All Restaurants Have Been Removed – 2025 Update!
Update 2025: all food vendors have been removed from Surin beach since May 2025. That’s the second time this has happened. The first time was in 2016. The area still shows signs of recent demolitions, and the beach feels a bit neglected, but the cleaning is still in progress all around the area.
What Happened in 2025?
This is the second major clear-out in recent years. Back in 2016, Surin Beach was crowded with beach clubs, large permanent restaurants, and concrete kitchens set behind the beachfront path. Each place had sprawling terraces stretching almost the full 800m length of the sand. The first demolition was big news, leaving the shore empty for a couple of years.
Gradually, small-scale food vendors returned with mobile kitchens and a few chairs in the morning. The setup was informal: food cooked in trailers, tables under the shade, and nothing permanent. As tourism rebounded, these makeshift places became more frequent and, over time, somewhat more established, though never as large as before.
Since May 2025, all of these have been removed again. Even the only restaurant built on the rocks, one that survived
What’s Surin Beach Like Now?
Surin Beach is back to its natural state. The area feels different: a little untidy in some places, with traces left by recent demolition. Visitors now find only the coconut and pine trees for shade along the entire 800m stretch, with no vendors or beach massages in sight.
So long gone are the many famous beach clubs and the long line of restaurants that made this place so famous, and the beach has returned to a more natural look now. The quality of the water and sand always makes it one of the best beaches in Phuket. Swimming is excellent during the high season, as the water can be incredibly clear, as seen in the photos below (December to April), but the sea can be rough in the low season.
All along the beach, coconut and casuarina trees provide welcome shade to visitors. However, all the food stalls and local Thai restaurants under the trees by the beach and the beach massages have been removed.
More Photos of Surin Beach Today
Surin Beach Travel Guide
WHAT TO DO IN SURIN BEACH?
The Beach
As usual, the beach is the main reason people drive to spend the day here or book one of the hotels a little away from the sea. It’s a striking 800-meter soft sand stripe and a little paradise.
Laem Singh Beach
Laem Singh Beach was also a much-loved place, a little tropical bay with coconut trees leaning over the sand and bamboo restaurants in their shade. Access to Laem Singh has been closed to the public, and it has become a deserted paradise. However, there are still two little-known ways to access it!
Pansea Beach
Pansea is another stunning beach in Phuket, but only The Surin and The Amanpuri Resort‘s guests can access it. Private beaches are not allowed in Thailand, but similar to what happened to the neighbouring Laem Singh, if you own the land around, no one can cross it to reach the sea. The only way to enjoy it is to stay at one of the two hotels. We did it, and it was fantastic to have such a beach, almost for yourself.
WHERE TO STAY IN SURIN BEACH?
The most attractive resorts are Twinpalms Resort, The Surin, Ayara Resort and, of course, the legendary Amanpuri. Just next to Surin Beach is the beautiful ‘Pansea Beach‘, but hotels owning the land around the beach will not allow access to non-guests. Surin Beach Resort is the only budget hotel nearby with beach access.
Twinpalms Resort
Twinpalms Phuket Resort doesn’t have beachfront access or sea views but is only 350 metres from one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. Minimalist designs with elegant lines, large spacious rooms, a vast central pool lined by tall sugar palm trees, and Twinpalms have a lot to offer to travellers with high expectations, including beach clubs, exclusive spas, and excellent cuisine. Read more
Range: 5-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 3
Distance to the beach: 350 m
Check the rates
The Surin
| On The Beach |
The Surin Phuket is a beautifully designed hotel with a long history and a fantastic location on Pansea beach. It’s also one of the first luxury hotels on the island and one of the best places in Phuket to escape your busy life! The Surin has three restaurants, including a superb beachfront open terrace to enjoy a sunset dinner and a magnificent spa. Read more
Range: 5-star
Swimming pools: 1
Restaurants and bars: 3
Distance to the closest beach: on the beach!
