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

Patong Beach

As with accommodation, there's an over-abundance of places to eat in Patong, and there's a sad lack of quality. We can't think of any place for a good splurge where you won't leave feeling a bit ripped off -- best to save your fine-dining for other destinations in Phuket. As you roam around Patong, you'll find a string of seafood places aggressively hawking for customers along Rat U-thit 200 Year Rd. The inside scoop on these places is that they make their money off one-time customers, so the food doesn't have to be good. You can try one if you like, but you've been warned.

On the same street, Restaurant 6 serves tasty food and has a friendly atmosphere -- good for eating and/or drinking. For your seafood needs, it's better to head for Savoey Thai International, with fishy mains from 80 to 580B. There are a number of Mediterranean places along Rat U-thit where you can smoke up a hooka of fruity tobacco if you like -- worth it if you've never tried it. The menus typically feature overpriced Arab cuisine.

If you've been having trouble finding quality sushi in Thailand, try Zen Japanese Restaurant -- not cheap, but the prices are not high by western standards.

The best budget deal we've found is the 70B, gyros-style chicken pitas sold along Bangla Rd -- quite scrumptious. Look for them in a street-side stall, about half-way down on the left, as you walk away from the beach -- open from 18:00 on.

Obviously, there's no end of bars and clubs, but Scruffy Murphy's is a notable little haven due to its lack of bar girls.

Savoey Thai International, 136 Thaweewong Rd, Patong. T: (076) 341 171, F: (076) 340 231 http://www.safaribeachhotel.com
Restaurant 6, 186 Ratchauthit 200 Year Rd, Patong. T: (076) 342 219.
Zen Japanese Restaurant, On Thaweewong just north of Soi Permpong Patana, Patong.
Scruffy Murphy's, 5 Bangla Rd, T: (076) 292 2590 F: (076) 292 593 scruffymurphys@loxinfo.co.th