Big Buddha Beach Restaurants & Dining

Elephant and Castle Pub

A lovingly recreated London pub, long popular with British visitors and ex-pats alike. The beachside location makes it a much pleasanter option for a daytime drink than most places in the area and fans of pub grub won't be disappointed either. From their signature Sunday Roasts to Fish' n' Chips, Sausage & Mash, Homemade Steak & Kidney Pie and their doorstop sandwiches, everything comes in hearty portions that don't skimp on quality ingredients. The South London illusion is completed by daily British papers, lads' mags and regular doses of Premiership football and the BBC.

Opening Hours: 09:00 - 02:00
Location: Big Buddha Beach

Picnic Basket

For visitors hankering after some traditional British grub or a tasty lunchtime sandwich, the Picnic Basket is hard to beat. Run by Scotsman Jimmy, it's the amazing choice that makes the PB stand out. His huge breakfast (including hard-to-find black pudding) and sandwich menus are sold item by item, meaning that multiple combo's of breads, meats, salads, sauces and pickles are all possible.

He also serves a damn fine roast beef dinner every day and a range of pub grub classics including fish'n'chips, lasagne and shepherd's pie. If that's not enticing enough, then the prices certainly should be - breakfast items start at a mere 20 Baht and Steak, Egg, Chips and Beans will only set you back 180 Baht. There's also free local delivery.

Opening Hours: 07:00 - 19:00
Location: Big Buddha Beach

Quo Vadis

Few cuisines compliment the unstructured, mix, match and share format of a Thai meal, but traditional South American tapas is certainly one of them.

The restaurant at the recently opened Saboey Resort & Villas is the only place on the island to create authentic treats such as Pilaki (white beans with chorizo in arisa), Spinach & Machego Cheese, Pinchitos (spiced lamb, beef or chicken kebabs) and the house speciality, Feta Mousse with Gaspacho Soup.

There's also a decent Thai menu and it's all served in a very pleasant, candle-lit pool or beach-side setting with fine, reasonably-priced wines.

Opening Hours: 10:00 - 23:00
Location: Saboey Resort & Villas, Big Buddha Beach
Tel: 077 430 456

Shabash Restaurant & Beach Bar

Located at Chalee Bungalow at the south end of Big Buddha Beach, Shabash has a deserved reputation for serving some of the most culinary diverse food on the island. Born in Singapore to Indian/Jewish parents, Raymond Moses and his Chinese Singaporean wife Sharon spent many years living in Indonesia before settling in Samui. Here they draw on their unique culinary heritage to whip up some delicious dishes.

The spice mixtures that they use to prepare varied treats such as Chicken Korma, Shashuka, Beef Rendang and Gado Gado are all imported personally by Raymond and Sharon from Singapore, as is their kosher hummus. For a completely fresh flavour they also have lime and curry trees growing on the premises. Be it the zesty Roghan Jhosh, the chilli hot Vindaloo, Spicy Chicken & Fish Curries or the exquisitely tasty Indonesian dishes - Beef Rendang, Gado Gado, Bergedil - your taste buds will be teased and pleased.

There's also one of the island's best ranges of vegetarian dishes - Samosas, Onion Balji, Sauted Aubergine, Fried Okra, Tofu Goreng with Peanut Sauce, Falafel Salad with hummus and pita bread. All are wholesome and tasty.

Opening Hours: 12:00 - 22:00
Location: Chalee Bungalow - Big Buddha
Tel: 077 245 035

The Mangrove Restaurant

It's not the most conveniently located restaurant on the island, but The Mangrove is well worth making the extra effort to visit for dinner.

Chef and proprietor Jannick Pirbois specialises in traditional French cuisine with the occasional Asian twist, and personally cooks every item on the short, frequently changing menu. His attention to detail pays off in the quality and presentation of the food. The seafood dishes and deliciously unhealthy desserts are especially good.

Opening Hours: 17:00 - 24:00 Closed the last three days of each month
Location: Airport Road, Big Buddha Beach
Tel: 077 427 584