Phuket is one of the most well-known beach destinations in Asia; travellers fly in from all around the world for some soaking up in the sun and relaxation at the prized Thai island. Among all the beaches in Phuket, Patong Beach is the largest and busiest one on the island.

While Patong Beach is known for many things – from water sports, to nightlife and luxe resorts – it can be quite a challenge to find affordable authentic Thai food when you are there for a holiday. Most restaurants along Patong Beach are tourist traps, and they serve mediocre Thai food at exorbitant prices.

We made several trips, and picked out some fantastic places to dine at when at Patong Beach. They may not be the cheapest by Thailand’s standards, but they are authentic enough with reasonable price tags, some of which are favourites even among locals. Here is our guide on where to eat at Patong Beach, featuring five restaurants and eateries that offer delicious Thai classic dishes and seafood.

KAAB GLUAY RESTAURANT

On one of our recent trips, Kaab Gluay was recommended to us by locals, and it most certainly deserves a mention for serving good and inexpensive Thai food. The menu is extensive and you can enjoy your classic Thai dishes without breaking the bank.

Located on Phrabarami Road, further north of Patong Beach, Kaab Gluay can be slightly inaccessibly, but take our word for it – avoid the tourist restaurants along Patong Beach and take a tuk tuk here. The fare for the ride will be compensated with the satisfying meal.

We had our favourite Thai dishes – Green Curry Chicken (THB 120), Tom Yum Goong (THB 120), Phad Thai (THB 65), Stir-fried Kale with Roast Pork (THB 120) and Salted Egg Yolk Squid (THB 120); nothing disappointed, and we scrapped the plates clean fast before we knew it.

58/3 Phrabaramee Road
Patong, Phuket
Tel: +66 76 340 562

NO. 6 RESTAURANT

An institution in Patong Beach, No 6 Restaurant serves pretty decent Thai food at reasonable prices. While it was not the best Thai food that we have had, there are no complaints for the price that we paid. Phad Thai starts from THB 70, while most of the meat dishes are priced between THB 100 – THB 150.

No. 6 Restaurant’s original shop is just a 3-minute walk from Jungceylon Shopping Mall, the largest shopping mall in Phuket. During dinner, it provides free transport from the original shop to its second outlet on a hill further north of Patong Beach (just 10 minutes away) and during dinner.

186 Rat-u-thi- road
Patong, Phuket

PAN YAAH RESTAURANT

Pan Yaah Restaurant is located along the road heading towards Kamala Beach and it comes with a splendid view that overlooks the entire Patong Bay. It is considerably a romantic spot, especially when you get a table by the edge to catch the sun set during the evening.

You can get all the classic Thai dishes – like spicy Thai Salad (THB 180), Red Curry Beef (THB 170), Green Curry Chicken (THB 175), Phad Thai (THB 140) – at Pan Yaah, but you have to try its Tom Yum Kung (THB 200) which is so satisfyingly spicy with a kick.

249 Prabaramee Road
Patong, Phuket

PATONG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Conveniently located beside the beach, Patong Seafood is the place to go to for a feast after a day of sun-tanning at the beach. The menu is comprehensive and includes the usual Thai dishes like Tom Yum Talay (THB 190 – THB300), Green Curry with Chicken (THB 180), Crab Curry in Coconut Milk (THB 240), as well as a selection of seafood such as Fried Prawns with chilli (THB 200), Charcoal Grilled Snapper with Salt (THB 350).

98/2 Thaweewong Rd
Patong, Phuket
Tel: +66 76 340 247

SEA HAG RESTAURANT

Established in 1991, Seahag Restaurant is one of the more popular restaurants in Patong Beach which specialises in seafood and Thai dishes. It is situated along Soi Wattana, just a stone’s throw away from the Beach. Prices here are steeper than most of the restaurants in Patong Beach, but you will be rewarded with a good variety of the freshest seafood.

Some of the dishes that are worth trying include Mixed Seafood Platter (THB 1,900), Prawns with Yellow Curry (THB 260), and Grilled Squid (THB 320).

78/5 Permpong Soi III
Thaweewong Road
Patong, Phuket
Tel: +66 76 341 111

I have been to many hotels and resorts around the world, but a trip to Sri Panwa Villa at Phuket and it has immediately rocketed to my all-time favourite list – I am head over heels in love with this gem of Phuket.

Here are 9 reasons why I love Sri Panwa Resort in Phuket.

Best Sunset Spot at Baba Nest

Boasting an unrivalled panoramic view of the ocean, Baba Nest – the rooftop bar at Sri Panwa – is one of the best spots to watch sun set against the boundless horizons of Phuket.

Day trips to Coral Island or Phi Phi Island

Sri Panwa is located at Cape Panwa – the southern tip of Phuket – making it the perfect base to visit nearby islands in the Phuket archipelago like Coral and the highly popular Phi Phi Island which are both an hour away by boat. The resort offers a private day tour (cap to 2-3 couples per trip) for its in-house guests, which includes beach hopping, snorkelling and scuba diving.

Private Beach

One of our favourite spots in Sri Panwa is the private beach. What’s there not to like about the idea of having a quiet beach all to yourself? Lay a mat and read your magazines in an undisturbed territory, or go canoeing in the area.

Snorkelling at the pier

From the private beach, there is an extended pier where you can do some fishing, or go snorkelling. The water may not be the clearest, but we were still able to see a lot of fishes – it was quite an experience, and the plus point of the exclusivity was one that left us going to bed happy and extremely contented.

