A Beautiful Thai Restaurant in Old Phuket Town
Kanta Phuket opened recently on Phang Nga Road, attached to The Memory at On On Hotel. The hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Old Phuket Town, so we were curious to see what a new restaurant would do with the space.
The entrance is just off the hotel lobby, through a doorway that’s easy to miss if you’re not looking. Inside, it’s bigger than expected. High ceilings, large windows, a mix of old building details and modern furniture. They’ve kept the original floor tiles. The lighting is dim even during the day, which makes it feel more like a dinner spot than a lunch place. We went for a late lunch and had the room mostly to ourselves.
What We Ordered
The menu focuses on Modern Peranakan food, which means southern Thai and Malay-Chinese influences. Not a huge menu, maybe 20-25 dishes. The staff suggested a few things, and we went with their recommendation: Mee Hokkien with Andaman seafood, 280 Baht. The noodles were stir-fried with prawns and squid in a slightly sweet dark sauce. Good portion, not too oily. The seafood tasted fresh.
We also tried a smaller appetiser that I can’t remember the name of. Something with minced pork and herbs. It was fine but not memorable.
There are vegetarian options if you need them, and some dishes can be made less spicy. The menu has photos, which helps if you’re not familiar with Peranakan food.
The Space
The building itself is the main attraction. The On On Hotel has been around since the 1920s and was famous for years as a cheap backpacker place. They renovated it a few years ago and turned it into a proper boutique hotel. Kanta fits with that same style, old bones with new touches. If you’ve been to other restaurants on Phang Nga Road like Raya Restaurant or Kiew Kai Ka, the atmosphere is similar. Heritage building, air-conditioned, comfortable but not fancy. The service was friendly. Not rushed. The staff spoke enough English to explain the menu.
Is It Worth It?
Kanta is a decent option if you’re walking around Phuket Town and want to eat somewhere air-conditioned with good food. It’s not going to change your life, but the Mee Hokkien was solid, and the setting is nice. Prices are mid-range for this area, most mains are 200-350 Baht. We’d go back to try more dishes, probably for dinner next time, to see if the atmosphere changes when it’s busier.
The Memory at On On Hotel
Once a cheap backpacker’s place to stay, the On On Hotel emerged like a butterfly from an extensive renovation some years ago as an attractive retro-chic hotel. Set in the heart of Phuket Old Town, it has mostly private rooms, but there’s also dormitory accommodation with a shared kitchen and living area.
The hotel has refreshed its original Sino-Portuguese look with a lobby area featuring an open courtyard, vintage photographs and antique items like a stately gramophone. It’s an ideal place to soak up some Old Town ambience, with sights like Sang Tham (Serene Light) Shrine and the Sunday Lard Yai street market nearby.
Check the rates
Kanta Phuket Photos
The Hotel
Kanta Phuket Info
Location: Phuket Town – On On Hotel on Phang Nga Road
Address: 23 Phangnga Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Hours: 10 am – 10 pm
Phone: 092 269 1938
Facebook: Click here
Kanta Phuket Map
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