Diamond Cliff Resort Phuket: reviews

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in Phuket which is close to the action but provides a peaceful space to relax, have a look at the Diamond Cliff Resort near Patong. Spread over several levels, this sprawling resort offers excellent food, multiple room options and gorgeous pools. Read this review of the Diamond Cliff Resort review to discover if it is the right hotel for you.

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The Diamond Cliff Resort And Spa

The pools at the Diamond Cliff Resort Phuket

Lets start with my favourite part of the hotel, the pools. There are two pools in the resort, one with a small pool bar and one next to the main restaurant.

The waterfall pool is located at the base of the spa and is hidden away from the main resort area. As the name would imply, it’s home to a small waterfall and some pretty statues. This one is popular with the kids as it’s where the pool slide is located and has a shallower area for toddlers and non-swimmers.

This is also where you’ll find the swim up bar which serves yummy cocktails, mocktails and refreshing beers. Adults can sit around the edge of the bar, keeping cool whilst the kids play on the slides. It’s pretty much heaven!

The other pool is the Ocean view pool. A gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the sea. It tends to be a bit quieter and is a great place to take in the sunset over the water.

This pool is located next to the main restaurant and the ocean view pool bar. You can order drinks and light lunches from the ocean view restaurant, relaxing on one of the many sun loungers or outdoor tables.

You can get pool towels at both of the pools and we never struggled to find a spot to spend the day.

Sounds good? Book your stay today

Food at the Diamond Cliff Resort

We were staying on a package that included breakfast and several meals which could be taken in any of the hotels many restaurants. It was all incredibly tasty and of very high quality.

Ocean View Restaurant

This is the main restaurant in the hotel and where breakfast is served. It has an extensive menu which has both Thai and Western options. We tried heaps of dishes on the menu, the thai basics were my favourite, I loved all the curries and the Pad Thai was excellent. The pizzas were perfect for lunch and generously sized and the many Western options kept all the kids happy.

The desert options such as Creme brulee and deconstructed cheesecake were particularly good. As was the mango sticky rice, a firm favourite for everyone in Thailand.

You can sit at the back of the restaurant for some stunning views of the sea or in the shaded main part of the restaurant. You can also opt to have your food delivered to the ocean view bar next to the swimming pool. This rapidly became our favourite spot for lunch.

Breakfast at the Diamond Cliff hotel

Breakfast is buffet style and offers everything you could hope to start you’re day. There are a couple of fresh egg stations where friendly chefs will cook your choice of omelettes. Also a hot, sweet station serving freshly cooked pancakes and waffles.

I loved the vast selection of fruit and salads – it’s always good to get something healthy into the kids! And also the Asian options on offer. Fried rice for breakfast became our thing. If you don’t fancy starting the day with something spicy, they have plenty of Western options, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, pastries and numerous baked goods.

Aim to arrive early or just before they close. The restaurant can be pretty busy during peak times. Just note that they close up pretty sharpish at the end of breakfast service to get ready for lunch.

Kiko Japanese Restaurant

Located at the entrance to Diamond Cliff, Kiko is an excellent Japanese restaurant and one of the first to open in Phuket. It’s absolutely stunning, authentically Japanese by design and serves the most amazing sushi, teppanyaki and sashimi. All the dishes are beautifully presented and incredibly tasty.

Have a look at some other dining options in my post on visiting Patong with kids

Room options at Phukets Diamond Cliff Resort

We stayed in an Grand Jacuzzi Suite and it was absolutely huge. As it was the three of us we had two massive beds and heaps of storage. The room had a small balcony and separate seating area with a table.

The room had a walk in wardrobe and dressing area leading to the toilet and shower. Also a second bathroom with a jacuzzi bath although we didn’t actually use this.

Facilities in the room included a small fridge, tea and coffee making facilities, a safe and plenty of complimentary toiletries.

It was quiet dark and wooden by design in a simple Thai style although it did feel fairly dated. If we were to return to Diamond cliff I think we would opt for a Diamond Jacuzzi suite which are much more modern.

There are several smaller room options which also sleep families. Or if you want something a bit more private and self sustained, the hotel has several private Villas located right at the top of the resort. These look amazing and offer exceptional sea views.

Is the Diamond Cliff Resort good for kids

The Diamond Cliff is well set up to welcome families with kids of all ages. Both pools are family friendly and the restaurants offer great options for kids.

