Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Phuket> Location: Kata Beach

Kata Beach

One of the reasons Kata proves so popular with flash packers, families and couples is that when the sun goes down, it's a great place to chill out, sample some Thai food by the ocean and not have to contend with a sea of drunken people staggering around the place. (If it's that you want, head to Patong).

For a truly mouth watering selection of Thai soups, curries, salads and rice dishes head to Kata BBQ. It's at the southernmost corner of Kata Yai beach. Prices are exceptionally cheap for the standard of Thai cuisine you are treated to and the staff are always singing and conversing with customers. Although you sit on plastic garden chairs, the setting is pretty special. A sprawling open restaurant with huge balcony over looking the ocean that laps up mere twenty feet away. Make a reservation for a table right at the front of the balcony.

A stone throw down the beach and you hit Mama Tri's Boat House. This place is famous for its wine cellar and they have a great selection of imported wines to choose from. Worth mentioning that it also won The Best Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in 2007. It's pricy but well worth it for the service and standard of ... well everything from the intimate music, plush interior, waterfront view and sumptuous menu. A great place to impress your other half.

At the southern end of Kata road, up a little Soi is Capannina. This place has a reputation for the best pizzas on the island, and it does! It's well ventilated, spacious and tastefully decorate. Phone ahead and book, or arrive before 20:00 to be sure of a seat. Two doors down from Capannina is the Oyster restaurant. This place is modelled as a seafood joint, hence the name. The food is pretty decent and not too pricy. Heading up Kata Road to Kata Centre the next place to check out is Ricos. Opened in high season 2008, Ricos is already proving popular and is busy most evenings. A good selection of Western and Thai food is available. Taking the next road on the right (Katekwan Rd) and walking a hundred metres you'll find Sawasdee. The cheap prices may leave you a little perplexed, as the service, food and setting is top draw.

On Taina road a great option for breakfast lucnch and dinner is The Coffee Pot. This tiny little Aussie spot serves the best breakfast, steaks and mashed potatoes in Kata. Perfect if you're craving a taste of home. Just off Patak road is Rantee Jazztaurant. You'll need a tuk tuk to get here as it's perched at the very top of Kata Hill. The nightly Jazz band is great fun and enjoying a glass of wine looking out over Kata and the sea beyond is definitely worth the trek up the hill. Food here is wonderful, but be prepared for a pricey night out. Lastly, heading northwards out of Kata towards Karon you'll find Euro Deli. A large airy place doing European and Thai dishes.

Thai-style
In Kata there are numerous local eateries where you can have some of the best Thai food around for between 50-100B.

One such place is Corozon restaurant at the junction between Taina Road and Patak road. Three little Thai women busily prepare all types of spicy Thai concoctions for locals and the odd ex-pat. The only waitress is usually more concerned with practising her horrific singing on the karaoke machine than serving you, but the food is good and it's open past midnight.

If you feel like having lunch or dinner in a locals living room then head to Easy Riders on Taina Road and next door you'll see a rundown derelict building with an age old sign saying Thai Food. This no name place really is a restaurant in the owners lounge. There's a choice of eight plastic chairs to plonk yourself down on and feast on great Thai food for 40B. There is a menu available in English.

Bars
As Kata mainly attracts couples and families the bar scene reflects this and as such there are no nightclubs in the area. The nearest nightclub is in Patong to the north.

Slap bang next to Kata BBQ is one of the most popular bars in Kata -- Ska Bar. This rickety wooden Rasta bar stays open to the small hours and churns out the reggae tunes seven day a week. Depending on if they're hung-over or not the bar staff do nightly fire shows on the beach for a diverse clientele. On any given night you can sit down at this bar and talk with locals, ex-pats, families and couples all having a great time.

Anchor Bar on Taina road is a favorite with the lads. Usually of the European variety as the English owner is football mad and shows every English game played in a season. There's also a pool team and they serve all day breakfasts. Definitely a football bar if that's what you're into.

Mellow Bar just to the right of Nasa burger at Kata Center is a nice place to go and have a beer. It's usually pretty dead, but has a pool table and is a comfortable modern place to enjoy a drink.

Buffalo Steak House : Kata Beach Rd(opposite dino park), Kata Beach.
Capannina: 30/9, Moo 2, Kata Beach. T: (076) 284 318.
Euro Deli : 58 – 60 Kata Road, Kata Beach. T: (076) 286 265. Daily: 09.00 – 24.00.
Kata BBQ : 186/6 Kata Beach. T:. (076) 330989.
Mom Tri's Boathouse Wine and Grill : Kata Beach. T:(076) 330 015. Daily:06.00 – 24.00. www.boathousephuket.com.
Malina's : 1/3 Laem Sai Road, Kata Beach.
Ratree Jazztaurant : Kata Hill, Phuket. T: (076) 333 3538. Daily: 09.00 – 24.00.