Dining in Koh Samui
What you can't eat on Koh Samui ain't worth having. As an international destination, Samui plays host to a kaleidoscope of cuisines, from Turkish to Thai and from Brazilian to British to Pacific Rim to much more. And it's not just the cuisine that is incredibly varied either; locations and décor vary wildly, affording the widest of choices to visitors.
As with most things on Samui, Chaweng is the centre of the culinary action. Here, you can expect the unexpected and it's a good idea to have a good wander around to see what is available before choosing a restaurant.
What to Eat in Koh Samui
Being an island, Samui has a wondrous array of seafood at its many eateries. Shrimp, prawns, squid and spanking fresh fish are in abundance here. However, pretty much everything else is, too and if you've got a culinary itch you can be sure to scratch it in Samui.
Perhaps a good tip is to check out the local markets for exotic fruit, although some hotels will not permit you to enter their premises with the rather odorous durian fruit! Roadside snacking is a Thai national sport with a large array of strange looking delights available, it won't be familiar but it will certainly taste great.
Where to Eat in Koh Samui
Outstanding restaurants in Chaweng include Tropical Murphy's for excellent pub grub and great ales, Zico's for Brazilian fare and Samba dancers, the excellent Vecchia Napoli for Italian cuisine and Gringo's Cantina for Tex Mex with margaritas. For excellent pizzas cooked in record time try Via Vai, while Jing Restaurant does good Chinese.
Down in Lamai the award-winning The Cliff sets the standards while if you are in Bo Phut, Villa Bianca serves classic Italian cuisine in style. Way over in Lipa Noi, Big John's is a good bet for seafood and if you hanker for haute cuisine check out the many five-star hotel signature restaurants. (Read more...)
