The drive up to Rising Sun Residence hardly hints at the rewards that await at the top of a foothill of Nakkerd Mountain. Turning off of the access road, which leads off of Chaofa West Road a couple hundred metres north of Wat Chalong, the entire sweep of Chalong Bay comes into view from the entrance to the development. And that’s how Rising Sun Villas came to be, explains Methee Tanmanatragul, developer and managing director.

A longtime general manager of Karon’s Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Khun Methee says he and his wife fell in love with the plot of land as soon as they saw the view. He built his home there, which stands at the entrance of the current development, topping out a few metres short of the 80-metre building limit imposed island-wide shortly after he finished construction. When he expanded by building a collection of one- and three-bedroom villas that cascade down the steep hill, the plan of the development took care to retain the magnificent views, which peer down over Wat Chalong and out to the bay beyond, with Koh Lon rising in the distance. The effect is like a box seat in an opera house, with all of Phuket on a stage at your feet — Wat Chalong a colourful set piece in the foreground. But the overall impression of Rising Sun Villas isn’t one of drama. Rather it’s a sense of hospitality, of home-like comfort and neighbourly friendliness.

Each of the seven three-bedroom villas are custom designed, with subtle differences in interior appointments. Common to all are beautifully groomed garden settings and a generous use of space. From the car park, the entry way passes a small utility room and housekeeper’s quarters to the main entry, which opens into a gorgeous living area. Rich wood trim is everywhere: in the solid-wood flooring, on a spacious teak wood staircase in teak cabinetry and on wicker, rattan and teak furnishings. Picture windows make the most of the gorgeous views, and the outside decks seem to sweep the outdoors right inside the living space.

Kitchens in the three-bedroom units are all that might be expected from a developer who has spent a career in the hospitality industry (and who currently serves as president of the local chapter of the Thai Hotels Association). Full of Western amenities, they’re large enough for a full dinner party to kibitz and sample the evening’s menu even while the chef is busy preparing it. Dinner is served on large tables made for languid feasts that start with appetizers accompanied by lights coming up along the island’s east coast at dusk and that finish after several courses well into the night.

Upstairs, the bedrooms are quiet, restful escapes. Each master bedroom comes with generous cabinet and closet storage space. Large tiled bathrooms echo typical Thai style and make great use of light and space. As in the master bedrooms, the spaces for the secondary bedrooms are designed for comfort, with luxurious bedding and comfortable seating perfect for hours spent composing letters or reading.

All of the 430sqm three-bedroom units come with a private pool and jacuzzi. Down the hill, the five 80sqm one-bedroom villas surround a common pool and jacuzzi. And every unit has access to a reception and meeting building just inside the entrance of the development at the top of the hill. Of course, five-star dining, housekeeping, chauffeur and concierge service is available.

Methee has reserved the villas strictly for rentals, building up a steady repeat clientele that he says makes Rising Sun Residence feel neighborly. It’s a neighborhood that’s at the heart of Phuket, a short drive to Phuket City or south to the secluded beaches of Rawai. Or pop over the hill to Kata, Karon and the bustling nightlife of Patong.