Ao Mae Haad

Mae Haad

As you would expect of Ko Tao's main town, Mae Haad has a great selection of eateries and a few decent bars too, however it remains relatively quieter at night and has little to offer in the way of pumping tunes and dance floor mayhem.

To the southern end and on the beach, Tattoo Bar, offers a fabulous selection of tasty food from all around the world at very reasonable prices. Service is laidback but at this relaxed beachside location it doesn't seem to matter. The road to the Songserm pier has a number of Thai cafes offering inexpensive food with not much to choose between them. Walk a few mins down the beach northwards from the Songserm pier to find Whitening. Simply decorated all in white this sophisticated restaurant offers a menu best described as Thai fusion. The seafood is good and one of the few places where you're offered a range of cooking styles for fish and seafood. The cocktails are well prepared. It's more expensive but worth paying the extra for that touch of class for a special treat.

On the road leading up from the main pier you have any number of eateries to choose from. Two bakeries sit almost next to each other and between them Cappuccino and Zest will take care of your sandwich, pasta, burger, croissant, salad and sweet tooth cravings. On the other side of the road, Safari will certainly interest the meat eaters, offering a carnivores' heavenly selection of meat, meat and more meat.

Halfway up the hill Farango and La Matta sit adjoining each other, making the Italian quarter of Mae Haad, serving tasty pizza, pasta and salads. Dragon Bar is a very cool spot, modelled on any well respected Melbourne-style bar, with a chic and shadowy ambience. The drinks are top notch and while the bar usually remains quiet and relaxed the occasional party or themed music night brings out the locals.

Leave the Seatran pier and head directly up this road and the first watering hole you will encounter is Safety Stop. It has a range of imported beers and a traditional Western menu. Walk a few hundred metres further and you will find the popular Cafe del Sol. Free WiFi ensures this place is busy and the food is served quickly from a largely Western menu.

Almost opposite this is Puks kitchen, the largest Thai restaurant in town and with an extensive menu there's a Thai dish for every taste. On the same road Chopsticks serves some good Chinese food while Dolce Vita serves a Mediterranean mix in a cool white tiles locale. Newly opened Cloud 9 sits on top of the buildings half way up the street on the left. This cool modern spot is a great hangout. Access is up the stairs from a sidestreet off to the left, making it feel like a spot only those in the know know.