Restaurants in Phuket
From tip-to-toe, north to south, it takes about an hour to drive all of Phuket, but the availability of hired tuk-tuks, hotel transport, or even self-drive vehicles means that for dining and nightlife, you can choose from any of the many options on the island. The beach areas in the west are chockablock with sm ...
From tip-to-toe, north to south, it takes about an hour to drive all of Phuket, but the availability of hired tuk-tuks, hotel transport, or even self-drive vehicles means that for dining and nightlife, you can choose from any of the many options on the island. The beach areas in the west are chockablock with small eateries or smart hotel restaurants. In the throbbing Patong strip, culinary options stretch from fast-food outlets clustered around the beach to snazzy designer diners and Asian chains.
Kata & Karon
The busy road between Kata and Karon (as well as the many side streets) are crammed with small cafes and restaurants serving affordable Thai and Western food. There are also lots of outdoor beer bars and cafes on the far southern end of Kata Beach that rock till late and are handy for grabbing a quick bite, local style. Of those low-key joints on Kata Yai, the best seafood stall is Kata Mama (tel. 07628-4006), a longstanding shop with friendly Thai staff. The simply named Istanbul Restaurant (www.istanbulrestaurantphuket.com; tel. 091820-7173) does Turkish breakfasts, kebabs, and regional favorites like minced beef atop eggplant. Its prices are low, and its staff are a delightful bunch. Red Duck (www.fb.com/redduckrestaurant; tel. 084850-2929) has tons of regular clients who come back for the vegan selections, seafood curries, and the vegetable larb—all made without MSG.
For a casual meal in Karon, try The Pad Thai Shop (look for an orange sign with blue font). As the name suggests, it’s all about noodles at this humble roadside shop, but the fried rice with veggies and crabmeat is equally famous; closed on Friday. Eat Bar & Grill (www.eatbargrill.com; tel. 085292-5652) is another real standout. It does a bang-up job with beef burgers, steaks and other western fare. Book in advance during high season to avoid waiting.
Patong
If you have a hankering for seafood (and who doesn’t at the seaside?), head to the southern end of the beach drag (Thaweewong Road). What was once just a collection of wooden shacks is now a long strip darn good seafood shacks with reasonable pricing. Most of the restaurants offer identical menus and have a wide selection of fresh seafood which will be displayed at the front of each shop. So pick based on atmosphere and view; they’re all worthy of your baht.
Bang Tao Bay (The Laguna Resort Complex)
The many hotel restaurants of the five-star properties in the Laguna Complex could fill a small guidebook of their own. You can't go too wrong in any of the hotels, with The Banyan Tree Phuket topping the lot for sheer style and enormous variety (try the pan-Asian delicacies at Saffron, while Dee Plee is another ace choice. For choices outside these hotels, take a look at the individual reviews on this site.
Chalong Bay & Rawai
In the far south of the island at Chalong Bay’s Kan Eang Seafood (www.kaneang-pier.com; 9/3 Chaofa Rd., Chalong Bay; tel. 07638-1323) is a good bet for fresh seafood. We’re talking whole fish or Phuket lobster (a giant clawless langoustine) plucked from the ocean just hours before. If you’ve rented a car, a ride down this way makes for a fun day out. Nikita’s (www.nikitas-phuket.com; tel. 07628-8703) on the Rawai seafront is a breezy seaside hangout with lite bites, wood-fired pizzas. It’s popular for sundowners. Rum Jungle (tel. 07638-8153) is the pick of the restaurants in this area with homemade pasta, cuts of New Zealand lamb, and a menu that changes weekly to make use of the best produce; book ahead in high season. A final option: go for a stroll around Rawai Beach and check out the local seafood shacks. Each will have ice-packed crates of the day’s catch ready to be cooked to your liking.
Phuket Town
Though quite a long ride from the West coast beach areas, a night out in Phuket Town is worth it for a taste of local culture. The range of dining options is as good a reason as any to base yourself in town. Oh, and here’s a tip we learned from a hotel GM: the best pizza on the island is at Crust (www.fb.com/crustphuket; tel. 093763-0318), just north of Phuket Town.
Bookstore
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Available as paperback
and as e-book.
