19 Best Restaurants in Kamala Beach

Smile Bar

Smile Bar sits right on the sand at Kamala Beach, between two rows of coconut trees. The whole place is painted white, which makes it photograph well. I come here mostly for the grilled chicken, which is better than it needs to be for a beach bar. Prices are reasonable, and the staff speak good English.

If you stay past dark, they do fire shows on the beach. Nothing fancy, but fun to watch with a beer. The location is what sells it. No road between you and the water, just sand and palm trees. It’s the kind of place where lunch turns into sunset drinks without you planning it.

Lillo Island Restaurant

Lillo Island is one of those places we enjoy going back to for a slow breakfast on Kamala Beach. It’s right on the sand in the central part of the beach, among a row of restaurants. The tables are literally on the beach, under big trees and yellow umbrellas. This is a rare chance for you to eat with your feet in the sand.

Boat Bar & Restaurant

Boat Bar has been here forever. It’s one of those places that hasn’t changed much, which I mean as a compliment. Open-air terrace, coconut trees, sea right there. The pad thai is reliable. So is the pineapple fried rice and the som tam.

I’ve had breakfast here more times than I can count, usually something simple while watching the morning light on the water. They do pizzas and burgers, too, if you’re not in the mood for Thai. Around sunset, the bartenders start making cocktails, and the place fills up. BBQ pork with sticky rice is another good option. It’s not trying to be anything other than a solid beach restaurant, and that’s enough.

Bella Vista Kamala

This is the Italian option on the beachfront. Wood-fired pizzas, proper pasta, decent wine list. It costs more than the Thai places next door, but the quality is there. I like their terrace in the morning for an espresso, sitting under the coconut trees before the heat kicks in.

The indoor section has air conditioning if you need a break from the humidity. Their seafood pasta is good. So are the pizzas. Not the cheapest lunch on the beach, but worth it when you want something different. The staff are friendly and the portions are generous. Good for families or couples who want a slower meal with a view.

Nanork Seafood

Nanork is small, old-school, and exactly the kind of place that’s getting harder to find in Phuket. Local family running it, simple setup under the coconut trees, no frills. The tom yum is good. Curries are good. Pad Thai, fried rice, the usual dishes done properly.

Nothing complicated. It’s quieter than Smile Bar or Boat Bar next door, which sometimes is exactly what I want. Breakfast is simple, continental style or Thai, and they don’t rush you. Prices are low, even by local standards. The kind of restaurant where you become a regular if you’re staying nearby. I’ve seen the same faces behind the counter for years.

Hom is the other restaurant at the Intercontinental, and it’s a different experience entirely. Tasting menus only. The concept is built around fermentation, which sounds gimmicky until you taste the food. Local ingredients from around Phuket are prepared using old preservation techniques.

The room is minimal with high ceilings and few tables, so it feels private even when full. They pair courses with biodynamic wines, which works better than I expected. It’s the kind of meal where you put your phone away and pay attention. Open Tuesday to Saturday with set seating times. Book ahead. Prices are high, but you’re paying for something you won’t find elsewhere on the island.

Jaras is probably my favourite hotel restaurant in Kamala. It’s Michelin-listed, so yes, it’s expensive. But the food is genuinely good, not just expensive-good. They do modern Thai, meaning familiar dishes presented in ways you haven’t seen before. The tom yum goong comes in a young coconut.

The tiger prawns are grilled with pomelo. I ordered the tom kha once, expecting the usual, and it came with ma kwaen powder that changed everything. The wine list is serious, and the sommelier actually knows his stuff. Service is attentive without being stiff. It’s a lot for a random Tuesday, but for a birthday or anniversary, it makes sense. Reservations recommended.

Talung Thai sits on a cliff at Paresa Resort, one of the most dramatic restaurant locations in Phuket. There’s an upper terrace for sunset photos and a lower area with sofas and comfortable seating. The menu mixes Thai and European, presented nicely without being fussy.

