Lamai Beach Dining & Restaurants
Lamai has a great selection of dining options ranging from roadside curry stalls where a meal can cost as little as 30B, to the first-class establishments attached to smart hotels. Some of the best Spa and vegetarian food on the island is also available here, thanks to the world-renowned Spa Samui Resorts, with two venues in Lamai. In the beach road area you will find a wide variety of reasonably priced international cafes catering to foreign visitors and ex-pats, including British, Italian, Indian and Scandinavian food. There are also some relatively new bistro-style eateries on the outskirts of Lamai with thoroughly contemporary cuisine, meaning you no longer have to head into Chaweng for top-class international dishes. |
This Euro-Thai restaurant is a real insider tip, with ex-pat residents regularly visiting to sample the home-style delights of the kitchen. It's a true testament to the chef's abilities that you may have to wait for a seat. The menu uses good-quality, fresh ingredients to produce simple, well-priced yet skillfully prepared Thai and European favourites. Located on the right hand side on the hill leading to Hinta Hinyai.
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This modern beachfront restaurant is attached to the Lamai Wanta Resort, right in the centre of the bay. The innovative fusion menu is expertly prepared and well presented. Reservations via reception: 077424 550.
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This new Italian/Thai bar and grill is perched on the hillside coming out of Chaweng Noi towards Lamai. The interesting, quirky name comes with interesting tasty food and an amazing view. This restaurant is already popular with expats and tourists alike and has live music some nights. For reservations and info: 077413797
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This really is the best place to have a hearty cooked breakfast, and the huge variety of different combinations ensures there is something for everyone. There is delicious fresh-baked bread every day and the friendly lady-boy waitresses provide an entertaining start to the day. Just off the ring road on the first turn toward Lamai beach road from Chaweng. Open early till about 6pm.
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This lovely beachfront restaurant is part of the Jungle Park Resort, nestled on a peninsular at the northern end of Lamai beach. The kitchen serves great French, Thai and vegetarian cuisine and the locale is child friendly with a pool and shallow beach. Reservations and info:077418034
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Chill-In beach bar and restaurant opened this year and has become a firm favourite with both locals and tourists. Chill-In lives up to its name; a more relaxed place is hard to find! The restaurant has several different seating areas, at and around the bar, on the beach or on wooden picnic style benches. International chef Carsten has created an eclectic Mediterranean based menu with lots of delicious salads, main dishes and even a selection of desserts, all at reasonable prices. The chicken Balsamico salad is light and delicious or try the pork medallions with parmesan potatoes in garlic herb sauce. Chill-In also serves a small selection of Thai food and has a good choice of cocktails and other drinks.
Open 8am till late, Beach road, Lamai.
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A large and beautifully laid-out beachfront restaurant, Rocky's serves top-notch International, Thai and seafood dishes. It has gained recognition through top publications like Thailand Tatler and Unseen Paradise dining guide as being one of the top restaurants in the Thai Kingdom. Rocky's holds regular events such as beach barbeques and Thai entertainment evenings. The restaurant also offers private, romantic, custom-prepared meals in a private sala. From 7am-late (kitchen closes 10.30pm) for reservations and info: 077418367
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This cheap and cheerful Samui institution provides delicious Thai food 24 hours a day. With a great selection of crepes too and an amusing photo-menu, there is also a 24hr internet room attached to the diner, with private booths, so you can eat drink and surf all night long! Located on the ring road before the PTT gas station.
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Another favourite with Thai and western locals alike is Go Wat. Tucked in next to Lamai market, this small restaurant serves an excellent selection of Thai dishes from eye-wateringly spicy curries to fresh seafood. With extremely cheap prices, Go Wat's only downside is its sporadic opening times and days! The restaurant will open for a few days (presumably when funds are low!) and then close again for another few. Erratic opening doesn't put off the clientèle however, as soon as the kitchen opens the restaurant is full. If you happen to drive past and Go Wat is open, then grab your chance and sit down!
Go Wat, Lamai market, Route 4169.
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| Funky Mediterranean style beachside restaurant and bar, that's very popular with the hi-so Thai jet set, who frequent the attached resort. The menu includes excellent Thai dishes and an imaginative range of salads, sandwiches and snacks.
The main attraction though is the long drinks menu, which includes the islands best smoothies and a huge cocktail selection including, European favourite, the Sea Breeze, which, due to the difficulty of finding cranberry juice in Thailand, is rarely seen elsewhere on Samui. The bars wooden tables and chairs are pleasant enough, but for real comfort the cushion festooned sala is hard to beat. Route 4169, Lamai open 7am - 2am
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Part of the Renaissance Resort, the décor at this restaurant is very chic with stunning sea views from the terrace where you can enjoy a cocktail at sunset. The eclectic and imaginative fusion menu includes top-quality imported meats, fresh local seafood, vegetables and herbs. All in all, this is one of the best restaurants in the vicinity and well worth experiencing. Open 6-11pm. Closed Wednesdays. Reservations: 07742 9300
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Just past HinTa and HinYai or the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks at the south end of Lamai beach is a local secret and its a bit of a gem. This Thai restaurant is perched just above the beach with tables inside and down on the beach. If its a nice evening grab a seat under the stars and relax to the sound of the waves and the soft lighting. This popular restaurant is always full of Samui residents and when the locals love a restaurant, you know its good. As well as delicious food all made from fresh local ingredients, the restaurant boasts extremely good service and attentive staff. Alongside the excellent Thai dishes the menu offers a good range of European food, and unusually these are very well made. Sabai-Inglae's spicy and sour fish soup and King prawns in tamarind sauce are unmissable and its worth asking about the fresh daily seafood.
