Helmed by Mich-spangled Basque chef Eneko Axta, Aziamendi is a restaurateur’s plushest, wildest fantasy, which is not surprising given it’s part of squillionaire Mark Weingard’s astonishing, OTT Iniala Beach House. Dramatic, Spanish design – thick swish carpets, undulating waves on the roof and a stellar art collection backdrop a gimmicky but boundary-pushing degustation. Standout is the smoked and frozen foie gras mousse grated over a crisp sliver of Catalunyan bread, and a creamy egg yolk injected with a warm truffle purée, paired with top-notch pours. Wowzers. 40/14 / Moo 6 / Natai Beach / Khok Kloi / Phang Nga / +66 93 779 2312 / 6:30-9.30pm Fri-Sat / aziamendi.com

Refined, delectable, mod Med fare in a sleek, designer black n’ white, clean-lined space with top-to-toe glass windows. Sardinian-born Alessandro Frau crafts a sexy menu of Fin de Claire oysters, yellow-fin tuna and swordfish carpaccio alongside trad Italian dishes – homemade raviolis, agnolottis and wood-fired pizzas that will have you smacking lips and forgetting hips. Sadly it’s in Patong, but it overlooks Kalim Beach, just north of the feral centre – so swish in and waddle out, quicksticks! 324/15 / Prabaramee Rd / Kalim Bay / Patong / +66 76 618 127 / 4-11pm daily / acquarestaurantphuket.com

Hi-so sip n’ flop spot perfect for basking in Phuket’s balmiest sunsets, with a 360-degree doozy of a view across the southern peninsula, Cape Panwa, the Andaman and surrounding isles. A come-hither infinity pool wraps around a huge wooden deck, so as you’re sinking into the scattered, oversized cushions, also consider sinking a Baba Daiquiri – a heady potion of rum, fresh passion fruit, lime and ginger. Part of mod-chic resort Sri Panwa and super popular, so reservations are essential. 88 / moo 8 / Sakdidej Rd / Vichit / Muang / +66 7637 1000 / 5-8pm daily / babaphuket.com

Khun Kulab’s been firing tongue-singeing flaves for 18 years in this Old Town institution. Inside the faded but stunning colonial Sino-Thai bi-level manse you’ll spy gorgeous Portuguese mosaic tiling, pretty stained glass and walls adorned with ’50s vintage prints of celebs, royalty and the odd prime minister enjoying a chow down. The menu is an ode to the food of Thailand’s south – must-tries including the kanom jeen (creamy crabmeat yellow curry served with little swirls of rice noodles), a rich pork stew, and the deep-fried sea bass with shallots and fiery chillies doused in a tamarind and lemongrass sauce. Aroy mak mak! 48 Dibuk Rd / Phuket Old Town / +66 76 218 155 / 10am-10pm daily

An elevated take on spicy southern Thai and street-food recipes served up in swanky, design-driven Point Yamu by COMO. Taking its cue from Paola Navone’s novel orange n’ aqua hotel interiors, the striking resto is defined by a glittery tangerine fish mosaic, walls adorned with fish scales, and light bulbs resembling fish eyes. Aussie chef Dan Moran whips up legit local fare and makes it look pretty – from marinated black kingfish with lemongrass, mint and chilli, to coconut smoked duck in a spicy mini-taco with longan, ginger, basil and peanuts, to a fabulous beef tail soup with baby potatoes, tomatoes and crispy shallots. 225 / Moo 7 / Paklok / Talang / +66 76 360 100 / lunch and dinner daily / comohotels.com/pointyamu

Famed for its chicks with dicks and boys with hooters, Simon’s Cabaret is a wickedly delightful drag show of bona fide katoeys (ladyboys). Meanwhile the tucked-away, teensy bric-a-brac shack Ka Jok See has been around the block a few times, but the great ambi, decent eats and late-night tranny dancing really has to be experienced. Book ahead and ask your concierge for explicit directions. Simon’s Cabaret / 8 Sirirach Rd / Patong Beach / +66 76 342 011 / 3 shows nightly: 6pm, 7.45pm & 9.30pm / phuket-simoncabaret.com Ka Jok See / 26 Takuapa Rd / Phuket Town / +66 76 217 903 / dinner daily

This quirkily stylish minx is a special night out from the get-go. Upon arrival, diners are ferried across a moat on a floating platform to a torch-lit bar for drinks, before entering the dark industri-chic dining room, part of ground-breaking Indigo Pearl resort. Stealing the show is the predominantly southern Thai menu – try the delish gaeng leung pla (spicy and sour yellow fish curry), and Phuket favourite tom som pla (fish soup with tamarind, lemongrass, shallots, and garlic). Indigo Pearl / Nai Yang Beach and National Park / +66 76 327 006 / dinner daily / bookings essential / indigo-pearl.com

This popular Old Town hotspot gets bonus points for its pretty garden setting, while the playful, innovative Thai-fusion fare is worth elbowing your way in for. Once you’ve gotten over the questionable dish names like ‘Mrs Piggy took sun bath’ (deep-fried pork strips), feast on flavoursome morsels that twist conventions, like the standout guay tiew lod salmon khao soy (steamed salmon in rice noodles served with yellow curry). Cooking classes get rave reviews too. 50/2 / Takuapa Rd / Talat Nuea / +66 87 888 6990 / 5-11pm daily / http://www.suayrestaurant.com/

The original Aman remains the status-setting, grandmammy of effortlessly chic Siam style. Come high season (Nov-Apr), the resort’s devious little 26-seat beach shack-cum-Japanese diner is host to renowned Kyoto-based chef Naoki Okumura’s toothsome haute French-Nippon kaiseki. Expect exquisite sashimi, wagyu and chawanmushi (foie gras and steamed okra custard with Japanese okura leaf), plus don’t miss the houbayaki, a delectable charcoal-grilled beef with pumpkin and magnolia leaf. Amanlicious. Amanpuri / Pansea Beach / +66 76 324 333 / dinner daily Nov-Apr / amanresorts.com

Plastic the tables n’ plates may be, but bags of outdoor charm, shady trees and ocean views sure make up for it. This is style minus pretension, where the daily catch has been delivered by local fishermen for over 40 years, and chefs use coconut husks instead of charcoal grills to give the fish a fantastic aroma. Keep it simple – try grilled squid with lime, then pop to next door Vbar for imported beers and cocktails. Easy. 44/1 / Viset Rd Moo 5 / Rawai / Chalong Pier / +66 83 173 1187 / kaneang-pier.com