishes and splashes of vibrant colour.

The result? A soulful luxury resort full of character and curated touches throughout.

This industrial-chic luxury hotel in Phuket is just a 5 minute drive from the international airport and is an ideal beachside retreat for families and couples – it offers 2 gates leading directly to the dreamy golden-sand Nai Yang Beach.

Over our stay, we discovered what lies beyond the surface at The Slate: an ode to Phuket’s history as a hub for the tin mining industry, created by direct descendants of the governor who guided the island through this critical era of development. Tin was “dubbed ‘”black gold” and was even a form of currency in Phuket through the 1930’s, leading to the island’s growth and prosperity.

Read on to discover what it’s like to stay at The Slate Phuket!

The Rooms at The Slate Phuket

Stepping into The Slate feels like you are walking into an artist’s residence, with bold architecture, paintings and sculptural artwork throughout 25 acres of lush, manicured gardens.

The Slate offers a portfolio of 178 artfully-designed suites and private villas across the property, from the Pearl Bed Suites (ranging from 56-65 square meters) and D Buk Family Suites (72 square meters) to the indulgent Private Pool Suites and iconic Bensley Residence (a whopping 504 square meters), there is something to suit every type of traveler.

We made ourselves at home in the Pearl Bed Suite and loved the plush king-sized bed. Feather or synthetic pillows are available on-demand and we enjoyed the complimentary bottle of bubbly on the terrace while our son gobbled down the handmade chocolate chip butter cookies that The Slate kindly welcomed us with.

The expansive private balcony was delightful, with an oversized daybed which was perfect for lounging as well as a huge outdoor bathtub overlooking the lush gardens below. In the afternoons during turndown service, the lovely housekeeping team lights incense (in a clever spider-looking incense holder) on the balcony to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

The massive bathroom offered a standing shower and double vanity sinks with custom metallic floral tap heads – just another example of the unique, thoughtful touches that adorn the rooms.

We loved that though we were in a fairly sizeable resort, the rooms are set in low-rise blocks and spread throughout the property so that you never feel like you are on top of one another – each suite felt private and quiet.

For the ultimate exclusivity, The Slate also offers a number of one and two-bedroom villas with personal butlers, private pools and even standalone living and bedroom pavilions.

Ready to book your Phuket getaway at The Slate? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks (including free airport transfers, priority early check-in and late check-out and 20% off spa services at Coqoon) – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

The Facilities at The Slate Phuket

The Slate is a popular family and couple’s getaway resort in Phuket, offering a huge range of facilities and also easy access to Nai Yang Beach. See for yourself why it is one of the best luxury resorts in Phuket.

At the heart of the property grounds is the family-friendly lagoon pool, with an artificial waterfall, shallow sections and huge tree for shade. There is also a small baby pool for very young kids.

We spent the majority of our time lounging around the lagoon pool and loved eating lunch poolside before hopping back in for more time in the cooling water. This is the type of place where hours blissfully go by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, it’s time for sunset cocktails and dinner.

For those craving some solitude and tranquility, there are two adult-only pools which I managed to check out sans toddler – access is limited to guests aged 14 and above. The first quiet paradise is The Pulley Pool with gentle music playing in the background and a swim-up pool bar.

The second peaceful space is the stylish Snakeskin Pool, an infinity pool with sunbeds and the sound of silence – at Snakeskin I heard nothing but the gentle swishing from the jet streams of the infinity pool and the occasional whisper between couples.

In addition to the pools at The Slate there is also a well-equipped fitness center, Ondigo Gym, with attached fitness studio area for group and private fitness classes.

The schedule is packed full of classes and experiences including aqua Yoga, Intro to Muay Thai Boxing, circuit training, Tai Chi for beginners, mat Pilates and Hatha Vinyasa group classes. Classes can conveniently be booked via The Slate’s own app.

The Slate’s recreation centre also rents out equipment so guests can try their hand at archery, standup paddleboarding and cycling – we happily rented bicycles to explore the beachfront promenade as well as beach towels to take to Nai Yang for a spot of surfing.

You can also book boat tours to the Phi Phi Islands or James Bond Island; try scuba diving; participate in morning alms giving; visit the Andamanda water park or Phuket Elephant Sanctuary; and take part in many more excursions & activities.

Coqoon Spa at The Slate is one of the best spas in Phuket – offering six treatment suites as well as the unique cocoon-like room aptly named “The Nest”, the award-winning spa team took us to another world during our couple’s massage.

I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced a treatment space like The Nest – a room intricately woven and seemingly suspended in mid air. The rattan-like structure is stunning and provides the most serene and ethereal setting for treatments.

The expert therapists, Jeab and May, pampered us with a deep tissue massage that helped to release tension – especially from my neck, shoulders and lower back.

The Slate also offers a brand new regenerative retreat centre providing tailored programs – Kru. Appointments begin with a consultation with a doctor for their various services including the KRU Signature VitaDrip vitamin drop infusion, wellness check-up, hormone therapy, physiotherapy and more.

Ready to experience The Slate in Phuket? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

The Slate Phuket With Kids

There is a reason why The Slate is one of the best family resorts in Phuket. Families traveling to Phuket with kids don’t just love the proximity to the airport (it is just a short 5-minute drive away), but also appreciate the warmth and inclusivity of the staff and offerings.