Spend an afternoon at the reception lounge

The reception lounge is quiet and very cosy; it feels almost like home. Keep yourself occupied with the wide selection of books and magazines, or you can simply listen to your music and daydream the afternoon away. Or, just snuggle up at the comfy couches with your loved one and enjoy a cuppa together. The best thing about staying at Sri Panwa is that you can cut off from the world and do the things that you like.

Go for a spa treatment at Cool Spa

Pamper yourself with a much-needed spa treatment at Cool Spa, which is located at a secluded spot within the rainforest overlooking Phuket’s Archipelago. There are six waterfall treatment rooms, and you can also use the spa facilities including the plunge pools and steam room.

Authentic Thai food at Baba Soul Food

Soul Food, the resort’s Thai Restaurant, serves a selection of Southern home-cooked Thai cuisine. They offer the dishes in two portions: half portion for sharing so that you can order a variety to share, and full portion if you are dining in a big group. While we really enjoyed the Steamed Garoupa with Lime, Chili and Garlic and the Red Curry with Pork and Pineapple, the clear winner was the Stir Fried Anadaman Crab Meat with a very addictive lime sauce.

Chill out at Sri Panwa’s Pool Club

After having a hearty breakfast at Baba – the resort’s all day dining restaurant – chill out at the pool club for the rest of your morning. The big space provides yet another patch of heaven within the magnificent resort – to relax, rejuvenate and recharge.

Stunning villa with ocean view

Soothing lounge music greeted us when we stepped into the stunning, modern and very well-designed villa. Each villa comes with a big private pool that lines the unit, and an immeasurably terrific view of the ocean. Words cannot describe how in awe we were, and the photos cannot do enough justice to how beautifully divine Sri Panwa is.

The villa was our secret spot away from the world, and it was so comfortable that we spent most of the time in the villa. We were truly spoilt silly by the luxurious space and amenities; even getting out of bed was almost mission impossible, because we spent so much time just lying in bed with the perfect view of how the skies and ocean merged.

If you are planning to celebrate a special occasion with your partner, or simply want a place to go for a weekend, Sri Panwa is really the perfect getaway spot from Singapore.

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: I travelled to Phuket as a guest of Sri Panwa Resort. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodation were sponsored.

There are many reasons why so many people fall in love with Phuket – white sand with turquoise waters and blue sunny skies; luxurious beach villas that will make you feel like royalty; cheap and delicious Thai street food; and wonder spa treatments for your tense shoulders after your flight.

Granted, Phuket has become very touristy in recent years as travellers escape there for a getaway, but there are still many beautiful beaches that are waiting to be explored. We spent a weekend in Kata Beach and had a memorable experience.

We preferred Kata Beach as it is a quieter area as compared to the extremely popular (and commercialised) Patong Beach. Our home for the weekend was a 1 bedroom grand seaview suite at The Aspasia Hotel Phuket (1/ 3 Laem Sai Road, Kata, Phuket, Thailand).

What I like most about the hotel is its location – a short 5 minutes walk to Kata Beach. Plus, it has a clean and spacious room with a terrific ocean view.

The first two days were spent hanging out by the pool, reading a book on the couch, and taking nice long strolls along Kata Beach.

There are also plenty of restaurants in the area. If you are planning a trip to Phuket Kata Beach, the following are just a few recommendations that you can try.

Our favourite place during this trip was Home’s Food Thai Food (87/2 Tayna Road Kata Beach, near Easy Rider Pub) a small eatery that serves cheap, honest and delicious Thai food. It was so good that we went back a few times.

Perched on the rocks overlooking Kata Noi Beach, Mom Tri’s Kitchen (12 Kata Noi Road, Kata No, Kata, Phuket Tel: +66 76 333 569) is an award-winning restaurant which food lovers must check out. For a spot to watch the sunset, go Re Ka Ta (3rd Street Cafe & Guest House 92/15 92/15 Khoktanod Road, Kata Beach Tel: +66 76 330 015), one of the most hottest beach clubs in Kata Beach, if not Phuket.

We also spent a day exploring Phuket Town, the largest town in Phuket. Most people go to Phuket for the beaches and hardly venture to Phuket Town. But our recent trip showed us a different side of the place. There, we discovered many nice cafes, eateries and boutiques.

Coffee lovers must check out Mac-chiato House & Cake Box (48 Thalang Road, Muang Phuket), a trendy cafe which serves a range of speciality coffee and desserts such as honey toast (B85), brownies (B55) and chocolate lava cake (B75).

You should also drop by Pirrera Cafe Bar (39/1 Dibuk Road, Phuket, Thailand Tel: +66 08 5782 4406). Housed in a beautiful old building, the cafe offers coffee, cakes and light snacks – a nice place to watch the World go by.

Another place that you should go is Kopitiam by Wilai (18 Thalang Road Tel: +66 83 606 9776), an old-school coffee shop that has affordable Thai food. On the menu, you can find local eats such as Cha Koay Teow (B70), Pad Thai (B70) and Tom Yum Koong (B100).

Getting to Phuket from Singapore is easy. Silkair, Jetstar, Tiger and AirAsia have direct flights (1 hour 46 minute) and the tickets are usually very affordable if you book in advance. Everyone needs a beach holiday, and if you have not been to Phuket, maybe it is time to book your tickets and pamper yourself with a weekend getaway.