It’s Latin night, Friday at the Mangosteen Resort restaurant, and a musical trio serenades us with Latino tunes. It was my choice. They asked for a Spanish song request, and that was the first tune that popped into my head.

I probably watched too many Disney cartoons as a kid. You know the one — Speedy Gonzalez and his lazy Mexican mice friends lounging around under cactus trees. The musical repertoire was a delight. The trio wandered the starlit balcony like strolling mariachis in downtown Guadalajara. But this is not Mexico, this is Thailand. Rawai, on southern Phuket.

The Mangosteen Resort and Spa perches high on a hill overlooking Chalong Bay and the islands beyond. The setting is old Phuket, down a small soi, or lane, off the Chalong-Rawai Road and up to the hilltop. The neighbours grow fruit trees and chickens race underfoot. By night, the heavens twinkle, and strings of light ripple on the water as distant boats bob on the harbour. The day view is equally stunning, with turquoise waters and green hills as far as the eye can see.

Latin night at the Mangosteen is a great way to end the week or start the weekend. The privately appointed resort offers the cozy intimacy of the covered balcony, while still connecting you to the world with the spectacular outlook. And it’s very relaxing.

Dinner is buffet-style, on Friday Latin night. The mouthwatering display of Spanish tapas, paella, pastas and salads makes a fine welcome. Vege- tarians are well catered for (the eggplant tapas is worth remembering), and meat dishes include tasty variations of beef, chicken, pork and seafood. The cold gazpacho soup is particularly pleasing.

Kristoff, a native Spaniard, is food and beverage manager at the Mangosteen, and he oversees the preparation of his home country’s cuisine. The chefs are well tuned to Western tastes, and à la carte choices appear on separate European and Thai menus.

The family-run Mangosteen Resort is brand new. By the time you read this, the underground cellar will be complete, and will include fine wines from around the world housed in climate-controlled safety. Wine cellars have been mush- rooming on Phuket, and many an event is staged around the island in celebration of the humble grape. In line with current trends, the Mangosteen will soon be conducting its own regular wine tastings.

Sunday brunch at the Mangosteen is becoming a local favourite. The ambience is perfect for a lazy Sunday. Children are most welcome, so it’s popular with families as well. The pool, the view, the food, the wine … What more can I say? Ole!