Where to Eat in Central Phuket?
Central Phuket has become one of the best places to eat on the island, and that’s not something I would normally say about a mall. The two connected wings offer completely different dining experiences. Festival is the older side with familiar chains, a massive food court on the third floor, and the new Lanlom outdoor zone that’s become popular for evening meals.
Floresta takes a different approach with proper Thai restaurants, including branches of famous Phuket places like Maimorn. Between both wings, you’ll find everything from conveyor belt sushi to Michelin-recognised Northern Thai cuisine. Sushiro and Ginger Farm Kitchen are the big recent additions on the Festival side. I’ve tried most of these restaurants over the years, some more than once. This guide covers every sit-down option in both wings, organised by floor, so you know exactly where to go.
Inside Central Festival
The Festival wing is the original building, and this is where most of the action happens. The third floor alone has over a dozen restaurants, from MK Suki to the new Sushiro conveyor belt sushi. It gets busy on weekends, especially around dinner time. The second floor has Haidilao, which stays open later than the rest of the mall.
The ground floor is where things have been getting interesting lately. The Lanlom zone at the front has transformed into an outdoor dining area with Wine Connection, Azzurro, and the recently opened Ginger Farm Kitchen, a Michelin-recognised Northern Thai restaurant from Chiang Mai. Nami Izakaya is opening soon in the same area. If you want quick familiar food, head to the third floor. If you prefer something with more character, the Lanlom zone downstairs is worth exploring, especially in the evening when it cools down.
Ginger Farm Kitchen
Ginger Farm Kitchen is a Chiang Mai chain with five consecutive years of Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition that recently opened at Central Phuket, Festival Wing (in the central circle open space). They use organic ingredients from their own 22-rai farm. Order the crispy pork belly and khao soi gai. The nam prik noom is proper Northern Thai. Nice farmhouse design with outdoor seating, casual and good for families too.
Haidilao Hot Pot
Haidi Lao Hot Pot at Central Phuket is a well-known franchise famous for its quality ingredients and wide selection of soups and sauces. When it first opened, it was extremely popular, and there were often long queues to get a table. These days, it’s much easier to find a seat, but the food quality remains high. Many guests enjoy the acrobatic noodle performances by the staff and the cheerful birthday singing, which adds a fun and friendly atmosphere to the dining experience.
Location: 2nd floor – Central Phuket Festival Wing
Azzurro Ristorante
Azzurro Ristorante at Central Phuket is a casual Italian restaurant located on the first floor of the Festival side of the mall. It’s a convenient stop for shoppers looking for pasta, pizza, and a mix of Italian favourites. The restaurant, which has obviously beautiful blue tones, is relaxed and modern, with quick service that makes it easy to enjoy a full meal or just a small plate before continuing your shopping.
Location: 1st floor (ground floor) – Central Phuket Festival Wing,
Full List of Restaurants in the Central Festival Wing
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Sushiro | Conveyor belt sushi | 3rd |
| Bar B Q Plaza | Thai Moo Kata | 3rd |
| MK Restaurants | Thai suki | 3rd |
| Fuji Japanese Restaurant | Japanese | 3rd |
| Yayoi | Japanese set meals | 3rd |
| Katsuya | Tonkatsu | 3rd |
| Miyazaki Teppanyaki | Japanese teppanyaki | 3rd |
| Hachiban Ramen | Ramen | 3rd |
| Sizzler | Steaks and salad bar | 3rd |
| The Pizza Company | Pizza | 3rd |
| Sukishi | Korean charcoal grill | 3rd |
| Yum Saap | Thai salads | 3rd |
| Black Canyon Coffee | Cafe and Thai food | 3rd |
| S&P | Bakery and Thai food | 3rd |
| Haidilao Hot Pot | Chinese hot pot | 2nd |
| Ginger Farm Kitchen | Northern Thai (Michelin) | 1st |
| Azzurro Ristorante | Italian | 1st |
| Zen Japanese Restaurant | Japanese | 1st |
| Wine Connection | Wine bar and Western | 1st |
| Sunshine Dessert Cafe | Desserts | 1st |
Inside Central Floresta
Floresta opened in 2018 as the upscale wing, but the dining here isn’t about luxury prices. It’s about quality Thai food. The ground floor has some of the best options in the entire complex. Maimorn serves authentic Phuket dishes, Laem Charoen is famous for its crispy sea bass, and Kub Kao’ Kub Pla draws locals who know good Thai food.
The Central Food Hall supermarket has You Hunt We Cook, where you pick fresh seafood and they prepare it on the spot. Most tourists head straight to the Festival wing, which means Floresta stays quieter. That’s part of why I prefer eating on this side. The restaurants here focus on getting the food right rather than turning tables quickly. If you only have time for one meal at Central Phuket, start here.
Su Va Na
Su Va Na, which means “heavenly gold” in Sanskrit, is Thailand’s only underwater restaurant, located on the lower level of Central Phuket Floresta inside Aquaria Phuket, the country’s largest aquarium. The restaurant opened during Christmas week in 2022 and has quickly established itself as one of Asia’s most distinctive dining destinations.
Maimorn Cuisine
Maimorn Cuisine in the Floresta wing is a large restaurant to enjoy local Thai and Phuket-style seafood dishes in a comfortable, modern setting. This restaurant is a branch of the well-known Maimorn Forest Restaurant in Phuket Town, which has been popular with locals for years. Here, the menu features a good variety of classic Thai favourites, fresh seafood, and Phuket specialities.
Location: G Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
Chilli Thai Restaurant
Chilli Thai Restaurant is a convenient place to enjoy modern Thai cuisine and some Western dishes. This is the Phuket branch of a franchise that has become popular in many shopping malls in Bangkok. The menu includes a wide range of classic Thai and Isaan dishes, with generous portions suitable for sharing. The restaurant’s modern setting and comfortable seating make it a good choice for families or groups looking for a meal before or after shopping.
Location: G Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
Food Court and Central Food Hall
The lower floor is popular with a vast and very well-supplied supermarket, including a wine cellar, a food court, and a selection of excellent local restaurants (actually, these are branches of local restaurants).
Location: G Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
Full List of Restaurants in the Central Floresta Wing
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Maimorn Cuisine | Phuket seafood | G |
| Laem Charoen Seafood | Thai seafood | G |
| Kub Kao’ Kub Pla | Thai | G |
| Boon Tong Kee | Hainanese chicken rice | G |
| Chilli Thai | Thai (all regions) | G |
| You & I Premium Suki Buffet | Shabu-shabu buffet | 3rd |
| Sushiro | Conveyor belt sushi | 3rd |
| Thai Brasserie by Blue Elephant | Upscale Thai | 3rd |
| Muteki by Mugendai | Japanese omakase | 3rd |
| Su Va Na | Fine dining (underwater) | B |
| Food Court | Mixed Thai | G |
More about Central Phuket
Central Phuket Info
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 199 Central Phuket Floresta, Unit No. 126 Moo 4, Tambol Vichit, Phuket, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000
Open: 10:30 am – 10 pm
Phone: 02 508 8988
Central Phuket Map
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/mLHftCNrrFG3AJED7