Tables are spaced far apart, so it feels private even when busy. I’d recommend booking a corner table or one near the edge for the best views. The sea breeze keeps it cool in the evening. It’s Michelin-listed and priced accordingly. Not a casual dinner, but right for anniversaries or proposals. The kind of place where the setting stays with you as much as the food.

Cafe Del Mar

Cafe Del Mar brought the Ibiza brand to Kamala. During the day, it’s relaxed. Beach beds on the sand, a pool behind with cabanas and a swim-up bar. The food covers a lot of ground: pizzas, tapas, sushi, Thai dishes, and burgers. None of it is cheap.

Music starts chill, that Balearic sound, and gets louder as the sun drops. By night, it turns into a proper beach club with house music and resident DJs. Good for a pool day if you don’t mind resort prices. The crowd is mostly tourists and expats looking for something more polished than the local beach bars. Weekend nights get busy.

Pine Beach Bar

Pine Beach Bar is part of the Intercontinental, right on the sand at the north end of Kamala. It’s a good spot for afternoon drinks or watching the sunset with a cocktail. Weekdays are quiet, just music and tapas and the sound of the water. Weekends are different.

They bring in DJs, saxophone players, and fire shows. It turns into a beach club atmosphere without the chaos of Patong. The menu has pizzas, steaks, local beers, and the usual resort selection. Prices include tax and service, so what you see is what you pay. I like it for a sundowner when I don’t want to leave the beach but want something a bit nicer than the local bars.

Casa Boho at Hyatt Regency

Casa Boho is a rooftop spot at the Hyatt Regency, overlooking Rayee Beach just south of Kamala. The people behind Bangkok’s Above Eleven designed it, and you can tell. There’s an infinity pool on the deck, indoor seating, and a terrace with big views over the bay. The menu is Latin American. Empanadas, ceviches, grilled seabass, ribeye, and churros for dessert.

Downstairs, there’s a room called The Den with pool tables, foosball, and arcade games, which is good if you’re with kids or a group. Sunset up here is worth the trip. Prices are on the high side but not outrageous for what you get. Works for families or a date night.

Mizu Teppanyaki Restaurant

Mizu is the teppanyaki place at the Hyatt Regency, set poolside. The chefs cook everything in front of you, the usual teppanyaki theatre with knives and flames and the occasional joke. Seafood is the focus, mostly local fish and prawns, but there’s chicken and beef too. I’ve been once for a birthday dinner, and the kids loved watching the show.

The food was good, not the best teppanyaki I’ve had, but solid. It’s more about the experience than a quiet meal. Prices are what you’d expect from a five-star hotel. Good for a special occasion or if you want something interactive. Book a table rather than walking in.

Silk at Andara Resort Phuket

Silk is the restaurant at Andara Resort, up on the hill overlooking Kamala. The design is all polished wood and high ceilings, very elegant. They serve Thai food mostly, dishes like goong sarong, yam nuea, and crab curry. There’s also pasta and steaks if someone in your group doesn’t want Thai.

The drinks list is long, and happy hour helps with the prices. I’ve been here for a couple of anniversaries. The tables are spaced well, there’s a breeze coming through, and you can see the pool and palm trees from most seats. It’s expensive, no way around that. But for a special dinner with good food and a beautiful setting, it is worth it.

Isole Italian Restaurant at Cape Sienna

Isole is at Cape Sienna, on the headland between Kamala and Patong. The sunset views from here are some of the best in Phuket. What I like most is the design. Some of the tables sit in alcoves surrounded by shallow water, so it looks like you’re dining on a little island.

The menu is Italian, pastas and seafood mostly, with a decent wine list. I’ve had good meals here, nothing that blew my mind but consistently solid. The setting does most of the work. Prices are high, as you’d expect from a boutique hotel. Best for a romantic dinner or a celebration where the view matters as much as the food.