The 10 Best Restaurants in Phuket, Thailand

Blue Elephant has long since been a trusted name in Thai cuisine, and it’s Phuket restaurant is no exception. Set in a beautiful, large mansion, Blue Elephant offers authentic, and wonderfully presented dishes that match the beauty of the building itself. The authentic wooden interior with typical Thai embellishments add to the overall dining experience, which is akin to stepping back in time to a place where meals were more than eaten—they were enjoyed. Friendly, English-speaking staff are on hand to enhance your experience in any way possible, and there are also cooking classes here if you wish to recreate what you ate.

Sometimes it’s good to get away from it all, and at Sizzle Rooftop Restaurant, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. Not only will you be high up in the hills of Phuket, but you’ll be lost in a culinary paradise, from which you won’t want to escape. Delicious steaks and fresh seafood is only beaten by the heavenly desserts, which are presented so pleasingly on the plates it’s almost a shame to eat them. Along with delicious meals, there are stunning views, sunsets and wines to go along with them, making an evening at Sizzle one to remember.

Located further in from Kata Beach, Red Duck Restaurant might only be a small restaurant but it prepares its food in a big way. Thai classics are cooked to perfection and served with style, giving diners to opportunity to eat food that truly tastes as good as it looks. The charismatic owner and chef is always on hand to ensure you’re getting the best service and experience possible, personal touches that are missing from larger restaurants and well-received here. For such a small place, its portions are generous, and are the perfect way to end a day at the beach.

When a restaurant is famous for a single dish, you know you’re in for a treat—and that’s exactly what you’ll get at the Pad Thai Shop. Thailand’s national dish, pad Thai isn’t an overly complicated dish to prepare, yet it’s easy to tell a bad one apart from a good one. The Pad Thai Shop has mastered the art of pad Thai, serving hundreds of plates of the stuff every day and doing so from a ramshackle shop that ordinarily travelers wouldn’t think twice about trying out. Packed full of locals and tourists, there are other Thai dishes on offer and, while equally well prepared and delicious, they pale in comparison to the authentic pad Thai. Think you know pad Thai? Think again.

It’s hard to believe such good Greek food can be found so far away from its homeland, but Odysseus on Kata Beach proves it can be. Owned by a Greek man, it’s simple dishes are cooked lovingly to perfection, and have been bowling over crowds in Phuket for years. From grilled meats to freshly prepared salads, your usual Greek favourites can be found here alongside other European dishes in an atypical blue and white Greek decor that’s more Santorini than southern Thailand. Proof that good food needn’t be over-complicated or over-priced, Odysseus more than lives up to its name.

As the name might suggest, Sam’s Steaks and Grill is home to some of the best steaks and grilled meats in the south of Thailand. Located in Patong, it’s a cut above most of the restaurants in the area, with prices that are great value for money and won’t break the bank. With top cuts of Wagyu beef and prime steaks imported from Australia, it’s not only a meat lover’s paradise but so much more. Its starters, mains and desserts are immaculately presented, making it a visual treat as well as a culinary one, and its formal but relaxed atmosphere is the perfect place to enjoy them.

With an esteemed reputation as one of the top restaurants in the province, Siam Supper Club’s masterful takes on international and local dishes have earned it plaudits around the world. High-quality ingredients are transformed in mouthwatering dishes, and served in refined, ambient surroundings that make it not a meal, but an experience. Its starters and mains take some beating, but its desserts are the ones that really steal the show, providing a perfect finish to a night you won’t want to end. With a wide range of wines to further complement the meals, the Siam Supper Club has it all, and shouldn’t be missed.

Good food needn’t be overly complicated or overly expensive—and Green Tamarind Kitchen is evidence of this. Good burgers can be hard to come by in Thailand, but here they’ve mastered the art form. Juicy, delicious beef patties are served with a number of different toppings, which combine to provide a perfect, meaty party in your mouth. Of course, there are various sides available as well as other Thai dishes, but it’s the burgers that steal the show. Big, tasty and unbeatable in Phuket, it’s a must-visit for fans of burgers.

Thailand isn’t all about street food, and Thong Dee is Thai fine dining at its very best. Located in Kathu, it’s eclectic menu of high-quality Thai dishes and select Western favourites have helped to establish it as the go-to restaurant in the area. A classy restaurant with a modern, Thai-inspired decor, it’s the perfect place for special occasions, with a top chef who’ll more than live up to it. Sophisticated and sumptuous, it’s likely to be the best take on Thai cuisine many will try on their travels, and its Western options are sure to cure all bouts of homesickness.

As Thailand’s largest island, the seafood in Phuket is deliciously fresh—and the best of it can be found here at Kan Eang. Located by the pier in scenic Chalong, Kan Eang serves up a range of tasty, authentic Thai dishes alongside freshly caught seafood, from big, meaty crabs to perfectly grilled fish. Customers can choose what they want to eat from tanks, and get to enjoy their meals in a romantic, peaceful atmosphere by the sea. Frequented by locals as well as travelers, it’s a popular restaurant and, after eating there, you’ll understand why.