LAKU Beach Club

A Beach Club on Coconut Island

4,662 viewsBy Willy Thuan · Living in Phuket since 1994

LAKU Beach Club is one of the newest reasons to hop over to Koh Maphrao, just off the east coast of Phuket. It’s part of the Barcelo Coconut Island resort, but you don’t need to stay overnight to enjoy it. They’ve opened it up to outside guests with a day pass, and it’s worth the ride. The setting is relaxed and breezy, with views straight out to sea and a clean stretch of beach just steps away.

LAKU also hosts private parties and seasonal events when booked out. The LAKU Day Pass gives outside guests access to the beach club with food and beverage credit included. It covers the full resort too, so you can use the swimming pools, the slide pool, kayaks, paddleboards, and the sailing boats.

The Food at LAKU

The menu is Mediterranean at heart, with a few tropical touches and lots of seafood. If you’re sharing, start with the charcuterie and cheese platter or their “Mezze Platter,” which comes with hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, and warm pita. The grilled prawn skewers are great with a cold beer, and their crispy calamari comes with lemon and aioli. Simple but spot on.

There are fresh salads if you want something lighter, or bigger plates like grilled seabass, beef tenderloin with truffle sauce, and seafood linguine. I tried the LAKU Burger on one visit. Stacked, juicy, and hard to finish without a mess. They’ve also got a few Thai options for those craving something familiar.

Drinks are a highlight here. Some of the cocktails use homemade syrups made from local herbs and fruits. A nice nod to the Moken people, who’ve lived in these waters for generations and are known for their natural foraging. It’s a detail you’d miss if no one told you, but it makes a difference in the glass.

See the menu here – Drink list here

Saturday Brunch at LAKU Beach Club

Saturday Brunch at LAKU Beach Club is one of the most scenic brunch experiences in Phuket, and one of the liveliest. Set on Koh Maphrao (Coconut Island) at Barcelo Coconut Island resort, the brunch runs right on the beachfront, with sand under your feet and Phang Nga Bay stretching out in front of you. You don’t need to stay at the hotel to join in, which makes it an easy weekend plan for anyone on the island.

The ride over is part of the fun. LAKU has its own private pier and reception lounge on the Phuket mainland, just past Laem Hin Pier. From there, a 5-minute shuttle boat takes you across the water to the island. It feels like a proper escape, even though you’re barely ten minutes from Phuket Town.

The spread is built around fresh seafood and Mediterranean flavours. Expect chilled prawns, oysters, Fine de Claire from France, langoustines, blue crab, and a full sushi and sashimi corner. There’s a cheese and charcuterie board with Spanish ham, hummus topped with crispy chickpeas, guacamole, padron peppers, tortilla chips, and salads including beetroot with feta and walnuts, and tabbouleh with pomegranate. Hot dishes, grilled items and desserts round off the table.

This is more of a party brunch than the usual easy-going kind. A DJ keeps the music going while a saxophone player walks around the pool, weaving between guests. The best part is the little remote-controlled toy boat that glides across the pool with small alcoholic drinks on board, delivering shots straight to people relaxing in the water. Bring your swimwear, stay for the afternoon, and settle in. It’s the kind of Saturday you remember.

How to Get There

The trip is half the fun. LAKU has its own pier and reception lounge on the Phuket mainland, just past Laem Hin Pier. It’s not the same spot as the public boats. The LAKU pier is private and easy to spot, with a small welcome lobby facing the island. From there, it’s just a 5-minute boat ride across the water. Calm, quick, and you’re there with sand under your feet and a drink in hand.

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