Anantara Desaru Coast Residences
Words: Stephen Reid
Photos: Han Sen Hau
Like a graceful bird, the camera soars over a turquoise tropical ocean, waves whispering onto a beach that stretches, golden and endless. Lush palms sway in the breeze, framing a sleek, single-story villa. Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal an elegant woman, tall and slender, moving through a living room that breathes understated luxury. Is the styling Scandinavian? Japanese? There’s a serenity in the pale wood, the tasteful artwork which has been hung on the walls, the sunken seating area, a nod to the fashions of the 70s, the upholstery, deep and inviting, its soft oatmeal coloured fabric contrasting with the dark hardwood floors.
She glides past the vast dining table, a silent witness to laughter, celebrations, and whispered negotiations. Crossing to the kitchen, the sleek built-in appliances were quietly at work. Her hand reaches into the built-in refrigerator, retrieving a bottle of Italian sparkling water. Setting a glass upon the kitchen island, a masterpiece of luxurious cream marble and warm blonde wood, its sheer size felt like an embrace – comforting, reassuring, anchoring her momentarily as her thoughts swirled. She pours the water into the glass, bubbles rising like tiny dreams, or are they nightmares?
Out of the window, there is movement. She crosses the room and reaches for a handle; a vast pane slides open effortlessly. The ocean breeze billows the drapes. She steps onto the terrace, sunlight playing on her shoulder-length hair, the blue of her dress mirroring the sky. Beyond the swaying palms, the turquoise ocean shimmers. Birds etch playful lines across the horizon. A shadow flickers across her lightly made-up face. A rustling. The snap of a twig. Her eyes scan the manicured shrubs. A gardener emerges, clipping back a bamboo bush that had dared get out of shape. “Good afternoon,” she calls, her voice soft and elusive, carrying a hint of an Australian accent. He smiles, waves, and returns to his task.
Back inside, she enters her primary bedroom suite, her hand smoothing a pillowcase on the king-sized bed. The high thread count linen feels like a secret indulgence. A fluffy robe is placed beside the freestanding bath in the en-suite bathroom. Water rushes, a promise of warmth and relaxation. Cocktails and dinner await, but for now, there is this moment: the bath beckons, a sanctuary before the evening unfolds.
This may sound like the opening scene of the latest prestige drama starring Nicole Kidman on HBO, Amazon Prime or Apple TV, ‘Big Little Lies’, ‘The White Lotus’ or ‘The Perfect Couple’, where wealthy yet often troubled people have their secrets gradually revealed over the course of eight sumptuous episodes, living in the lap of luxury in stunning homes surrounded by breathtaking scenery. However, the tall Australian woman isn’t Nicole Kidman; she’s Monica Tindall, the editor here at The Yum List. She and the rest of The Yum List team are here not to be part of an unravelling mystery but to experience the luxurious lifestyle portrayed in such premier dramas for ourselves, at least for a weekend, at one of the truly magnificent residences at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
These prestige dramas have undoubtedly and significantly impacted bookings and tourism for the locations in which they have been filmed. ‘The White Lotus Effect, as it has been termed, can have a downside, however, as prices for resorts in such destinations have also surged. Commentators have already noted that in anticipation of the third season of ‘The White Lotus’ set in nearby Thailand, travel agencies are already receiving a flood of enquiries and reservations, particularly from the USA.
Anantara Desaru Coast Residences
Suppose you want to experience the pinnacle of luxury living, portrayed in these shows for yourself, without the mass tourism. In that case, we have an inside scoop for you. Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, nestled amongst 17 kilometres of golden beaches and tranquil coastline, has a selection of five stunning new three and four-bedroom residences. They have all the benefits of having your own secluded sanctuary, a private family-sized bungalow, and the convenience of the comprehensive resort facilities nearby should you seek to enjoy them, or ultimate privacy if not.
