There are many reasons to escape to Khao Lak: its long, uncrowded beaches, slower pace of life and spectacular sunsets over the Andaman Sea. Chocolate, however, is probably not the first thing that springs to mind.
That may soon change. During my four-day, three-night stay at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa, I discovered that the beachfront resort has transformed itself into Southern Thailand’s first chocolate destination. Here, chocolate is not simply something placed on your pillow at turndown. It is woven into the experience, from locally grown cacao and an on-site bean-to-bar atelier to chocolate-inspired dining and even a spa treatment using cocoa oil.
For a chocolate lover, this may be the closest thing to a grown-up version of Willy Wonka’s factory, only with a beautiful beach, a sprawling lagoon pool and considerably more luxurious accommodation.
Stepping Straight Into the Pool
Photo © Katherine Goh
My home for the three nights was a pool access room, which proved to be one of the highlights of my stay. Instead of walking through the resort to reach the pool, I could simply slide open the doors, step onto my private terrace and enter the water directly.
It changed the rhythm of the holiday completely. There was no need to pack a pool bag or plan when to go for a swim. I could take a dip first thing in the morning, cool off between activities or sit by the water in the late afternoon without really leaving the privacy of my room.
Photo © Katherine Goh
The room itself was spacious and soothing, with the warm woods, natural textures and understated Thai influences one would expect from a tropical JW Marriott resort. A generously sized bathroom and plenty of space to unwind made it easy to settle in for a longer stay. But with the lagoon pool just beyond my terrace, the boundary between the room and the resort almost disappeared.
Photo © Katherine Goh
This is a large property, yet the water gives it a sense of continuity. The lagoon pool meanders through the resort, past tropical gardens, quiet corners and lively family areas. Even when the resort is busy, it is possible to find a peaceful stretch of water to call your own.
From Phang Nga Cacao to Belgian Chocolate
Photo © Katherine Goh
The sweetest part of my visit was discovering the new Duc de Praslin Chocolaterie Boutique and Atelier, developed in partnership with the Thai chocolatier founded and helmed by Belgian chocolate-makers.
What makes the concept especially interesting is its connection to Phang Nga. I had not previously associated this part of Thailand with cacao, but the inland hills of the province are emerging as one of the country’s promising cacao-growing regions. At least 85 per cent of the cacao used at the resort’s on-site factory is sourced from Phang Nga through standing monthly orders with local farming cooperatives at fixed prices.
This gives the experience a genuine sense of place. Rather than importing a generic luxury chocolate concept, the resort has created something rooted in the surrounding region and the communities that grow its cacao.
My introduction to the world of cacao began with a chocolate tasting workshop. We tasted chocolates with progressively higher cocoa percentages, beginning at 55 per cent and working our way up to an intense 100 per cent.
Get yourself educated on how different percentages of cocoa affect tastes at a chocolate tasting workshop. Photo © Katherine Goh
Sampling them side by side made the differences much easier to appreciate. As the cocoa percentage increased, the sweetness gradually faded, allowing the deeper, earthier and more bitter characteristics of the cacao to emerge. The 55 per cent chocolate was familiar and approachable, while the 100 per cent version was a considerably more serious experience. With no sugar to soften its edges, it offered cacao in its purest and most uncompromising form.
The session made me realise that tasting chocolate can be a little like tasting wine. It is not simply a question of whether something is sweet or bitter. Each percentage has a different balance, texture and intensity, and slowing down to taste them properly revealed nuances I would probably have missed if I had simply eaten them as an everyday treat.
Chocolate painting makes for a therapeutic activity to do at JW Marriott Khao Lak. Photo © Katherine Goh
We then moved on to a chocolate painting workshop, where we were given the chance to design our own chocolate bars. Using coloured cocoa butter as our “paint”, we created our designs directly on the moulds before the chocolate was added. Once the bars had set, our artwork became part of the finished chocolate.
JW Marriott offers guests a chance to design their own chocolate bars. Photo © Katherine Goh
It was playful, creative and surprisingly therapeutic. Best of all, we could bring our personalised bars home afterwards. It was far more meaningful than buying another box of chocolates from a shop, although my creation looked almost too pretty to eat.
These interactive experiences allowed us to explore chocolate through taste, touch and creativity, while learning about the journey from cacao pod to finished bar. There is something deeply satisfying about understanding where chocolate comes from before eating it. It transforms a familiar indulgence into a more thoughtful experience and reveals how much craftsmanship lies behind every bar and praline.
The resort also adopts a whole-ingredient approach, putting cacao nibs, pulp and husks to use rather than simply discarding them. Newly planted cacao trees are joining the herbs, edible flowers and fruits grown within the resort’s 27-acre JW Garden, further connecting the chocolate experience to the land.
