Don’t waste a meal in Phuket. This edition of Koktail Kuisine rounds up 9 restaurants in Phuket serving quality food without the formality.

It is a rookie mistake to assume every eatery in Phuket comes pre-packaged with relaxed island energy. Truth is, beachfront spots are not created equal. If your holiday strategy involves uninterrupted lounging, you have to be picky about where you park your flip-flops.

This week’s Koktail Kuisine is back in Phuket with nine low-key restaurants that deliver high-calibre cooking. Behind the sand-and-sea backdrop is some properly serious food, served up without a single shred of pretension.

333 At The Beach

Chef Air crafts a feast of fresh catches and free-flowing champagne, giving ambitious holiday sun-bathers every excuse to happily lose all track of time

Whether you prefer breezy shaded seating or working on that ambitious holiday tan, 333 At The Beach at InterContinental Phuket Resort delivers on both fronts. Chef Thatsanawit “Air” Sohin offers a straightforward menu designed for prolonged lounging over oysters ready to be shucked, Alaskan king crab with caviar and quinoa bowls. Heartier choices feature flame-grilled meats, wood-fired pizzas, daily Andaman catches and seared Phuket lobster with homemade linguine. Topped off with fine bubbly from the Nicolas Feuillatte champagne bar, you can comfortably turn into a sun-baked lobster yourself while enjoying a rather good one on your plate.

InterContinental Phuket Resort, 333/3 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, Kathu District, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 629 999. Open daily from 8am-11pm. 

Akoya | Star Lounge

A high-altitude, lounge-style spot where DJs spin beats while you graze on citrusy fish tiradito and watch the bay glow from way up in the clouds 

Akoya Star Lounge at V Villas Phuket is built around one spectacular feature: a full, completely uninterrupted night sky stretching over Ao Yon Bay. As one of the highest rooftops on the island, it sets the scene for a fun date night beneath a canopy of stars. Resident DJs keep the mood upbeat and breezy while you sip signature cocktails like the Solar Eclipse, blending Tanqueray No. 10, Campari, yuzu and a sauvignon blanc espuma. The kitchen fuels the fun with easy-sharing plates like fresh Peruvian grouper tiradito in aji amarillo and crisp Baja-style blackened salmon tacos with pineapple-cucumber salsa. It is a relaxed, high-altitude, star-lit spot made for great laughs and glowing bay views.

V Villas Phuket MGallery, 39/39 Moo 8, Wichit, Ao Yon Road, Amphoe Muang, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 630 939. Open daily from 5pm-11pm. 

Big Fish Restaurant & Bar

A mere fifteen minutes from arrivals, escape airport chaos for garlic-butter rock lobster, signature Mekhong spritzes and proper toes-in-the-sand energy 

For travellers eager to feel the ocean breeze and enjoy top-tier seafood the moment they land, Big Fish Restaurant & Bar sits a quick 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport. Located inside Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Nai Yang Beach, this relaxed spot is framed by sandy shores and serves Mediterranean dishes alongside an impressive bar lineup, led by their signature three-flavour Mekhong Phuket Spritz. The kitchen turns out crowd-pleasers like oysters on ice, garlic-butter rock lobster pasta and seared Tomahawk steak. Finish up with desserts, from pavlova and banana wantons to mango tarts and fresh fruit.

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Nai Yang Beach, 92 Moo 3, Sakoo, Thalang, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 625 555. Open daily from 12pm-10.30pm. 

Canopy Tree Bar

Tropical vibes meet crowd-pleasing dishes as Chef Bhardwaj balances rum-soaked Tiki cocktails with truffle cheesy fries and juicy Australian ribeye 

With plenty of lush plants, warm wood accents and stylish furniture, Canopy Tree Bar at Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort & Spa flips the classic bar setup on its head. Rooted in a beach club spirit with a healthy dose of tropical style, the bar gets properly fun during Tiki Time, where they churn out well-known Tiki cocktails like Mai Tai, Saturn and Jungle Bird. To keep you fuelled between drinks, Chef Naveen Bhardwaj whips up an easy mix of Indian, European and Mediterranean comfort food. You can nibble on truffle cheesy fries or go for a salmon poke bowl. For bigger appetites, options include chipotle wagyu burgers, bangers and mash and signature Australian ribeye.

Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort & Spa, 100/10 Kata Road, Muang, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 681 688. Open daily from 7am-11pm.