Open 11am till late, HinTa HinYai, Route 4169.
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Salathai is a popular restaurant name on Samui but the Salathai on Lamai's main street is something special. Although the classic decor creates a relaxing atmosphere the main reason why people visit Salathai again and again is the food. Salathai serves up delicious, well presented and reasonably priced dishes from its extensive Thai and European menu. They also have an excellent selection of fresh seafood and a large choice of wines to suit all budgets. Salathai is also known for its great service, with some of the most attentive and pleasant staff around, no matter how busy the restaurant gets. The Salathai signature steak is a must-try as is the steamed sole in lemon sauce with butter rice.
Open 2pm till late, Main road, Lamai.
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This tiny restaurant is so small it doesn't even have a name but don't let that stop you. Situated right on Lamai beach, this is one of the best places on Samui to sample Thailand's famous Somtum or Papaya salad. The restaurant is very basic with only a few chairs and tables on the beach and all the cooking done on a small barbecue but the food is delicious. As well as Somtum, there are several other north-eastern dishes on the menu and all at ridiculously cheap prices. If all the tables are occupied you can take your food over to Chill-In as long as you buy a drink in the bar.
Open 12 - 6pm. Next to chill-In beach bar, Beach road, Lamai.
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Vegetarians can have a hard time in Thailand, given that meat, poultry or fish is included in most dishes. Spa Samui Resorts was recently listed as one of the top fifty best restaurants in the world by the UK's prestigious 'Restaurant' magazine and which serves probably the best and most imaginative vegetarian cuisine in the Kingdom. Its menu is closely linked to the Spa's world famous fasting and rejuvenation programmes, and presents a mouth-watering array of healthy and delicious fare, ranging from its signature "SPA" Salad (Lettuce, cabbage, onion, carrot, tomato, cucumber, & sprouts with Spa dressing ("Bragg's" apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, fresh basil,) through ultra-light soups such as "SPA" Seaweed Soup to more substantial treats like "SPA" Steamed Veggie Platter.
For fish and meat eaters there are several chicken dishes and the finest fresh local seafood, such as Mussels with Veri, Veri Teriyaki Sauce, and a wide selection of Thai favourites with a vegetarian twist. If that's not enticing enough, then you can enjoy it all at two locations: beachside in Lamai or in the hills overlooking the southeast coast. Spa Samui Beach, Tel: 077 230 855. Spa Samui Village, Tel: 077 230 976. Open 7am - 10pm.
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A Lamai institution, the Sri Nuan family restaurant now has 2 other locations as well as the original in Lamai food centre. Sri Nuan is one of the best places to try inexpensive but delicious Thai food in Lamai. The huge menu has an excellent selection of fresh seafood and just about every Thai dish imaginable! Sri Nuan also offers a selection of western dishes but they aren't a patch on the restaurants specialty Thai food. Try Sri Nuan's spicy tom yum soup or their delicious massaman curry.
Open from 9am till late, Main road and Lamai food centre, Lamai.
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| As befits the five star surroundings of the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa, the décor of Tawann s chic and understated. Get there before sunset, if possible, to enjoy drinks on the terrace - the sea view is quite simply stunning. As for the food, expect an eclectic mix of Thai and French, Italian and Spanish classics. Dishes such as Vichyssoise Soup, Tortilla Espanola, Croque Madame and Asparagus & Palma Ham Salad really speak for themselves and there's also a superlative seafood and meat selection, including treats such as Roasted Fillet of Red Snapper & Baby Fennel and Provencal Beef Tenderloin.
All in all an essential destination if you're staying in the vicinity and well worth making the effort to get to if you're not. Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa, Route 4169, Lamai. Open 6pm - 11pm daily.
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The Cliff's hillside location between Chaweng and Lamai affords it some of the best sea views on the island. Split into separate restaurant and bar areas, it serves excellent Mediterranean cuisine. Dishes like Portugese Piri Piri Chicken, Ameijoas a' Bulhao Pato (Clams in White Wine Sauce) and Gambas com Caril (Goan Curried prawns) come in large hearty portions and are a perfect match for one of the many reasonably priced New World Wines on offer Musically, there's decent chill out tunes in the bar, with occasional guest DJ"s, and more traditional Latino grooves in the restaurant. Overall, a great place to spend a lazy, sunny, afternoon. Route 4169, Tel. 01 913 2002
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| The Patio at Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort |
Well worth splurging a little here, the Patio is Lamai's fanciest and nicest restaurant on the beach. Still reasonably priced by western standards, the food is fantastic and looks as good as it tastes. The Patio's menu is extensive with choices from European, Thai and seafood dishes. The restaurant is famous for its beautiful water features; so many infact that wherever you sit in the large open space you can hear the soft sounds of water. Adding to the romantic atmosphere are a trio of excellent Filipino acoustic singers that move around the tables, taking songs on request. Recommended dishes are the black ink fettuccine with smoked chicken breast, asparagus and bacon in a spicy tomato sauce and the Szechuan duck with sea scallops.
Open from 6.30pm till late. Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort, Main Road, Lamai
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