The Sri Panwa resort recently won second place for the world?s best beach bar with its stunningly serene Baba Nest pool bar.

In fact Sri Panwa has never been shy in receiving awards and can claim ?The Hotel With The Best View In The World?, and ?Best Resort in Natural Environment? among others to its extensive list of accolades.

Located upon the peak of Cape Panwa, most areas of the 32 acres of tropical surroundings of Sri Panwa afford incredible views of the southeastern Andaman Sea.

The cool and laid-back pool bar of Baba Nest is just one aspect of the Baba Dining experience of Sri Panwa that boasts an indoor and outdoor section, and wonderfully relaxed seating where guests could choose to lie down whist eating, a-la Ancient Rome style, is they so wished.

The warm brown and off-orange colours complement the wooden furniture and decking and also, of course, the fabulous natural surroundings.

Although Sri Panwa is undoubtedly an exclusive and luxuriously high end resort and restaurant, it is also ?feels? really cool, new and modern, having only opened in 2006.

The different sections of Baba Dining fit seamlessly together and some with their own mood lighting, like the very cool and blue bar area.

Other areas like the fabulously located outdoor dining area is merely illuminated by fire lamps, that creates a beautiful and romantic atmosphere in which to enjoy the beautiful views of the sea, and passing luxury yachts and liners.

This very cool and attentive attention to detail is carried out throughout the dining experience and starts when you sit down.

A minor detail like the setting out of placemats is done with n exceptional level of care and precision and makes you feel well taken care of.

A member of staff will come, very carefully and slowly, carrying a tray and proceed to unroll the mat and delicately set out the cutlery, napkin ?upon which the chopsticks lay ? and glass.

It is all done with a Japanese-tea-ceremony like attention to detail, with each guest being given his own freshly poured bowl of soy sauce.

Sri Panwa is also, quite understandably, considering the incredible views and location, a rather popular spot to enjoy a drink or cocktail while the sun is going down.

Baba Dining offers a huge and tastefully named cocktail list with such delicious treats as a Baba Daquiri, Lycheetini and Sri-jito.

The food menu is as varied and as illustriously designed and described. Owing to its agreement with world-renowned sushi suppliers Monosushi, there are huge sushi platters on offer as well as varied pizzas, salads and main courses that are curiously sectioned into Land Suggestions and Sea Suggestions for example.

A stand-out dish during the evening was the Parma Ham Truffle Pizza; the thin crusted wood-baked pie with the thinnest slices of the freshest Parma ham and truffle worked delightfully together. Absolutely delicious.

What I?d imagine would be finger-licking good (if one was so abhorrent to use one?s hands to eat) was also the Lemongrass infused chicken wings.

There are all the side dishes one would expect from a restaurant of Sri Panwa?s calibre, including a few new ones, like the tasty Ginger Mashed Potatoes.

Delicious fare in a cool environment,in an incredible location?.

Sri Panwa: 076 37 1000 / www.sripanwa.com