Phuket Town

Eat and meet

Phuket Town

You won't find nearly as many fine-dining choices in Phuket Town as you would in nearby Patong, but a few places offer great food, friendly service, and reasonable prices -- something unheard of on the beaches. A local indie crowd keep opening cool cafes, making the spots to enjoy a cup of coffee endless and difficult to choose from.

Siang Khaen

Love it!

Mae Luan Rd

This is, quite simply, the best northeastern Thai restaurant in Phuket Town — if not Phuket. Very popular, Siang Khaen does exceptionally solid Isaan food. Know that if you request the food to be spicy, it will be. The English-language menu is comprehensive and pretty much covers all ... read more
Natural Restaurant

A standout

62/5 Soi Phutorn, Phuket Town
T: (076) 214 037

If you can't find this popular Thai/Chinese restaurant, pretty much any Phuket Town local should be able to point you in the direction to Thammachart, or Natural Restaurant. Constructed of dark wood, the decor is eclectic, with endless hanging plants and, well, stylised junk scattered everywhere, ... read more
Khon 101

Love it

Wichit Songkhram and Mae Luan Rds intersection, Phuket Town

This is a straight-up typical Thai shopfront eatery. Khon 101 serves some of the best local food with close to the cheapest prices you'll find in Phuket Town. It dishes out food from northeastern Thailand and is packed most nights. Enjoy your spicy lunch or dinner in the restaurant or in the ... read more
Kopitiam by Wilai

New cafe with a classic feel

18 Thalang Road, Phuket Town
T: (083) 606 9776

One of our favourite spots that capitalises on Phuket Town's classic old-town atmosphere is Kopitiam, a new open-air cafe on vibrant Thalang Road that feels like it's been here for decades. Named after the Malay-Hokkien phrase for "coffee shop", Kopitiam was created by the owners of Wilai, a ... read more
Suay Restaurant

Recommended for a splurge

Takua Pa Rd

Whitewashed chic Suay Restaurant sits a short walk to the south of Ratsada Road and offers mid-priced Thai fusion. The chef was previously head chef at a five-star resort and decided to set up shop himself to deliver five-star cuisine at down-to-earth prices — he's certainly on the right ... read more
Hokien Noodle Shop

Best in town

Luang Poh Wat Chalong

There are many Hokkien noodle shops in Phuket and we were told by a few people that this was the best in town. You can have the soup straight up or with a tom yam flavour. We went with the original and weren't disappointed. The restaurant is a simple Thai shopfront affair and easy to find thanks ... read more
Khanom Jeen Mae Ting

Great breakfast spot

Satun Road

Set towards the base of Rang Hill on Satun Road, Khanom Jeen Mae Ting is a popular and excellent breakfast spot. Don't expect a menu, as this is very much a point and smile outfit. Pick up a plate of the fresh white noodles, then select a sauce to go with it — there were five to choose ... read more
Soi Romanee

When it kicks, it kicks

Soi Romanee

A soi rather than a particular place, Soi Romanee really come alive when all of its small cafés and bar doors open with live music blasting. While it is well known for its jazz and blues music, it's not as popular as it once was, but when the timing is right it can really come alive. Our ... read more
Timberhut

Phuket Town's best venue for live music

118/1 Yaowarat Rd, Phuket Town

As other bars in town start to quieten down, the crowds often drift to Timberhut – Phuket Town's best venue for live music. The brick-faced cabin-like venue has nightly live music playing songs that you will certainly know — and if they are in Thai at least all the locals will! When the ... read more
Rom-Dee

Small and good

Yaowarat Road

Yaowarat Road has the highest concentration of small bars and live music venues in Phuket Town. Rom-Dee is a small live music bar with just a handful of very small tables catering to young Thais. Both Rom–Dee and neighbouring Sanaeha have live music every night and get quite busy. Saneaha is ... read more
Bo(ok)hemian @ House

