Phuket restaurants serve all kinds of cuisine but finding real Thai food can be a little challenging. The large majority of the restaurants in the island’s tourist areas, such as Patong Beach, Kata or Karon, have been adjusting their tastes to accommodate first-timers. You probably would never see Thai people eating in those places, and it’s usually a sign. Real Thai food is often found in more modest areas of Phuket, and we list some great Local Thai Restaurants here. Phuket Seafood is also famous, and you should try the real thing without paying a fortune by checking out our Best Local Seafood Restaurants list.
Thai Gallery and Coffee Bar is a small open-air café and restaurant set on the hillside near the Big Buddha in Chalong. Its entry has an artistic touch, with beautiful carved wooden panels lining the front roof and columns and several paintings hanging in the small gallery just off to the side.
Rivet & Rebar at The Slate Phuket near the beach is an open-fired grill and smokehouse with dramatic, industrial-chic interiors, a great place to enjoy steaks and after-dinner drinks. The restaurant is all wood and leather, creating a dark and intimate atmosphere.
Tin Mine, the main restaurant, is where you will have your breakfast. It’s vast and open-air, surrounded by greenery like almost everything in the resort. The breakfast buffet is impressive and excellent. Again, and like in the entire resort, the mining theme is omnipresent in every detail, even in the table sets.
Kata Rocks has only one restaurant serving Mediterranean and seafood cuisine, but with rooms so well designed for in-house dining, you won’t need more.
The Harbor Restaurant at The Shore at Katathani Resort on Kata Noi Beach was a lot better than most hotel restaurants we had previously tried.
Laimai Courtyard is the restaurant at the front of Baan Laimai in Patong Beach. It is a relaxing area between the pool and the beach road where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Twilight Sky is a vast, breezy poolside restaurant on top of The Sis Kata in Kata Beach, where guests can enjoy all their meals and drinks with a panoramic view on one side and a vast pool on the other.
Baba Soul Food is one of the Thai restaurants at Sri Panwa, tucked into the hillside of Cape Panwa. It’s a quiet spot with a few tables indoors and more on the terrace, all looking out toward the sea.
We were pleasantly surprised when we went to Baba Hot Box BBQ and Steak House at Sri Panwa in the south of Phuket Island. The quality of the meat, the sophisticated equipment used to cook and smoke it to perfection (a Spanish Josper BBQ) and, most importantly, the chef’s skills made this evening a treat.
We started with Baba Iki, Japanese, which served a beautifully presented and fresh choice of sashimi. The restaurant mostly consists of a single massive table designed to create a casual party atmosphere, which is a little surprising initially. The views of the ocean through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls are superb.
Sunshine View Restaurant is perched on the roadside hill that leads to Paradise Beach, just past Tri Trang Beach, near Patong. The restaurant serves Indian, Thai, European, and seafood dishes (including huge prawns and Phuket lobsters) at reasonable prices
Pitbull Bar is a hidden bar and restaurant located next to Tri Trang Beach. Since it’s the first in the group at the bottom of the hill and its entrance is somewhat hidden under a tree, it’s easy to miss.
The Cozy Cafe is one of the few restaurants built on the hillside overlooking the south of Tri Trang Beach. The restaurant is built on the roadside and has several terraces for guests to enjoy food or drinks
A small local restaurant on Montri Road in Phuket Town, where most jewellery shops are. Chuan Chim is quite large, simple and spotlessly clean. The food is cheap and excellent. We loved the fried basil with minced pork or chicken and the seafood salad.
Inspired by fairy tales, Jouet D’Art (Art Toys) features Victorian-style creations within glass walls and mirrors, offering a stunning view of tranquil Panwa Beach and its glistening sea. Embracing unconventional ideas, we invite guests to embark on a sensory journey.
Brasserie C’est la Vie, located at BYD Loft in the heart of Patong, Phuket, offers a blend of traditional Thai flavours and classic French cuisine including seafood and meats.
Isole is an Italian restaurant serving traditional dishes from islands in the Mediterranean, such as Sardinia and Sicily
Palai Seafood has been around for a long time — one of those names that come up when people talk about where to eat seafood near Chalong. It’s not hidden or secret; in fact, it’s right by the sea on the road that leads to Mor Mu Dong.
Brake Taek serves a delicious and renowned ‘Tom Yam Noodle Soup’. However, getting a table for lunch can also be difficult, and you might have to wait quite a bit. So, while waiting, order their excellent meatball skewers to keep you busy; you won’t regret it.
This local restaurant appeared in a famous Korean Magazine, and many customers are now Korean. Their speciality is a Seafood Hokkien noodle soup. Order two; you won’t regret it. Choose between ‘Hokkien Mee’, a fat round yellow noodle, or ‘Ba Mee’, a thin egg noodle. The noodles can be served dry or ‘Hang’ (soup on the side). They are located on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town.
A dinner at Hom Restaurant at Intercontinental Phuket Resort in Kamala Beach is an experience we’ll remember for a long time. The Intercontinental name already promises luxury, and from the moment we stepped into the hotel, we could tell this place was something special.
Siang Khaeng is as big and basic as a warehouse but always full for dinner! The best dishes we know are Som Tam (Papaya Salad), Laab Het (Mushroom spicy hot salad), Kai, Namtok Nua (Beef Salad) and Pladook Foo (Grilled Cat Fish). But the list is extensive. Therefore, this place serves Esarn Food, which can be quite spicy (in northern Thailand). They are located on On Mae Luan Road, almost opposite the Mitsubishi Showroom.