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Indian
Abdul’s Roti Shop
For more than 75 years, this family-run roti shop has used the same recipes. Don’t believe us? The frozen-in-time décor and decades-old newspaper clippings on the wall that surrounded the metal tables should convince you. Light and flakey like a perfect French croissant, the roti…$ -
Seafood
Acqua
Few have helped to elevate the fine dining scene in Phuket like Sardinian-born chef Alessandro Frau. Guests are able to watch him in action most nights in the open kitchen here, as he carefully orchestrates the service, making sure the pacing of the meal is just right, and that each…$$$ -
Royal Thai
Baan Rim Pa Patong
In a handsome Thai-style teak house, Baan Rim Pa comes with a high price tag, especially if you order a bottle of wine. Still, the restaurant has much going for it, not the least of which are its stunning ocean views—be sure to reserve early so that you can get a seat on the outdoor…$$ -
International
Bampot Kitchen & Bar
Bampot Kitchen and Bar has a cool New York City bistro vibe but, unlike the Big Apple where tables are smushed together, there’s elbow room galore here. From their roomy perches, guests can peer into the bustling open kitchen, the equally buzzy bar area, stocked with international…$$ -
Royal Thai
Blue Elephant
Set in a Sino-Portuguese mansion, known as the Governor’s Mansion, this is one of the most romantic spots for Thai food on the island. Blue Elephant specialized in royal Thai cuisine and bringing life to centuries-old recipes while adding new twists to classic dishes. Order one of…$$ -
Thai/International
Boathouse Wine & Grill
So legendary is the Thai and Western cuisine at the Boathouse that, after numerous requests over the years, the management now arranges cooking lessons with the chef. A large bar and separate dining area sport nautical touches, and through huge picture windows, or from the terrace,…$$$ -
Thai
Ka Jok See
A truly special find, Ka Jok See is a smart and intimate European-styled venue set in an old Sino-Portuguese house. But what really sets it apart is the nightly dancing here, led by the friendly and fun-loving staff. The place has been here for years hiding mysteriously behind a…$$ -
Thai
Kopitiam by Walai
First things first: there is a lot of bad pad thai in Thailand because (spoiler) Thai people don’t eat the rice noodle dish with the fervor that American takeout menus might lead you to believe. But the good folks at Kopitiam by Walai are known for their authentic Phuketian-style pad…$ -
Italian
Le Gaetana Restaurant
This intimate, family-run Italian restaurant just south of Old Town is incredibly popular with longtime locals and Phuket’s expats. The Italian owner, Gianni Ferra, and his Thai wife are consummate hosts, flitting from table to table to recommend starters, like the mixed carpaccio of…$$ -
Thai
Lock Tien Food Court
For more than 50 years, locals and tuned-in visitors have come to this open-air food court to feast on Thai-Chinese dishes. There are about ten restaurants under the blue tile roof, and a waitress brings a stack of English language menus to the table, so this is a great place for…$ -
Thai/International
Mom Tri’s Kitchen
Located in the Villa Royale Resort, Mom Tri’s Kitchen serves fancy fare from a perch above the ocean. It’s regularly honored with awards from international publications. The menu includes such favorites as pork belly, crab soufflé, jumbo Thai prawns in curry, and more. Over 700 wine…$$$ -
Steakhouse
Plum Prime Steakhouse
If the craving for a good steak hits, make a beeline to Plum for some of the best imported cuts on the island. Japanese grain-fed, Australian angus, and French charolais are among the choices, expertly seared on a bamboo charcoal grill to the “doneness” preference of each diner.…$$$ -
Cafe
Project Artisan
This indoor-outdoor space does a booming breakfast trade with a menu of acai smoothie bowls, organic eggs cooked to order, homemade granola, fresh-baked nut bread, and fresh pressed juice. It’s a smooth transition to lunch, where organic salads and sandwiches on crispy French…$ -
Thai
Raya
A Sino-Portuguese home with original mosaic flooring and a collection of gramophones, Raya stands untouched and unfazed by Phuket’s love of new and shiny. There’s a lot to choose from, but we’ll cut through the noise: get the crab-meat curry with coconut milk. It features jumbo lumps…$$ -
International
Siam Supper Club
Anchored by a sociable bar, and all done up in men’s club style burnished woods, this restaurant feels more American than Thai. Which can make for a nice change. Dishes tend to be more western, too, like the delicious French onion soup, a wagyu beef carpaccio, crab cakes, and their…$$ -
Thai
Suay Restaurant
A truly delightful find, this charming place with an attractive garden stands out for its superb preparation of classic Thai and fusion dishes. Chef Tammasak ‘Noi’ Chootong, a rising star in the Thai culinary scene, helms the restaurant and oversees the artful presentation and…$$ -
Thai
Tatonka
Billed as “globetrotter cuisine,” dining at Tatonka is indeed a foray into the realm of global gastronomy. The owner is a well-traveled chef (check out his résumé written on the bathroom wall) and dishes reflect his meanderings. Among our favorites on the menu are a Peking duck pizza…$$