In those glamorous television shows, the main characters always have a dedicated team – a nanny, a loyal maid, or a personal assistant. If you are one of those fortunate individuals living that lifestyle, rather than just playing a role, as we from The Yum List did this weekend, the Anantara Desaru Coast Residences offer something unique: separate staff quarters. You can bring your trusted helper to assist with the children while you enjoy your luxurious getaway. A dedicated butler service is also available for guests staying at the residences. There is even a washer and dryer in the staff quarters if you need something laundered urgently, a little luxury that is a boon for those who manage to travel with only a carry-on case like Monica.
Luxury Pool Villas Malaysia
Our residence for the weekend had a gorgeous primary bedroom with a large dressing and wardrobe area, an en suite bathroom with a free-standing bath, rainfall shower, and separate vanity units. A sofa and small coffee table were thoughtfully placed at the foot of the plush king-sized bed, should you wish to sit and collect your thoughts after rising in the morning, enjoying a coffee, and looking out over the private pool before a swim before breakfast. Luxury toiletries manufactured in Malaysia for Anantara included the usual shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, and thoughtfully after-sun lotion. In addition to the three en-suite bathrooms, there is a guest powder room off the main living area for guests’ use, should you be entertaining in the residence.
Our residence had two more en-suite bedrooms; one had a similar king-sized bed, and the other had twin queen-sized beds. It’s worth noting that the furnishings are of higher quality than expected, even in some of the country’s finest hotels, fashioned from solid wood and marble, not laminates or wooden veneers. Moving even one of the bedside cabinets would be a two-person job. With an array of devices to charge these days, I appreciated that there were electrical sockets on each side of the beds and USB A sockets to charge your phone. So, no worries if you forgot your charger here. Each bedroom and the living room features a Smart TV ready to connect to your favourite streaming platforms should you want to relax and catch up with your favourite series.
The main living area is bathed in natural light; the sun’s rays sparkled off the private pool just beyond the floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Open these wide, and you’ll create a seamless indoor-outdoor space perfect for entertaining, especially as the day cools down. A spacious seating area encircles the pool, inviting you to relax with cocktails, canapés, or a chilled bottle of your favourite wine or Champagne before heading to one of the resort’s restaurants. If you prefer to dine in, the fully equipped kitchen is just a few steps away, or there is the option for in-villa catering, including a private chef-led BBQ. After all, this is your vacation, so leave the cooking to someone else!
Malaysian Hospitality
Now, it’s time for the flashback sequence. Earlier that day, our photographer, Han Sen Hau, and I had touched down after a quick flight from KL. A scenic 45-minute drive along the Senai-Desaru Expressway, lined by swaying palms and spanning broad rivers, led us to the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. We received a warm welcome from Torsten Richter, Area General Manager. Despite taking the helm just a few months prior, Torsten boasts an impressive three decades of hospitality leadership, most recently as GM of The Ritz-Carlton in Berlin. By his side, with an equally radiant smile, was Carol Chin, the Public Relations & Marketing Communications Manager. Both possessed the kind of good looks one usually associates with movie stars. If I were casting this mini-series, they’d play themselves perfectly.
Resort Facilities
While we enjoyed a delicious, refreshing welcome drink and a delicate biscuit in the shape of a lotus root, Carol filled us in on some of the resort facilities we could enjoy over the weekend. The resort features two swimming pools for guests, although Carol reminded us that our residence had its own private pool. Regular ‘Cinema Under the Stars’ movie nights were held, the resort featured a well-equipped gym featuring the latest Technogym equipment, and wellness and yoga classes were held at the beachfront or in the gym daily. We heard the Anantara Spa features a range of massages and health and beauty treatments, perfect for combatting jet lag, combining ancient healing traditions with modern techniques, from their signature Anantara Massage to traditional Thai massage. They also offer body scrubs, wraps, and facials that use natural ingredients like coconut and tamarind. It’s perfect for anyone seeking a pampering spa experience or wanting to get prepared for an event or their very own red-carpet moment.
