Beat the heat with firepower. Koktail Kuisine features 5 must-visit Phuket restaurants that have completely perfected the art of smoke and flame.

Thailand is hot, so you go to Phuket. Simple math. But while some turn to chilled food to brave the temperature, others believe the only logical response to a heatwave is fighting fire with fire. This isn’t about chilli spice necessarily, it’s about that chemistry that happens when food meets serious firepower.

In this edition of Koktail Kuisine, we feature five Phuket restaurants that have perfected the flame, from open-fire grilling to searing-hot teppanyaki. Evolution gave us fire, but these kitchens turned it into something delicious many millennia later.

Age Restaurant

At Anantara Layan Phuket, dry-aged steaks and a charcoal-fired Josper grill define the menu at this steakhouse led by Chef Nicola Pandolfo Testino

Greatness isn’t rushed, it’s shaped through time – a philosophy that defines Age, one of Phuket’s top-tier steakhouses. At the helm, Italian Head Chef Nicola Pandolfo Testino delivers flavours perfected through years in award-winning kitchens. Alongside him, Sommelier Teehphob “Tong” Prognsantia crafts a refined pairing experience with selections from an impressive 350-bottle cellar to celebrate a classic culinary duo: steak and wine.

Craftsmanship defines the space, from the steampunk-inspired mechanical bottle opener to the fiery Josper grill that seals in juices with a smoky, charred edge. Honouring the art of maturation, the menu features signature angus beef tartare and duck carpaccio alongside excellent seafood. Yet the meats steal the show, with Chef Testino bringing out depth from dry-aged cuts like Australian angus tomahawks, prime ribs and tenderloins.

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 317 200. Open daily from 6.30pm-10.30pm.

Mizu Teppanyaki

Fire, steel and fresh seafood come together at this teppanyaki restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort

Mizu Teppanyaki at Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort turns dinner into high-octane theatre. It’s a culinary performance where spectacular pyrotechnics and chef showmanship meet premium cuts of meat. Watch closely as the chef commands the grill with fire and flair, offering a sensory experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first sizzle to the final bite.

If the grill is the stage, then the food is the play. The meal moves through a series of dramatic acts. Begin with Hokkaido scallops paired with julienned cucumber, ikura and yuzu. Next, enjoy Phuket seabass layered with edamame, mushrooms and wakame, dome-steamed inside a banana leaf. Finally, finish with the must-try Phuket pineapple, served with house-made vanilla bean ice cream and caramel drizzle.

Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, 16/12 Moo 6, Kamala, Kathu, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 231 234. Open daily from 12pm-3pm and 6pm-10pm.

Mrs B Bar & Table

This Boat Avenue restaurant centres its menu around a woodfire grill, serving international dishes alongside cocktails and live music

Boat Avenue’s Mrs B Bar & Table is a high-energy social hub guaranteed to bring out your inner extrovert. Sip non-stop cocktails to live DJ beats or snag a front-row seat by the woodfire grill to watch the kitchen action. Thanks to the open-concept design, the vibe stays breezy, fresh and moving just as fast as the drinks are pouring.

This woodfire-focused international menu jumps straight to the good stuff: smoked beetroot cubes finished with pistachio and goat cheese, followed by a whipped cream cheese version of kiwi onion dip. For the main event, the kitchen delivers spiced Australian lamb kofta alongside mint yoghurt and warm pita, as well as pastry-wrapped beef wellington featuring tenderloin cooked to order.

Boat Avenue, 19/1 Moo 1, Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket. Tel: +66 93 586 9828. Open Monday-Sunday from 6pm-12am, and for lunch Tuesday-Saturday from 12pm-6pm.

Rivet & Rebar

At The Slate Phuket, this open-fire smokehouse serves flame-driven flavours in a space inspired by the island’s tin-mining past

Rivet & Rebar is an open-fire smokehouse at The Slate Phuket that absolutely earns its “design-forward” bragging rights, much like its artistic sister restaurant, Black Ginger. But this isn’t just design for design’s sake. The sleek, industrial space blends art and eating into a lovely homage to Phuket’s tin-mining past, a historical nod you’ll spot immediately in the restaurant’s name and the heavy, leather-bound menus.

While the grill features excellent cuts like wagyu ribeye, angus tenderloin and picanha, slow-cooked tomahawk remains the standout selection. However, you should not overlook the seafood section, which deserves an order. Sliced fish ceviche is enhanced by a bright, spicy-citrus leche de tigre marinade, while the semi-cured salmon receives a smoky, savoury upgrade from a generous layer of chorizo crumbs.

The Slate Phuket, Nai Yang Beach, 116 Moo 1, Sakhu, Thalang, Phuket. Tel: +66 76 327 006. Open daily from 6pm-11pm.

Sizzle Rooftop

Grilled premium cuts and panoramic Andaman Sea views make this rooftop destination at Avista Hideaway one of Patong’s best-known sunset dining spots

Sizzle Rooftop at Avista Hideaway Patong proves that some restaurants do deserve the hype, framing a panoramic view where lush hills casually meet the Andaman Sea. The sunset lighting practically guarantees a successful date night, dripping in romance before you even look at the menu. But the real main event is at the grill, where Chef de Cuisine Alvaro De La Puerta delivers an unbelievable level of sizzle out of premium cuts.

Kick off with sharp, fresh starters: citrus-bright Japanese-Peruvian hamachi tiradito or chilled crab salad gazpacho. If you prefer, burrata panzanella brings creamy mozzarella and juicy tomatoes to set the stage for the main event. For the entree, choose between two masterfully grilled powerhouses: Australian wagyu tenderloin or signature Okayama black bean tenderloin. Either way, you’ll get your money’s worth from the view alone.

Avista Hideaway Patong Resort & Spa Phuket – MGallery Collection, 39/9 Muen Ngern Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket. Tel: +66 95 834 0453. Open Daily from 6pm-11pm