We like

61 Talang Road, Phuket Town
T: (096) 524 223

Part coffee house, part gallery, part WiFi zone, part bookstore, the all too suitably-named Bo(ok)hemian is an all-round cool place to hang out for a couple of hours. Very popular with the Thai student set, enjoy a very affordable cold herbal drink or coffee and browse through their small ... read more
The Cook

Cheap and cheerful

101 Phang Na Rd, Phuket Town

Family-run and deservedly busy, The Cook is a favourite both for those living in and passing through Phuket Town. According to some this place puts together the best burger in town, but in our opinion, the pizzas -- topped with durian, green curry, or tom yam kung -- are the most memorable. The ... read more
Bai - Ka - Prao Cafe and Restaurant

Cute and tasty

126 Yaowarat Rd, Talad Yai, Phuket Town
T: (076) 220 293; (081) 645 6452

This deep-blue with white trimming café sits in an old Chinese shopfront on Yaowarat Rd, just by the well-known drinking hole Timberhut. Despite the old-school building, Bai Ka Prao's interior has been decorated with a modern flourish with the white and blue theme throughout. While the ... read more
Mee Ton Poe

Easy lunch spot

Phuket Rd

Set towards the southern end of Phuket Town, a little before you reach the department stores, Mee Ton Poe makes for a good lunch spot. They do a wide variety of both noodle and rice dishes and have a comprensive English-language menu making this an easy option for non-Thai speakers. Food is good ... read more
Ko Yoon

Intimate

Ranong Rd traffic circle

You really feel like you're snacking in the front room of someone's (very cluttered) house rather than a restaurant here. Hokkien noodle soup is the standard at Ko Yoon. It comes with far more lashings than at the Hokien Noodle Shop on Luang Poh Wat Chalong, and the setting really is excellent, ... read more
Michael's Bar

Popular with expats

12 Takua Pa Rd, Phuket Town
T: (076) 256 562

If a Thai place isn't too your liking, resident expats and tourists often flock to a couple of centrally located pubs of which Michael's Bar is one of the best. With 60B beers from 16:00 to 19:00 every day and very happy hours on Saturdays and Sundays — buy one get one free — this can ... read more
Wilai Restaurant

Local style eating

Thalang Rd, near Thalang/Yaowarat intersection, Phuket Town

While Phuket Town is filled with local spots just like this, Wilai is unique because it has been holding its own among the Chinese shophouses that are turning into chic cafes and restaurants. Totally no frills, fan-cooled Wilai Restaurant is decked out with plastic chairs and metal tables and makes ... read more
Phuket Old Tricycle

Popular and affordable

62/9 Phuket Shopping Centre, Ratsada Rd, Phuket Town
T: (081) 894 5451

A very simple streetside spot in downtown Phuket Town, Phuket Old Tricycle is a favourite among expats and is located just behind the big yellow bank in the Phuket Shopping Centre. The exhaustive menu here covers both Thai and foreign food and both the food and drinks are very reasonably priced. We ... read more
Gallery Cafe

A cosy cafe

106 Rassada Rd, Phuket Town
T: (089) 103 7000; (076) 223 677

This cosy streetside cafe has relocated to a larger place next door and is a very fine place to come for a snack, drinks or a full meal. Some of the favourites on offer include delicious vegetarian plates, sandwiches and the all-natural shakes — yum! We went for something far more simple ... read more
Kaffe

Artsy coffee house

38 Phuket Road, Talad Yai, Phuket Town
T: (076) 22 0934

Built in 2009, popular and very well-located coffee house Kaffe has done well and is extending further. Best visited for their excellent bakery items, including tarts, cookies and sandwiches, Kaffe can also put together a pretty good caffeine hit. The trendy decor is buttressed with artsy ... read more
Roti

Cheap good breakfast

Thep Kasattri Rd

When you're all done with noodle soup and ABFs for breakfast, it's time for roti. This roti restaurant is on Thep Kasattri Road, just north of the intersection with Thalang Road, and does excellent plain and egg roti, served with your choice of a small plate of beef or chicken curry. It is a ... read more