The kids club at the Diamond Cliff Resort

The kids club is small but has everything you’d need to entertain your kids for a few hours. Staff were always very friendly and very welcoming. The kids house offers a few organised activities for kids such as doll painting, towel design, table tennis, origami and batik painting for a small fee. It is open from 9am until 6pm each day.

Check out some other family resorts in Phuket

The Spa at the Diamond Cliff

I enjoyed several massages at the Spa at the Diamond Cliff hotel which were absolutely divine. The Spa is a beautiful space and very Thai by design think lotus ponds and calming fountains. They offer all sorts of treatments for full body massages to rejuvenating facials. At around £45 for a one hour massage it’s a lot more expensive than the walk in parlours you’ll find in Patong town but the location is far more relaxing and convenient. The spa is open from midday until 10pm.

Other hotel facilities

If you’re just in Phuket to relax and are not that interested in day trips and exploring then there’s plenty to entertain you in the resort.

Gym

The hotel has a well maintained gym. It’s thankfully air conditioned and probably the coldest room in the whole resort. It had plenty of weights for strength training and heaps of machines from cross trainers to bikes to treadmills. There were plenty of towels and fresh water available and it was pretty much always empty.

Tennis courts

If you can handle the heat the hotel has tennis courts and equipment you can borrow from reception. The courts are located at the top of the resort and offer stunning sea views to enjoy between serves.

Fruit market

Another favourite activity for little ones is a daily trip to the fruit market for a basket of fresh produce. The shop contains a huge variety of tropical fruit and 1kg can be chosen each day for free.

Weekly activity program

Diamond Cliff has a weekly activity schedule with some free and some paid options. These include fitness classes like Muay Thai and yoga, cooking classes and tennis lessons.

We were staying over Songkran festival and the hotel put on loads of activities to celebrate.

Onsite Doctor

The hotel has an onsite doctor and medical centre. The clinic is open between 10am and 5pm each day.

The shuttle bus

The hotel’s Internal shuttle service is available all day and we never had to wait too long for one to arrive. They will take you all over the resort so you can avoid the majority of the steps. This was a much needed service in the unforgiving Thai heat.

What doesn’t the Diamond Cliff get right

We loved our stay at the Diamond Cliff, particularly the fact that we could walk into town and be part of the Patong madness. But retreat back to the resort for complete escapism. However there were some things that the hotel didn’t quite get right.

As mentioned, the room felt a bit tired and run down. We had a few issues with our air conditioning unit leaking onto the floor which was resolved fairly quickly but not great. General wear and tear of the bathrooms meant they didn’t feel spotless and the balcony didn’t have particularly nice furniture to sit out on.

On several occasions our door key didn’t work meaning we had to trek back down to reception to get a new one. The wifi in the room was erratic at best which the hotel couldn’t fix. This may be better in a room closer to reception.

How many steps?

Although not a huge issue, one of the main complaints about the hotel in various Diamond Cliff Resort Phuket reviews on Tripadvisor was how many steps and hills you have to climb to reach the guest rooms.

Yes there are a lot, the resort is very spread out and although the views are great, to see them you have to get up pretty high. We used the shuttles a lot which helped but these would still drop you at the base of the accommodation blocks. You have to walk a distance to reach the lifts or staircases. It’s hot and tiring and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with mobility issues.

Where is the Diamond Cliff Resort in Phuket

One of the best things about the Diamond Cliff Resort in Phuket is it’s location. It’s right on the edge of Patong just off the main road as you arrive in Town. We were able to walk from the hotel to all parts of town such as Patong beach and Jungceylon but when it was too hot we could hop in a tuk tuk for just a few pounds.

Patong is situated on the West coast of Phuket, about three quarters of the way down the coast making it a good option for exploring the rest of the island. If Patong doesn’t sound like the right place for you check out these other parts of Phuket to stay.

What’s nearby?

There’s a small stretch of sand right across the road from the hotel if you want somewhere for a quick paddle. I also loved taking in the sunsets here. There’s a 7 Eleven a few minutes walk out of the hotel where you can buy snacks, drinks and and toiletries you might need. Close to the 7 Eleven is a small laundry where you can get your clothes washed and ironed way cheaper than in the hotel.

Over the road from the main entrance is the gorgeous Sea Salt restaurant which is one of my favourite places to eat in Phuket. It’s also an easy walk to Patong beach which is a lot busier with more facilities.

Patong itself is home to heaps of markets, shopping centres and gorgeous beach clubs. Plus the famous Bangla Walking Street.