Casa Boho

Part games den, part poolside deck, this quirky bohemian rooftop serves up 72-hour braised birria tacos with a side of ping pong

They say mi casa es su casa, though unless your house features unbroken ocean views, Casa Boho at Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort is the place to be if you crave an offbeat, bohemian vibe. General Manager Ali Nisham’s concept since late 2015 spans three zones: a roof terrace for cocktails and cigars, a sun-soaked pool deck and a games den with foosball and ping pong. Between games, you can graze on a playful menu of Latin-inspired bites. Options include Argentinian-style beef empanadas with chimichurri, 72-hour braised beef birria tacos, grilled Australian steaks and fresh local seafood like Cajun blackened salmon with papaya salsa and guacamole. It is an easy-going spot to sip, play and enjoy a fun-filled day by the sea. 

Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, 16/12 Moo 6, Kamala, Kathu District, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 231 234. Open daily from 12pm-10pm. 

La Marée

Behind a bright turquoise entrance, Chef Chetvertnov serves up classic luxuries like Gillardeau oysters, salmon tartare and black caviar

Casual dining takes a special turn at La Marée. Positioned on a busy Cherngtalay street with wide awnings and a turquoise entrance, stepping inside brings a feeling of sophistication, heightened by bright corners and smooth, clean white bistro styling. Chef Andrey Chetvertnov, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Paris, keeps the food pleasantly simple without making a fuss out of preparation, focusing on honest, feel-good cooking that lets quality ingredients stand on their own. Main highlights include salmon, beef and tuna tartare, raw shrimp platters and Gillardeau oysters, plus little opulent touches of black caviar and salmon roe, French-style mussels, baked scallops and classic pasta or risotto.

8 Lagoon Rd, Tambon Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket. Tel: +66 62 714 7600. Open daily from 8am-12am. 

Pine Beach Bar

Watch the sun dip behind the horizon with Chef Tar’s wagyu ribeyes, Mediterranean seabass and signature cocktails right on the sand 

Pining for the beach with a side of meticulously crafted cocktails? Head to Pine Beach Bar at InterContinental Phuket Resort for that radiant hour when the sun escapes behind the horizon. Sip on signature creations like the “Hippity Hoppity”: Grey Goose vodka, lime, cucumber, honey, carrot and guava juices with yellow chartreuse ginger syrup as intoxicating as the sunset itself. To keep you going, Chef de Cuisine Narawich “Tar” Kaewthong’s menu spans everything from light oysters and quinoa salads to gourmet truffle pizzas, Mediterranean sea bass, wagyu ribeye and homemade linguine with half a Phuket lobster. 

InterContinental Phuket Resort, 333/3 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, Kathu District, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 629 999. Open daily from 8am-12am. 

Pinto

Chef Fréchette takes you on a global flavour tour, serving wood-fired tartufata pizzas, rich butter chicken and fiery pad Thai by Kamala Beach 

Also located at InterContinental Phuket Resort on Kamala Beach, Pinto shares its stunning seaside address with Pine Beach Bar while taking you on a culinary world tour across Thailand, India, Arabia and Italy. French-Canadian Chef Alexandre Fréchette skillfully ties these regional influences together into one menu. You can order Italian staples like a house-cured charcuterie board, wood-fired tartufata pizza, scallop tiradito and grilled lamb rack. Switching regions, the menu includes Indian biryani and tandoori butter chicken, sitting alongside Thai staples like pad Thai, tom yum goong and stir-fried minced pork with holy basil.

InterContinental Phuket Resort, 333/3 Moo 3, Kamala Beach, Kathu District, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 629 999. Open daily from 6.30am-10pm.

Rava Beach Club

Ride the high-energy wave at this beach club, pairing open-fire Mediterranean cooking – like crab croquettes and scallop crudo – with poolside DJ vibes 

Go with the flow – whether that means drinks or the general vibe – at Rava Beach Club, where the name itself signifies reverberation, like an echo travelling on the crest of waves. Stretching across 150 metres of shoreline, the venue combines long ocean views with open-flame Mediterranean cooking. Its Young & Fun zone is catered towards fun-loving teens at heart, featuring three infinity pools and a DJ booth surrounding the al fresco dining area. While music plays, the kitchen cooks Mediterranean dishes over an open fire, serving up scallop crudo with orange, beef tartare with crispy potato, crab croquettes and BBQ zucchini with lime kosho for vegetarian diners.

Banyan Tree Phuket, 109 Moo 4, Tambon Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 372 456. Open daily from 11am-10.30pm.