Thailand’s cluster of idyllic islands don’t tend to tempt the food-focused travellers among us, but those with a soft spot for a beach-based lounge and splashing in the sea. But Koh Samui, in particular, is certainly not a place devoid of incredible places to eat as the following restaurants show. Here 9 of the best restaurants to dine at on your next visit.
If fine dining is your cup of tea, make your way straight to the candlelit Jahn. Perched on a hilltop, this Conrad Hotel-based restaurant offers its guests incredible views of the surrounding Gulf of Thailand. It’s a steak restaurant, but a fancy one at that, serving its Australian and Japanese sourced beef with organic herbs and veg from an on site farm. conradkohsamui.info
Southern Thai cuisine gets a fresh look at this breezy spot perched on a palm-fringed hilltop. Located at Four Seasons (the filming location for the next season of The White Lotus), gaze out to sea while sampling slow-cooked curries and superb local seafood. fourseasons.com
Modern beachside dining is what you’ll find at the chic Nahm, an expat favourite. This venue celebrates Thai and Malaysian flavours overlooking the ocean, accompanying its menu with a selection of creative cocktails and impressive array of natural wines from all over the globe. instagram.com/nahmsamui
It’s an Australian who is behind Two Fishes, a venue that (as you’d imagine) is devoted to seafood, and another of the best restaurants in Koh Samui. Picture a menu partly inspired by Italian cuisine, weaving dishes synonymous with the Mediterranean nation with local Thai ingredients and produce, in a well-dressed setting. 2fishessamui.com
Armed with an array of specialty seafood dishes and fine wines is Supattra, a venue named in ode to its owner and chef. Catch the original Supattra at work from one of the 8 kitchen-side dining tables, where she plates up her loved Asian fusion. supattrathaidining.com
Located on the sun-drenched shores of Choengmong Beach and part of the Kimpton Kitalay Samui hotel, Fish House was recently included in the prestigious Michelin Guide 2024. The seafood restaurant is all about laidback luxury where fine-dining meets beach house.
Slightly more lavish in design is tourist favourite Malee Kitchen. So popular it’s now spawned into a duo of separate eateries, you’ll find the food here is slightly more expensive than more laidback roadside stalls but it’s no less delicious. Special mention goes to their massaman curries and spring rolls. instagram.com/maleekitchen_samui
Not exactly a restaurant, but certainly a non-negotiable food destination is the locally loved Nathorn Pier Night Market. Hosted on Friday evenings, this electric array of street food stalls and local delicacies is laden with offerings of sweet roti pancakes, skewers, noodle soups, and more.
It’s not traditional Thai that you’ll discover on the menu a Vikassa, but vegan cuisine. The cafe sits on a cliffside, boasting views overlooking the ocean, which it partners with veg-heavy (but no less tasty) array of all day dining, salads, juices, smoothies, and more. This spot is a must-visit for wellness enthusiasts. vikasa.com/life-cafe
