Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Phang Nga> Location: Khao Lak

Khao Lak

Khao Lak has some excellent restaurants and nightspots, mostly centered at Nang Thong and Bang Niang. Many of Nang Thong's restaurants and bars closed down for the 2006 low season, even those venues that stayed open for the previous year following the tsunami. Expect everything to be reopened by October-November.

Coconut Grove Restaurant - Price position
130/5 Moo 9, Bang Niang, Takua Pa - Phang Nga
Tel: (04) 1872 785;(04) 8514 123;
meaw_pongton@hotmail.com

Occupying a great position right on the beach in Bang Niang, this is a good option if you want a night off from eating at your resort. There's an emphasis on seafood and curries and you can eat at tables right on the sand.
Type of Food: Seafood / Thai /
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00-23:00

Dive In Restaurant and Take Away - Excellent service, great food
Moo 7, Nang Thong beach, Takua Pa - Phang Nga
Tel: (076) 420 043;(09) 8134 4521;

Run by the gorgeous Sunny, Dive In is probably the most professionally run restaurant in town. Food here is slightly more expensive than at most of Nang Thong's other eateries, but it's worth it. Try the warm apple pie for dessert.
Type of Food: International / Thai /
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00-22:00

Fisherman Bar - Often pumping
Nang Thong (main road),Takua Pa - Phang Nga
Tel: (01) 5375 936;

The Fisherman's, usually the busiest of Nang Thong's bars, closed down for the low season and will probably reopen in October 2006. It has free barbecue chicken wings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday and is a fun, thriving venue, but keep an eye on your valuables here are reports of mobile phones and wallets going missing are common.

Piafoot Massage and Bar - Forging on
Nang Thong (main road), Takua Pa - Phang Nga

Piafoot was one of the few bars in Nang Thong to stay open throughout 2006. The small bar out front became a favorite of the tsunami volunteer crowd in 2005. It's got a cozier, more relaxed feel than Fisherman a few doors down.

Sweet Pea - Healthy salads and bakery treats
Bang Niang, Takua Pa - Phang Nga
Tel: (01) 444 4414;

This is a nice little spot to relax in air-con comfort and read the latest newspapers for free. It has a hydroponic farm out the back where the produce for salad dishes is grown. The cakes from the bakery are cheap and scrumptious.
Type of Food: Bakery / Thai /
Opening Hours: Daily 07:30-21:00

The Happy Snapper - Live music
Nang Thong, Takua Pa - Phang Nga
Tel: (076) 423 540;

A large and dark air-con room, The Happy Snapper is among Khao Lak's best live music venues, with shows every night in the high season. There are some cool chill-out areas upstairs and Thai food is served. Drinks here are slightly more expensive than elsewhere in town (a small Chang is 60B) but it's worth it for the atmosphere. The Happy Snapper is on the main road at the northern end of Nang Thong, and will probably reopen in October.

Tsunami Restaurant - Next to the police boat
Main road, Bang Niang, Takua Pa - Phang Nga

The tsunami restaurant sits just next to the large, open space where you'll find a police boat washed inland by the tsunami. It's island-style, with a straw roof and bamboo benches. When we visited in June 2006, the entrance was creatively decorated with dozens of black-and-white spotted coconuts to commemorate the FIFA World Cup. It serves complimentary fruit platters with each meal.
Type of Food: International / Thai /