Not only was the lagoon pool an idyllic place to make memories as a family, our kid was simply delighted by the pancake station at The Tin Mine breakfast buffet where children picked an illustration and the chef magically “drew” it in pancake form!

The Tin Box is the low-stimulation kid’s club at The Slate – perfectly wholesome with toys that allow kids, or “Little Miners”, let their imaginations run wild. Kids under 4 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

The staff also host a range of workshops and activities including kids Yoga, clay art making, mini soccer and fan painting. If you want to burn off some energy, head to the shaded outdoor playground for some active play.

For parents who need a little help with babysitting, you can arrange a babysitter for 300 Thai Baht per hour. We had a dinner reservation at Black Ginger, the upscale modern Thai restaurant at The Slate, and booked a babysitter to help watch over our son in the evening while we indulged next door.

Ready to book your family or couple’s Phuket getaway at The Slate Resort in Phuket? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

The Dining Options at The Slate Phuket

The Slate Phuket has 6 main dining outlets, not including poolside and in-room dining.

Mornings were easy, breezy and delicious at Tin Mine, where the breakfast selection was extensive – from the made-to-order kids pancakes and fresh chocolate croissants to the noodles, dim sum and cooked-to-order eggs, we never left feeling remotely hungry.

We also ate dinner at Tin Mine twice and we were so impressed by the extremely rich and tasty khao soi curry with egg noodles and deliciously crispy pork belly kaprao served with a generous serving of jasmine rice.

Tongkah Tin Syndicate is the property’s laid-back open-air snooker hall serving snacks and cocktails and playing live sports on TV – perfect for casual catch-ups and late night drinks.

Dining at Black Ginger was a highlight of our Phuket trip and a dinner experience not to be missed. Hidden away within The Slate, Black Ginger is a modern Thai restaurant where dinner begins with a short ride across the private pond on a floating platform.

The kitchen is helmed by Chef Piak who has more than three decades of experience – and you can taste it in her flavour-packed dishes. We loved the softshell crab pomelo salad with crispy fried shallots and garlic, the tender wok-fried beef with curry leaves and massaman curry with chicken thigh.

Reservations are not just highly recommended – they are required as this is one of the most in-demand dining experiences in Phuket and exclusive to in-house guests at The Slate between about November to April in the peak travel season. We sat outdoors on the deck and enjoyed the balmy breeze as we sipped on cocktails.

During our visit in July 2025, we unfortunately did not visit Rivet & Rebar, the grill and steakhouse, as it is reserved for guests aged 8 years old and above. At the time, Underground Cafe and Shore Thing beach BBQ were also temporarily closed.

Ready to book your family or couple’s Phuket getaway at The Slate Resort in Phuket? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

Things to do around The Slate in Phuket

The Slate Phuket is not located directly on the beach, but it might as well be as it offers two gates that lead directly across the road to Nai Yang Beach where there are plenty of sun beds and umbrellas for rent. As it is west-facing it just so happens to also be an amazing sunset spot in Phuket. This area as a whole is extremely quiet and laidback – we loved the easy access to small supermarkets, fruit stalls and coffee shops.

If you are looking for Phuket day trip ideas here are some options including exploring Phuket Old Town (approximately an hour away by car) or going a day trip to Hong Island or the famous James Bond Island.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is just a short drive away, and the Sametnangshe Viewpoint in Phang Nga is a 50-minute car ride away.

The verdict

There really is no place like The Slate. The creativity and artistic touches make the property one-of-a-kind and a feast for the senses – it feels like you are wandering through living history and tribute to Phuket island.

For culture vultures a visit to the new art quarter within the luxury hotel is a must-do: the curated, collaborative art gallery is located off the lobby and showcases pieces created by a number of contemporary artists.

The staff at The Slate Phuket were all truly wonderful and so helpful – we appreciated the thoughtful little touches like the fresh fruit skewers and cups of lemon-infused water which the pool staff served in the afternoon, and the custom essential oil mix with The Slate’s signature scent that the housekeeping team left for us as a souvenir.

Whether I was simply lazing on a sunbed watching my 4-year-old play with newfound friends in the pool or enjoying a moment of grown-up solitude at the dreamy Snakeskin pool, The Slate is the kind of property that I can see us returning to time and time again – for a romantic getaway, as a family or for a girl’s trip.

🎥▶️ Let me show you around The Slate in Phuket ▶️🎥

Ready to book your Phuket getaway at The Slate Resort in Phuket? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

I hope this hotel review of The Slate Phuket helps you in your Thailand travel planning!

You might also find these guides helpful:

• Looking for some unforgettable day trips in and around Phuket that aren’t overcrowded? Read on for a handful of Phuket day tour ideas to get you started
• Head on over here for my 10 Day Thailand itinerary that will take you beyond the beaches
• Not sure what to expect in Southeast Asia? Read these 10 essential Southeast Asia travel tips
• Click here for even more Thailand travel guides and tips

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I was hosted as media on a familiarization stay at The Slate in Phuket. These media stays allow me to experience the property and give a first-hand, honest review of their rooms, facilities and service.

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