Anantara Desaru Coast Residences Activities
As well as unwinding and relaxing in tropical luxury at your private secluded residence, various activities are available in and around the resort. This particular weekend, we were busy taking in the inaugural Ombak Festival, which is held in and around the resorts of the Desaru Coast. However, there are plenty of things to do year-round. The resort has bicycles freely available around the resort and a range of non-powered watercraft for your use. A nearby water park is ideal for family fun days, and an expansive golf course is a few minutes away by buggy. There is also the Layang-Layang Kids Club and the Luncur-Ombak Teens Club to keep children entertained.
Lunch at Turmeric Restuarant
By this stage, our stomachs were growling a little. Luckily, there was an array of tempting lunch options. We could choose from the Infinity Bar, which has light bites overlooking the shore, Sea.Fire.Salt, by the beach, specialises in seafood and steak (with lighter options available), or Turmeric, the main restaurant serving Malaysian and Thai flavours all day. The Observatory Bar, with its breathtaking views, wasn’t open yet for lunch, but we made a mental note to return later for afternoon tea or evening cocktails and snacks.
We decided on the nearest, Turmeric, and Carol walked us down to a table near the front of the restaurant with views over the main pool. The restaurant has a colonial-themed interior design, dark wood floors, and slatted wall panels contrasting with wicker chairs and glass-topped tables featuring Malaysian basketwork designs.
We had Kampong Masak Ketup (RM 68) from the all-day dining menu, flavoursome braised organic-certified kampong chicken in keratup spices and creamy coconut milk curry. The Massaman Kea (RM 75) featured slow-braised lamb with potatoes, tomatoes, and cashew nuts in Massaman curry. Along with a wide range of Malaysian and Thai specialities, there are also Western and Continental dishes, a wellness menu featuring healthy, lighter options for those watching their figure, and mouth-watering desserts for those who are not.
Breakfast at Turmeric Restaurant
Guests staying at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas can enjoy a bountiful breakfast at Turmeric’s all-day dining restaurant, which overlooks the resort’s main pool area. There are a range of seating areas outside the restaurant, where sun shades and overhead fans ensure you remain fresh while taking in the tropical sea breezes. Inside, everything is cool and air-conditioned, with a range of seating for couples and larger family groups. It took us several minutes to tour the vast array of foods and different preparation areas, all overseen by Executive Chef Jaffrey Othman, who is responsible for ensuring the highest standards across the resort’s six restaurants and bars, in-villa dining and catering services.
With decades of experience, most recently in Edinburgh’s Intercontinental, the George Hotel and Marco Pierre White’s restaurant in Manchester’s Lowery Hotel, after previous stints closer to home at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. Chef Jaffrey and Monica caught up, sharing stories since they had last seen each other, as he guided us around the kitchen, proudly showing off the incredible array of dishes available, everything from Chinese dumplings, Malaysian laksa, to Western breakfast specialities, fresh fruits and vegetables.
A display of fresh salad greens caught Monica’s eye from a supplier called BoomGrow, which she uses back in KL. Displayed in smart wooden boxes were an array of salad leaves, including kale, Swiss chard, rocket and baby lettuce, all grown hydroponically and are guaranteed to be pesticide-free; with a few snips of a pair of scissors, guests can enjoy the freshest salad possible. I enjoyed watching one of Chef Jaffrey’s team freshly preparing a roti telur mata, a little entertainment to get the taste buds fired up, served with a gently spiced yellow dhal.
A wide selection of freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, teas, and freshly made coffee were available, as well as a choice of soy, almond, chocolate, and full-fat and low-fat milk. At the omelette station, we asked for a mushroom and cheese omelette; overnight oats and Bircher muesli pots were available, as well as fresh fruits, compotes, pastries, doughnuts, pancakes, waffles, and located just outside the entrance to the restaurant was a station where laksa could be prepared to your regional variety of preference and spiciness.
