Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast has been awarded its first MICHELIN Key. The resort on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula only joined Mandarin Oriental in January 2026, so the recognition comes within its first year under the brand. It is also a first for the destination: no other resort on Desaru Coast has received a Key. And the next step is already close, with the Lumare Beach House & Sports Club due to open on the resort’s beach in November.
What a MICHELIN Key means
The MICHELIN Guide introduced its Keys as the hotel equivalent of its restaurant stars. Inspectors look at architecture and design, service, personality, value for money and how much a hotel adds to its destination. One Key stands for what the guide calls “a very special stay”. For a resort that has carried the Mandarin Oriental name for less than a year, that is an early statement.
- Address
- Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor (Malaysia)
- Nearby
- Desaru · 1.8 km
- Singapore
- 54 km
- Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
- 37 km
Straight-line distances. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
A Kerry Hill resort in the rainforest
Desaru Coast lies in the Malaysian state of Johor, where tropical rainforest meets the South China Sea, and is within easy reach of Singapore. The resort sits on some 52 hectares of rainforest along an untouched stretch of beach and is one of the last works of the architect Kerry Hill.
There are just 44 suites, each at least 105 square metres. Every one has a private plunge pool, an open courtyard, a shaded veranda facing the rainforest or the sea, and a large bathroom with a bathtub and a rain shower. Dining, a spa, a beach club and a kids’ club complete a resort that is built around space, privacy and quiet rather than spectacle.
A new general manager
Since May 2026, the resort has been led by Fiona Hagan. Born in Australia, she has three decades of experience in luxury hotels across Asia-Pacific; most recently she ran Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu from 2017, and before that held senior sales and operations roles with Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Malaysia, China and Southeast Asia. She credits the Key to the warmth of her team and to this particular stretch of coast, where ancient rainforest meets the South China Sea.
Lumare Beach House & Sports Club
In November 2026, Lumare Beach House & Sports Club opens directly on the resort’s beach. It will be Mandarin Oriental’s first beach club in Southeast Asia, inspired by the relaxed elegance of Mediterranean seaside towns. The kitchen focuses on cooking over open fire and easy dining by the sea. At its centre is a pool right on the beach, with a separate pool for children, along with padel, tennis and water sports. Long lunches are meant to turn into afternoons by the pool and evenings with music and guest DJs.
A MICHELIN Key in the first year and a new beach club before the year is out: for a resort that most travellers still have to place on the map, that is a strong start under its new name.
Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast, Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, Johor (Malaysia) · mandarinoriental.com
Roger Hohl
Roger Hohl has been at the helm of Luxvisor since 2006. From his base in Switzerland he travels to test what the luxury travel industry promises, from the seat at 40,000 feet to the last course of a tasting menu, and writes about it with an independent eye.
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