Chair Cafe Old Town is a coffee shop and a good casual restaurant on Yaowarat Road. It is nice to stop for a break while you explore the streets of Phuket Town. In addition to the nice setting and food, Chair Cafe Phuket Town has a delightful little secret for those of you who like hidden places.
JW Cafe is where you will enjoy a copious breakfast with a huge choice at the buffet! It would be hard to describe how many dishes are on display, but you sure will find plenty of Western and Asian dishes for an extravagant start to your day.
Cucina at JW Marriott Phuket was another great experience the next day, great menu and really good taste. The wine list is also excellent with reasonably priced wine by the glass, served at the right temperature.
Andaman Grill was our choice for the first night and was without a doubt the best decision. JW Marriott Phuket Resort feature a lot of restaurants (too many to try them all on a single weekend), but enjoying fresh seafood and Thai food in an open-air restaurant near the sea is hard to beat! The place is beautiful and spacious, the food excellent, and the team attentive and friendly. It was a treat (we paid for our stay, in case you wondered.
Embrace the laid-back vibes at The Pool Deck at Courtyard Phuket, Patong Beach Resort. This poolside restaurant offers the perfect poolside bites. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and grab a bite while basking in the sun.
The Phuket Eatery is Courtyard Phuket, Patong Beach Resort primary hotel restaurant, serves international dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its comfortable and family-friendly setting provides a convenient dining option near the lobby for both work-related meetings and enjoyable meals with loved ones.
Restaurant Pita Beach is a charming and somewhat hidden spot on the shores of Sirey Island. Despite being called an island, it is connected to the main island of Phuket by a very short bridge. The location near a local village is quite relaxing and scenic.
Junkyard Theatre Phuket, rated #1 on TripAdvisor Phuket, is the only experience where dinner time turns into showtime in the craziest way in Asia! Forget boring dinners; here, you eat a scrumpteous 3-course meal while dancers leap, spin, and twist to cool tunes.
Sunhouse Café & Co-Working Space in Karon offers the perfect environment for digital nomads and travellers to work, connect, and relax. Our cosy café provides high-quality coffee, delicious pastries, and a variety of workspaces to suit your needs.
Located on the pristine shores of Mai Khao Beach at Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, Sand Box Beachfront Bar & Eatery offers an unforgettable toes-in-the-sand dining experience. Satisfy your cravings with a wide range of offerings—from handcrafted cocktails and pizzas to pasta, grilled delights, and international comfort favorites. Don’t miss out on our unique special menu of the day.
Dine alfresco with a stunning lagoon view or linger indoors at Loca Vore restaurant, part of the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa on Mai Khao Beach. We offer Phuket’s Best Breakfast, featuring a selection of international comfort favourites.
The Square Restaurant at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park in Patong Beach offers an authentic array of flavours and spices with beautifully presented dishes, complemented by a scenic view of the swimming pool.
Cue Bar is a friendly place to enjoy live music and pool in the Phuket Old Town area on Phang Nga Road. The bar is split into two sections, with its main bar, pool table and stage found on the air-conditioned ground floor space with a sports bar vibe, and an open-air rooftop bar.
Pots, Pints and Tikis at Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong is a bar open in the evening, serving a good selection of tapas, pizzas, burgers and even Thai food, perfect to start the night before walking to Bangla Walking Street.
Seasonal Tastes at Westin Siray Bay Resort on Koh Sirey presents a menu crafted from the freshest seasonal produce, offering a delightful selection of international and Asian cuisine.
EEST Restaurant at Westin Siray Bay Resort on Koh Sirey offers a blend of exotic elegance and authentic Thai flavors, creating a dining experience that is both memorable and distinctive.
Prego by the Beach at Westin Siray Bay Resort on Koh Sirey is a charming beachfront restaurant offering a delightful dining experience, enhanced by its sophisticated open kitchen and bar.
Elements at Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach serve all-day dining in a vast restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge terrace with stunning views.
Vero Trattoria & Wine Bar at Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach is a real treat to end your day with an Italian dinner in an elegant setting.
Bella Vista Kamala is an Italian restaurant located right on the beachfront of Kamala Beach, offering stunning sea views to go with your holiday breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
The Dome BBQ Restaurant is an exciting spot in Patong, offering two types of food service: a grilled buffet and a seafood experience packed with authentic Thai flavours.
Mama’s Kitchen is a cosy beachside restaurant in Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, set in a converted shipping container, offering a relaxed, inviting atmosphere.
The Andaman Kitchen at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach, serves Thai and international cuisine for a complete all-day dining experience of your favourite delights.
Sugar Shack is a popular local restaurant in the heart of Kata Beach, known for its relaxed atmosphere and excellent Thai and Western cuisine.
Munchy Burgers in Kamala is a vibrant and casual dining spot known for its mouthwatering smashburgers, delicious pizza, and a variety of other tasty offerings.
Experience the enchantment of Sanook, an interactive all-day dining experience and the resort’s primary breakfast venue. Sanook is modeled after an indoor market.
In Thai, “Jaak Din” means “from the earth.” The concept of the slow food restaurant and bakery entails using only locally sourced ingredients and homemade products to create the unique flavours of each dish on the menu.
Experience authentic Lebanese cuisine at Babylon Lounge Phuket in Bangtao, Phuket. Enjoy both air-conditioned and outdoor seating while savouring a variety of hot and cold mezze, including hummus, falafel, mixed grill kofta, marinated chicken, and more.
Krua Talad Yai, the main restaurant, is located on the third floor of the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town and serves Thai and international food all day long, with a buffet and a la carte.
We tried the new Yue Chinese Restaurant by Chef Kenny Chang on the 2nd floor of the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, for dinner and a Dim Sum Breakfast on Sunday morning.
