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Brunch and Dinner in an 85-Year-Old Mansion!

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Fran’s Phuket is the newest branch of Bangkok’s wildly popular brunch restaurant, and it just opened in one of the most beautiful heritage mansions in Phuket Town. The restaurant occupies a stunning 85-year-old Sino-Portuguese mansion at the intersection of Yaowarat Road and Thungkar Road, right opposite the Merlin Hotel. The building alone is worth the visit, but the food and the team behind it make this a place you will want to return to.

How It Started

Anyone who has lived in Phuket long enough will recognise this house. It proudly stands at the corner locals call “Si Yaek Merlin” or “Si Yaek Amphoe,” and it has been a quiet landmark for decades. The mansion was built around 1937 to 1941 by a wealthy tin mining millionaire who hired architects from Penang to design it. Like many grand houses in Phuket Town, it belongs to a category known locally as “Ang Mor Lao,” a Hokkien term meaning “red-haired people’s building,” referring to the European architectural style that wealthy Chinese-Hokkien families adopted during the tin boom years.

The house changed hands several times over the decades. For many years, it was an exclusive antique and carpet shop called “Private Collection.” Not many people visited it back then, and it did not look very inviting from the outside. It later became Kiew Kai Ka, a Thai restaurant specialising in ancient royal dishes, which brought new life to the building and carefully preserved the original tiles, wooden floors, and decorative window frames. The carved half-circle clerestories above the front door are still there, featuring a chicken motif representing the original owner’s Chinese zodiac sign.

Now the mansion has a new chapter as Fran’s Phuket.

About Fran’s

Fran’s started in Bangkok’s Sathorn district as a collaboration between restaurateur Atchara “Pla Iberry” Burarak of the iBerry Group and chef Chalee Kader. The original Fran’s became one of the most popular brunch spots in Bangkok, famous for its glasshouse setting and modern bistro-style menu. It has since expanded to Sukhumvit 49, Ari, and Chiang Mai.

The Phuket branch is different from the Bangkok locations. Instead of the signature glasshouse, the restaurant sits inside this heritage mansion, giving it a completely different atmosphere. A modern glass-walled pavilion was built next to the old house, connecting the two eras in a way that works surprisingly well. The old mansion handles the fine dining side, while the contemporary pavilion serves the more casual brunch crowd.

The Food

We visited Fran’s Phuket for dinner, and the food was excellent. The menu here goes beyond brunch. While the Bangkok branches are known for pancakes, eggs, and avocado toast, the Phuket evening menu leans more towards bistro dishes with quality ingredients.

We tried the vongole pasta with fresh clams, which was generous and well-seasoned. The grilled squid came with a simple rocket salad and lemon, letting the quality of the seafood speak for itself. The highlight was the whole crab, served with a rich bisque-style sauce and crusty bread on the side. Every dish was well prepared and nicely presented on the restaurant’s signature white plates with Fran’s branding.

My Take

What impressed me most was not just the food but the team. Chef Chalee Kader was there the night we visited, greeting guests and clearly enjoying what he does. The staff were genuinely warm and attentive without being pushy. It felt like a place that cares about doing things properly.

The setting is special. Walking through the old mansion at night, with its original wooden floors and heritage details beautifully lit, is an experience in itself. The garden between the mansion and the modern pavilion is a lovely spot to arrive through, and the contrast between old and new architecture makes for some fantastic photos.

Fran’s Phuket is a welcome addition to the Phuket Town dining scene. The building deserves a restaurant that respects its history, and Fran’s appears to be doing exactly that.

Fran’s Restaurant Photos