Breakfast at Sea.Fire.Salt Restaurant
Guests staying in the lagoon villas and the five residence properties can also exclusively enjoy breakfast away from the crowds at the stylish beachside Sea.Fire.Salt restaurant.
As well as a small selection of buffet-style food, which included fresh fruits, yoghurts, smoothies and freshly squeezed fruit juices, delicious smoked salmon and cheeses, guests can select items to be freshly prepared from an a la carte menu. Chef Jaffrey was again on hand, at the helm of his last breakfast service before taking a well-earned break back in the UK. He welcomed us with a cheerful smile as we sat at a shaded table towards the front of the restaurant with spectacular views over the beachfront and out towards the vast turquoise ocean. If only every morning could start like this!
From the a la carte menu, Monica chose the vegan breakfast, featuring perfectly ripe avocado slices, roasted potatoes, hash browns, wilted spinach, and grilled tomatoes. I opted for the eggs Florentine; sitting atop toasted freshly baked English Muffins was a layer of wilted spinach crowned with two perfectly poached eggs smothered in a buttery Hollandaise sauce, the deep golden yolks slowly oozing their sticky goodness when my fork cut into them.
Our photographer, Han Sen, eagerly tore into his Desaru Coast Fried Rice, a very generous portion of freshly prepared fried rice accompanied by beef rendang, crispy anchovies, peanuts, and fiery sambal. It was topped with two fried eggs served sunny side up.
Other members of The Yum List team sampled the savoury French toast, served with veal bacon, mushrooms, baby mozzarella and sauteed mushrooms, and also the classic omelette, freshly prepared and served along with a slice of brown toast tipped with creamy mashed avocado and tomato. For those with hearty appetites, the sunny-side-up would also be familiar to British readers as a full English breakfast’, consisting of two sunny-side-up eggs, veal bacon, grilled tomatoes, succulent grilled chicken sausages, hash browns, sauteed mushrooms and even a little ceramic dish of baked beans.
Like breakfasting in an exclusive members club, we definitely felt like we were being cared for and pampered—a delightful and relaxing way to start the day at this gorgeous beachside restaurant.
Although our days at Anantara were spent checking out the wide range of events at the Ombak Festival, we were very grateful that after a long day on our feet, the peace, calm and serenity of our luxurious residence awaited us at the end of each day. It was an absolute joy to slip into the pool for a relaxing swim before bedtime, a refreshing shower, or a soak in that oversized tub before sleep beckoned, drifting off quickly, lulled by the sound of the nearby ocean on crisp white linen and decadently plump pillows and duvets.
Anantara Desaru Coast Residences Review
We made our way to our car at the end of a wonderful weekend with some reluctance, saddened that it had to end. It felt like we were the stars of a Hollywood movie as the imaginary credits rolled. Dozens of staff, led by G.M.Torsten Richter and Carol Chin, lined the steps, waving and thanking us for our visit. They urged us to return soon; their warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm were touching. Perhaps the only things missing were a paparazzi frenzy and a swelling orchestral score to complete the picture. We felt like royalty, like VIPs, the stars of our very own prestige drama series.
If you crave the full red-carpet treatment, if you yearn to feel like the protagonist in your own luxurious narrative, whether it’s to mark a special occasion or to unwind in absolute seclusion amidst a tropical paradise, then a stay at the Anantara Desaru Coast Residences is your answer. It’s an experience where every moment feels scripted for your pleasure, where the ordinary fades away, and you become the star of your own extraordinary story.
Anantara Desaru Coast Residences
Persiaran Pantai, Desaru Coast,
81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia
+60 7 828 0888
Link to Anantara Desaru Coast Residences on Google Maps.
www.facebook.com/anantaradesaru
A three-bedroom 288 sqm residence like the one we stayed in this weekend sleeps a maximum of six adults and three children and starts at RM 14 552 per night, including breakfast, butler service and the use of all the resort facilities. A similar four-bedroom 597 sqm residence, which sleeps up to eight adults and four children, starts at RM 18 164.
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