A Portuguese Restaurant with Pool and Wellness Area in Rawai
TUGA in Rawai is a Portuguese restaurant with a twist. During the day it works as a wellness space with a pool, steam bath, and ice bath. In the evening it becomes a proper restaurant serving Portuguese food. We went for dinner and tried their signature dish, the Francesinha. It’s an unusual combination for Phuket, and as far as we know, the only Portuguese restaurant on the island.
Daytime: Pool and Wellness
During the day, TUGA is more of a wellness spot than a restaurant. There’s a pool, a steam bath, and an ice bath if you’re into hot-cold contrast therapy. The garden area has hammocks, seating, and a fireplace. It’s set up for people who want to spend a few hours relaxing, not just grab a quick meal.
We didn’t use the wellness facilities ourselves, just came for dinner. But the pool looked good and there were a few people using it when we arrived around 6 pm.
The daytime menu includes smoothies, protein shakes, Western breakfast and lunch, some Thai dishes, and lighter snacks. So you can eat while using the pool area without waiting for dinner service.
Evening: Portuguese Restaurant
In the evening the restaurant side takes over. The lighting changes, it gets darker and more restaurant-like. This is when they serve the full Portuguese menu. If you’re looking for European food in Rawai that isn’t Italian or French, this is one of the few options.
The most popular dish is the Francesinha, a sandwich from Porto. It’s layers of rib-eye steak, chorizo, ham, and cheese, topped with a fried egg and covered in a sauce. Heavy. Not something you’d eat every day. But if you’ve never had one, it’s worth trying.
The Francesinha
The Francesinha at TUGA uses New Zealand grass-fed rib-eye, chorizo, ham, melted cheese, and a fried egg on top. The sauce is their own recipe. Served with fries. It’s a big portion. We shared one between two people and it was enough with a starter.
If you’ve had a Francesinha in Portugal, this one is close to the real thing. Rich, messy, filling.
Other Portuguese Dishes
The menu has other Portuguese dishes beyond the Francesinha. Carne de Porco à Alentejana (pork with clams), Prego no Pão (steak sandwich), and Codfish & Cream are all on there. The codfish dish is a classic Portuguese comfort food, cod with potatoes and cheese.
Starters include garlic shrimp and chicken gizzards Portuguese-style. We had the shrimp. Good with bread to soak up the garlic butter.
Drinks
They have Portuguese and Italian wines, beer, cocktails, and a homemade sangria. Happy hour runs 6 pm to 7 pm daily with 50% off cocktails.
Location
TUGA is in Rawai, a few minutes from Nai Harn Beach by car or scooter. The space is bigger than it looks from the road. Parking available for cars and bikes.
Is It Worth Visiting?
If you want Portuguese food in Phuket, this is probably your only option. The Francesinha alone makes it worth a visit if you’ve never tried one. The wellness side is a bonus if you’re in the area during the day. We’d go back for dinner, maybe try the pork and clams next time.
TUGA Info
Location: Rawai Beach
Address: 12, 4 Wiset Rd, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130
Hours: 10 am – 11 pm
Phone: 083 806 3649
Facebook: click here
TUGA Map
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