Discover our two newest dining experiences, each revealing a different chapter of Avana’s identity.

Every dining journey at Avana Retreat begins with two defining forces at the heart of who we are: the raw poetry of nature and the soul of local culture. These elements are not simply inspirations. They guide the ingredients we choose, the stories behind every dish, and the way we gather around the table to create meaningful, heartfelt moments. Food at Avana is more than something to enjoy. It is a sensory journey rooted in land, heritage, and connection.

Avana Retreat invites you to step deeper into this narrative. Discover our two newest dining experiences, each revealing a different chapter of Avana’s identity: One honoring the land and its natural rhythm, and the other embracing the cultural soul that gives Avana its heart.

Cloud Dining

By day, Cloud Pool is where you float in warm sunlight, surrounded by mountains and sky. But when night gently settles over the peaks, Cloud Pool Bar transforms into a magical dining and lounge oasis above the valleys.

The world below grows quiet as the hills fade into silhouettes, mist drifting across treetops like floating silk. Waterfalls shimmer in the moonlight, and stars scatter across the sky like grains of salt.

This elevated dining experience is relaxed yet elegant, where you can sip, savor, and let the mountain breeze weave itself into the evening. Each dish is served with calm confidence, allowing the breathtaking scenery to become part of the flavor itself. It is a dinner that feels dreamlike, almost unreal, as though nature has arranged the setting just for you. 

Dining at The Stilt House

In the old days, and still in some Thai households today, the kitchen of a stilt house was always filled with the smoky scent of palm leaves mingling with the aroma of the forest pepper, rising from the meal placed on a woven bamboo tray. The whole family sat cross-legged on a traditional red-edged mat beside the gentle, steady glow of the hearth. Grandfather sat at the head of the tray, holding a cup of bamboo-straw rice wine to welcome guests: “Hơ ơi, mời mo!”, which means “Please join us!”

Usually, a basket of hot grilled fish folded in dong leaves stole the spotlight. Its skin is golden and crisp, the white flesh fragrant and steaming. Beside it were a bowl of bon soup with tender bamboo and a hint of pleasant bitterness, a plate of stir-fried pork dusted with coriander seeds, and sticky five-colored rice, glossy and chewy. 

Everyone ate with their hands, pinching sticky rice, dipping it into chili salt pounded with lime leaves, sharing stories of the upland fields as they ate. The children sat at the end of the tray, wide-eyed, waiting for a piece of fish their mother would pick out for them. Laughter and the clinking of cups filled the air, warm against the backdrop of mountains and forest.

After the meal, everyone wiped their hands with banana leaves, then sat by the fire, listening to the wind hum through the gaps in the bamboo floor. A simple daily meal humble, flavorful, and forever scented with the warmth of home. 

Now, Dining at The Stilt House brings a part of this cultural essence to you.

Leave the modern world behind as you step into a 50-year-old Thai stilt house, where an intimate private dinner unfolds far from distractions. This experience brings you back to the humble, heartwarming essence of Thai dining long ago. Delicately seasoned dishes are inspired by heritage, crafted with respect for authentic flavors and cooking methods passed down through generations. The atmosphere is warm, unpretentious, and deeply nostalgic. It’s a dining moment that feels like a cherished memory, even as you are living it. 

Whether grounded in tradition or elevated among the clouds, these experiences offer two different journeys, yet both remain true to the heart of Avana: to honor nature, celebrate culture, and create moments that linger long after the last bite.