Bistros, trattorias and the everyday places where Phuket actually eats.
Bistros, trattorias, taverns and neighbourhood rooms: the mid-tier places where Phuket actually eats.
Chuan Chim is a Michelin Bib Gourmand shophouse on Montri Road in Phuket Old Town, run by the second generation and wok-firing seafood dishes to order.
OrderOrder the tom yam seafood soup, wok-fired to order by the second-generation chef-owner.
TipGo for lunch before 12:30, this shophouse fills fast with locals on Montri Road.
Five Olives is a Michelin Selected pizzeria in Cherngtalay, Phuket, where a Thai chef-owner fires Neapolitan pies in a wood oven and makes pasta in house.
OrderOrder a Canotto pizza with its puffy, char-flecked rim from the wood-fired oven.
TipChoose the cool air-conditioned room or the leafy terrace, and add the light braised seabass with clams to a Canotto pizza for the table.
One Chun is a Michelin Bib Gourmand fixture in a vintage-styled 19th century building in Phuket Town, cooking family recipes passed down the generations.
OrderOrder mu hong, the soft braised pork belly that made the kitchen's name.
TipOrder the crab curry with betel leaves over rice noodles alongside the mu hong, and bring cash: One Chun does not take cards.
Krua Praya is a Michelin Bib Gourmand garden kitchen in Si Sunthon, Phuket, cooking bold Southern Thai pork belly and stews to order under open air.
OrderOrder the fried pork belly with curry paste and young coconut shoots.
TipDishes are cooked to order, so build in extra time before your next stop.
Kin-Kub-Ei is a Michelin Bib Gourmand garden kitchen in Si Sunthon near the Heroines Monument, Phuket, where Chef Tubtim cooks southern Thai family recipes.
OrderOrder the crispy golden fish with tangy curry paste, the kitchen's signature.
TipBooking only: call ahead and pay the 500-baht deposit, since the kitchen cooks just for the number of guests booked. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Naam Yoi is a Michelin Bib Gourmand lunch room in Ratsada, Phuket, with a handful of tables, cooking fierce southern Thai curries from produce bought at dawn.
OrderAsk what curry came from the morning market, spice levels are toned down on request.
TipNo English menu, but the queue of local regulars is the best sign you are in the right place.
Lertrod is a Michelin Selected kitchen opposite Phuket International Airport, plating central and southern Thai dishes with a photo menu for travellers.
OrderOrder the deep-fried seabass with fish sauce, a kitchen staple.
TipHandy for a meal right before a flight, it sits directly across from the airport.
Phakakrong is a Michelin Selected kitchen on Phuket Road in Old Town Phuket, cooking traditional Phuket dishes that are increasingly hard to find elsewhere.
OrderOrder the steamed pickled krill, a hard-to-find dish done with real care here.
TipBooking ahead is advisable, and a complimentary seasonal dessert usually ends the meal.
Surf & Turf by Soul Kitchen is a Michelin Bib Gourmand room on Phangnga Road in Old Town Phuket, where Chef Tom resets his European menu every month.
OrderAsk what changed on the monthly menu, Chef Tom's specials are the reason to book.
TipThe menu turns over every month, so two visits rarely taste the same.
The Charm Dining Gallery is a Michelin Bib Gourmand room on Dibuk Road in Old Town Phuket, plating chef Buriphat's Southern Thai Peranakan family recipes.
OrderOrder chef Buriphat's stir-fried pork belly with herbs and sweet dark soy sauce.
TipPair the pork belly with the pork rib soup with tofu and salted fish, which the Michelin inspectors single out; it closes on Wednesdays.
Jaras is a Michelin Selected room at the InterContinental in Kamala, Phuket, sourcing organic farms for a sustainable southern Thai tasting menu.
OrderRequest the Taste of Jaras tasting menu with wine pairing, book a day ahead.
TipNamed for the owner's grandmother, the kitchen grows its own microgreens on site.
Nitan is a Michelin Selected tasting room in Cherngtalay, Phuket, plating contemporary southern Thai dishes from its own farm in Surat Thani.
OrderBook the tasting menu with wine pairing, the kitchen's main format.
TipReserve ahead for the tasting menu; the minimal wooden room has a window into the kitchen.
Go Ang Seafood is a Michelin Selected room in Phuket Town, where chef-owner Go Ang cooks a full southern Thai seafood menu sourced from five daily markets.
OrderOrder the steamed crab with tangy seafood dip, sourced daily from five markets.
TipStarted as a zinc-roofed shop, it now has a comfortable Chinese-decor dining room.
Mor Mu Dong is a Michelin Bib Gourmand mangrove kitchen in Chalong, Phuket, cooking live-tank seafood in rustic pavilions above the Mu Dong canal.
OrderPick seafood from the live tanks in the open kitchen and order three or four southern Thai dishes to share.
TipOrder three or four dishes to share, the tide changes the view from the pavilions.
Suay in Cherngtalay, Phuket, is chef Tammasak's modern Thai room, plating spiced lamb chops and crab cakes across an indoor bar and garden terrace.
OrderOrder the grilled lemongrass lamb chops with papaya salsa, the signature plate.
TipGarden tables with live music suit a relaxed evening; the airy tiled dining room indoors is the quieter choice.
Raya Restaurant, founded in 1994, cooks Phuket crab curry and southern Thai plates in an old Sino-Portuguese mansion on Dibuk Road in Phuket Old Town.
OrderOrder the crab meat yellow curry with rice noodles, the dish Raya is best known for today.
TipFounder Kularb Jesadawal was a bank worker cooking for friends before she opened Raya in 1994; order the crab curry and the moo hong.
Jongjit Kitchen is a Michelin Selected family restaurant in Kathu, Phuket, cooking affordable southern Thai dishes including stir-fried pork rump with salt.
OrderOrder the stir-fried pork rump with salt, the kitchen's signature dish.
TipArrive by early evening, the kitchen closes around 19:00 and locals fill it fast at lunch.
O Cha Rot is a Michelin Selected noodle shop on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Old Town, ladling beef ball noodle soup in fragrant bone broth; come early for lunch.
OrderOrder the beef ball noodle soup, with tender beef slices in a fragrant bone broth.
TipGo before 11:00, this 07:00 to 15:00 shop often sells out of noodles by early afternoon.
Lob Baan is a twelve seat Michelin Selected room in Ko Kaew, Phuket, where chef Natdanai plates southern Thai home cooking with house-made ferments.
OrderBook ahead and order the eiam tor budu and the pork rib moo hong.
TipOnly twelve seats and two dinner services, at 17:00 and 19:30, and booking in advance is required.
Private tour
Visit Wat Chalong as the sacred Buddhist temple of Phuket. Prime sightseeing destinations at phuket's unique Big Buddha on the top of Nakerd Hill. then drive to Promth...
Multi-day trip · 13 hours - 2 days
Discover Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake on this nature escape in Phuket. Choose from a 1-day trip featuring bamboo rafting or upgrade to a 2-day trip to also include a fl...
Guided tour · 10 hours
Take a full-day speedboat from Phuket to see karst rocks and islands such as Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay. Snorkel, paddle, and visit James Bond Island for an unforgettab...