Cocoa trees are now planted as part of JW Marriott Khao Lak’s garden. Photo © Katherine Goh
I was there for the “Rooted in Chocolate” Summer Garden Party, which brought the concept to life through cacao-infused cocktails, chocolate tastings and a chocolate-inspired dinner. Even the smallest details followed the theme, from illuminated butter candles to menus printed on plantable seed paper.
It could easily have felt gimmicky, but it did not. The experience was playful while still carrying a meaningful story about local produce, farming and sustainability. By the end of the workshops, I had not only eaten a considerable amount of chocolate but also understood it in a completely different way.
A Cocoa-Infused Spa Experience
The serene Quan Spa completes the chocolate journey that offers a cocoa oil spa massage. Photo © Katherine Goh
My chocolate journey continued at Quan Spa, although this time I was not eating it.
For my treatment, cocoa oil was massaged into my skin. Cocoa oil is known for its nourishing qualities, and the treatment left my skin feeling soft and moisturised. More importantly, the massage gave me an opportunity to slow down after exploring the sprawling resort. The therapist worked through the tension in my shoulders and back while the cocoa oil made the treatment feel particularly indulgent and brought a completely different character to the ritual.
Photo © Katherine Goh
Dining Around the Resort
Four days and three nights may sound like ample time, but JW Marriott Khao Lak has enough dining destinations to make choosing where to eat a daily dilemma. The resort currently features seven restaurants and three bars, covering Thai, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean and international cuisine.
Olive brings traditional Italian cooking to the Khao Lak beachfront. Its menu draws on recipes and ingredients from different regions of Italy, complemented by a hand-selected wine list. There are both air-conditioned and alfresco seating areas, making it equally appealing for a romantic dinner or a relaxed evening by the sea. It is also where most of my mornings begin. With its floor-to-ceiling windows and views towards the beach, the restaurant is bright and welcoming, with an extensive breakfast selection that makes it tempting to linger.
Photo © Katherine Goh
For an elegant Thai dinner, Ta-Krai offers classic Thai flavours in a refined beachfront setting. The combination of local dishes, tropical surroundings and sunset views makes it particularly suited to a leisurely evening meal.
Ta Krai offers classic Thai dishes for those looking for local flavours. Photo © Katherine Goh
Sakura overlooks the lagoon pool and takes a contemporary approach to Japanese favourites, including sushi and teppanyaki. It provides a change of pace from the resort’s tropical beachfront restaurants, particularly for guests craving Japanese food during a longer stay.
Drift Beach Bar and Grill has a breezier, more casual personality. The menu features Mediterranean influences, Western dishes and fresh local seafood, with items cooked over an open-fire grill or in a charcoal oven. It is the sort of place where dinner can stretch into the evening over cocktails and the sound of the waves.
Drift Beach Bar & Grill serves breakfast with a seaview in the morning and transforms into a Mediterranean restaurant by night. Photo © Katherine Goh
Photo © Katherine Goh
During the day, Sala is a convenient stop between swims. Located beside the family pool, it serves casual meals and refreshments in an easy-going beachfront setting. The Deli, meanwhile, is ideal for coffee, pastries, smoothies, light lunches and salads incorporating produce from the JW Garden.
The resort’s three bars each suit a different holiday mood. Beach Bar is the place for drinks with sand, sea and palm trees in view. Infinity Pool Bar allows guests to swim up, take a seat at an underwater stool and order cold drinks or appetisers without leaving the pool. Aquamarine Pool Bar serves another of the resort’s pool zones, ensuring refreshments are rarely far away.
And, of course, the Duc de Praslin Chocolaterie Boutique adds one more essential stop for pralines, truffles, chocolate bars and edible souvenirs.
With so many choices, the resort functions almost like a self-contained culinary village. Guests can move from Thai food one evening to Italian or Japanese the next, then spend the following night dining beside the beach. There is little reason to leave the property in search of variety.
More Than a Beach Resort
Photo © Katherine Goh
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa was named Thailand’s Best Beach + Island Hotel at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards 2026, marking its third consecutive year receiving the accolade. After spending four days here, its appeal is easy to understand.
The resort offers the ingredients travellers typically seek in a tropical escape: a long stretch of beach, expansive pools, spacious rooms, plentiful dining and a restorative spa. Yet what made this stay memorable was the way it connected those familiar elements through a distinctly local story.
Photo © Katherine Goh
By the end of three nights, I felt that I had explored a great deal, yet there were still corners of the garden, dishes and activities left for another visit.
Khao Lak may already be known for its beaches, but JW Marriott Khao Lak has given travellers another delicious reason to make the journey. Come for the Andaman Sea, stay for the poolside living and leave with a much deeper appreciation of chocolate.
