Paradise Rules at Luana On Sii

Taking inspiration from another tropical paradise, Luana on Sii at the Radisson Blu Resort in Mai Khao provides an escape from the mundane with rooftop views over the Andaman Sea. It is a casual space that seats up to 60 guests. The venue is perfect for small groups with private corners set up for a beautiful late afternoon that can easily turn into a fun night out.

At its core, Luana On Sii is a Hawaiian-inspired tikki bar, but don’t let the drinks fool you - there are incredible dishes on offer and this can be a date spot just as easily as a drinks hub. The centre of the entire venue is the bar itself, with customers able to sit on comfortable stools, or straight from the pool in the middle of the whole rooftop. Open for both hotel guests and walk-ins, the relaxing setting gives off casual vibes with tropical accents.

The evening begins with drinks, and these are very notable. The Phuket Bird comes inside a porcelain vessel that looks like a black upside down pineapple. The concoction includes a mix of adult beverages plus pineapple juice, syrup and lime juice. While it is a stiff drink, the flavours come together nicely.

The Sleepy Hammock, meanwhile, comes in a ‘Day of the Dead’ inspired cup, and includes two distinct adult beverages, pineapple juice, passionfruit juice, syrup and lime juice. If the word ‘tropical’ had a flavour profile, this is it. The the passionfruit really drives the beverage home.

To begin our meal, we ordered the Reefline Hamachi Crudo as well as the Polynesian Prawn and Citrus Salad. The portion of fish on the crudo was especially generous and perfectly salted. The crudo is easily shareable and the sliced fennel contrasts well with the protein. Meanwhile, the salad was heaven on earth, as you can basically taste the sea with how fresh the prawn was. The coconut vinaigrette, paired with the bits of pomelo, added a subtle contrast. A perfect start!

For main courses, we ordered Kurobata Pork Chop, one of their best-sellers, and the Ahi Tuna Pizza which piqued my interest due to the seafood. The cooking of the pork chop was phenomenal; you could taste hints of citrus. The cilantro cut right through, however, while the char on the pineapple was perfect for this substantial portion. It’s a dish you can easily look forward to having again and again.

Chef Luca Mancini is a wizard as not only has he made me a believer of tuna on pizza, it’s now one of my favourite toppings. The key is freshness. The ahi tuna on each slice is generous. The texture is sublime. Paired with a delectable sauce and fresh mozzarella, a simple pizza becomes the quintessential dish of the night.

For dessert, the Mango Island Brulée served with vanilla ice cream is a sweet treat that caps off a beautiful evening and includes that unmistakable crack of glassy sugar. Paired with the Island Lava Fondant, served with coconut ice cream, it’s no wonder the tropical vibes continue all night long at Luana on Sii.