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The 10 Best Restaurants in The Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

Beachside restaurant
Beachside restaurant | © pxhere

Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands are known for beaches, snorkelling and affordable diving schools. Check out these restaurants in The Perhentian Islands for cheap local meals, Western dishes and the best places to meet other travellers.

Bayu Restaurant

Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian, Thai

restaurants in perhentian islands
© Takeaway / WikiCommons

Bayu Restaurant barbeques today’s catch at the Alunan Resort along Petani Beach. Both families and couples rate this among the best restaurants in The Perhentian Islands for their high-quality food and views. While the prices might be higher than the rest of Perhentian Kecil, it does offer a classier dining experience.

Ewan's Café & Restaurant

Cafe, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Asian, Malaysian, Thai

restaurants in perhentian islands
© Takeaway / WikiCommons

For a budget-friendly meal on Perhentian Kecil, check out Ewan’s. With its prime location sandwiched between Long Beach and Coral Bay, the restaurant/café attracts a wide range of customers. Backpackers flock in the evening to make use of the strong WiFi as local families enjoy their favourite fried noodle and tom yam dishes. Dine here if you want a cheap meal or to relax with other like-minded travellers. We recommend ordering one of their milkshakes or mango ice blends.

Matahari Chalet & Restaurant

Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian, Seafood

restaurants in perhentian islands
© pxhere

Matahari Chalet’s open-air restaurant near Kecil’s Long Beach attracts mid-range customers from around the island. The extensive menu offers a broader selection of dishes compared to other restaurants in The Perhentian Islands. If you fancy a quick bite, grab a burger and fries. Or order Asian favourites and fresh seafood for a longer sit-down dining experience. This a favourite spot with families looking to enjoy a classy meal with a view.

Belinda Café

Restaurant, Cafe, Coffee Shop, Asian, Malaysian, Thai

best cafes coffee shops perhentian islands
© ZhengZhou / WikiCommons

Belinda Café is among our favourite restaurants in The Perhentian Islands for its Thai and Malay fusion food. The family-friendly spot on Perhentian Besar overlooks the beach and serves both breakfast and lunch. Expect affordable prices, filling portions and hospitable staff. We recommend the buttermilk chicken with papaya salad.

Crocodile Rock Bistro

Bistro, Boutique Hotel Restaurant, Cafe, Asian, Italian, British, American

restaurants in perhentian islands
© Pixabay

Perhentian Kecil’s Crocodile Rock Bistro offers a dining experience on the beach. Wooden tables stretch across the sand. The menu offers a selection of both Asian and Western food. Customers can order everything from burgers and pizzas to fried rice and noodles. The restaurant near Rainforest Beach can be tricky to find. But it’s worth the effort for the ambience and chance to chat with the British owner. Drinks include canned beer, coffee and French wine. This is among the more popular restaurants in The Perhentian Islands with the not-so-budget conscious tourists.

Alur Pinang

Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian

Alur Pinang along the southern coast of Perhentian Besar serves local-style meals. While the restaurant might take a little effort to find, it does allow customers to dine while surrounded by the lush rainforest. Crowds consist of both local families and a handful of backpackers. This is an excellent place for lunch if you’re exploring Pulau Besar.

Blue Paradise

Cafe, Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian, Thai, Dessert

restaurants in perhentian islands
© Terence Ong / WikiCommons

Located next to Belinda Café on Perhentian Besar, Blue Paradise offers a selection of food at more budget-friendly prices. The menu includes Asian, Malaysian and Thai dishes as well as the delicious mango sticky rice. Western-style breakfasts and pancakes are available in the morning. This is one of the best restaurants in The Perhentian Islands for families with young children for its friendly environment and variety of food.

Awatif Café

Restaurant, Cafe, Coffee Shop, Asian, Malaysian

Located next to the BuBu Resort on Perhentian Kecil’s Long Beach, this is one of the best restaurants in The Perhentian Islands for a quick meal. Most tourists in this area tend to spend their time sunbathing on the beach or snorkelling. Dishes range from Malay-style fried rice to roti canai served all day. Head down in the evening and you’ll be able to make friends with some of the scuba students in the nearby dive schools.

Perhentian Café

Cafe, Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian, Seafood

Sandwiched between a few guesthouses on Perhentian Kecil’s southeast coast, this is a popular stop for boat trippers. Despite featuring among the more expensive restaurants in The Perhentian Islands, the outdoor terrace overlooking the sea makes the cost worthwhile. We suggest dining here for a romantic evening. Or grab a roti with a pineapple lassi (Indian-style milkshake) if you want a lighter snack.

Medan Selera Kampung Nelayan

Restaurant, Asian, Malaysian

restaurants in perhentian islands
© shankar s. / Flickr

For a more affordable local-style meal, head to Medan Selera Kampung Nelayan. With a selection of stalls offering various rice- and noodle-based dishes, this is a favourite for Malaysian families and budget travellers. Apart from the cheap and authentic Malay food, customers dine with a view of the sea and Perhentian Besar on the horizon. This is a local’s favourite place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ordering a freshly squeezed juice to quench your thirst on a hot afternoon is a must too.

About the author

Sam is a self-confessed travel addict who loves exploring the places most tourists don’t covering just over a third of the world's countries to date. When he’s not travelling, he’s writing. When he’s not writing, Sam follows his other passions in life: long distance running and reading.

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