Check the rates
OUTRIGGER Surin Beach Resort
Outrigger Surin Beach Resort is a boutique resort just steps from the tranquil Surin Beach, known for its soft white sand and clear waters. This quiet stretch of Phuket offers a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for travellers looking to unwind away from the island’s busier spots. The resort provides a range of modern rooms, including options with direct pool access for added convenience.
Range: 4-star
Swimming Pools: 2
Restaurants and bars: 2 restaurants and 1 bar
Distance to the closest beach: 200 m
Check the rates
WHERE TO EAT IN SURIN BEACH?
All the fantastic restaurants that used to sit on the side beach are long gone, but you can buy from a handful of local vendors.
What Beachside Restaurants Used to Look Like
All along the beach, small local restaurants set up inviting tables and chairs, the perfect spots for an inexpensive lunch or even a snack and a drink. The beachfront was home to many fancy restaurants and beach clubs that were illegally built and destroyed, but the demand was still there, and locals were resourceful. First, hawkers returned to the vast parking area; year after year, chairs and umbrellas popped up everywhere. So if you want to eat, you will have to walk to the nearby street.
The Smokaccia
| Michelin Restaurant |
The Smokaccia Laboratory is a unique restaurant by Italian Chef Luca Mascolo. Famous for its light and crispy sourdough, it offers an 18-course menu of modern fine cuisine with a zero-waste policy. The beautiful restaurant setting allows guests to watch the team at work, with Chef Luca explaining each dish’s local ingredients and stories in a fun, casual manner. Listed in the Michelin Guide, this innovative dining experience is a must-visit for lovers of creative fine cuisine during their holiday in Phuket.
Wagyu Steakhouse
| Michelin Restaurant |
Wagyu Steakhouse is a fine-dining restaurant located near Surin Beach in Phuket, part of the Twinpalms Hotel. Known for its premium wagyu beef, dry-aged for up to 45 days and cooked in a Josper charcoal oven, the menu also offers lamb, pork, chicken, fish, and oysters. The restaurant features a refined design with dark wood interiors, leather seating, and a cosy cocktail bar. Guests can dine indoors or on the outdoor terrace. It’s a high-end experience, ideal for a special evening with friends or a partner.
WHERE TO SHOP IN SURIN?
You won’t find much around, but a few shops worth mentioning. ‘Lemongrass’ sells spa and massage products with an extensive range of oils and essences. The ‘Plaza’ is a three-floor modern building full of house decorations, lovely paintings, and clothing. Try ‘Ginger’, a fashion shop from Chiang Mai, displaying an original collection of clothing and accessories at very affordable prices.
What Changed on Surin Beach?
The answer is simple: EVERYTHING. Surin used to be a great place to party and walk from beach clubs to bars and restaurants all along the beach. You could rest on the comfortable sofas of the many beach clubs until sunset when it was time to start partying around trendy bars and talented DJs.
Most of it is gone, all of what was on the beach and across the small street: the famous Catch Beach Club that pioneered the beach club trend in Phuket and the excellent Salt restaurant, all gone. Today, the beach is undeniably beautiful and natural, with lots of palm trees, and parking is no longer a problem.
SURIN BEACH PHOTOS
Surin Beach Fast Facts
| ⛱️ Beach condition: | Amazing |
| ⛱️ Beach nearby: | Laem Singh Beach |
| 📷 Thing to do: | Good for snorkeling |
| 🍴 Best restaurant: | The Smokaccia |
| 🍴Best beach restaurant: | No Name Restaurant |
| 🛎️ Best seafront hotel: | The Surin |
| 🛎️ Best luxury hotel: | Twinpalms Phuket Resort |
| 🛏️ Best mid-range hotel: | Novotel Surin Beach |
| ✈️ Distance from Phuket International Airport: | 23 km |
SURIN BEACH MAP
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/kG5mf4jHAa7mMRU7A
