Fine Eating Options in Chaweng

There are a lot of restaurants to choose from in Chaweng. If you are looking for a fine dining experience rather than a cheap bowl of noodles or a quick burger and fries in Chaweng then the following list might help you decide where to have lunch or dinner.

Noori India

There are 2 Noori India restaurants along the Chaweng Beach Road – one opposite Chaweng Buri Resort and one next to Poppies Restaurant. If you like Indian cuisine these are the places to head for. The menu has favorite Indian and Mughalai dishes as well as some interesting Thai-Indian fusion dishes.

Sample Prices:

Samosas  60 – 180 THB
Tandoori snapper  350 THB
Chicken tikka masala 210 THB
Goan seafood curry  200 THB

Open from 11am to 11.30pm
They also have Indian cooking classes in the afternoon.

Poppies

Poppies is a stylish restaurant in Chaweng on the Chaweng Beach Road. Poppies has a great sea view spot for those who like to take in the natural scenery while eating.

The menu includes such Thai classics as:

Tom yum gong
Yam talay
Som tam with sticky rice
Gaeng phed pet yang (roast duck in red curry with grapes and pineapple)
Poo pad pong karee (sautéed crab in yellow curry)

Price:

Expect to pay about 800 THB a head

Open from 5.30pm to 11.30pm
On Saturday night there is traditional Thai music and dancing

Red Snapper Restaurant and Bar

The Red Snapper Restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Koh Samui. The restaurant is beach front next to Chaweng Resort. It can be accessed from Chaweng Beach Road opposite Starbucks.

The restaurant offers Mediterranean fusion dishes by a French chef. Food is served in relaxed surroundings. The restaurant is quite often full. Every night except Sunday diners are treated to live jazz.

Sample prices:

Grilled chicken on marinated bamboo in Moroccan spices 190 THB
Pan fried Hokkaido scallops and tiger prawns 390 THB
Red snapper fillet in herbs crust 520 THB

Open every day from 5pm to 1am. Free wifi in the restaurant

The Page (part of the Library)

The stylish minimal luxury resort called The Library has an equally stylish restaurant called The Page. It is a beachfront restaurant in Chaweng accessed from the Chaweng Beach Road. The Page offers Thai and Western fusion dishes.

Sample prices:

Ox cheek massaman curry with potatoes 420 THB
Grilled snow fish with 5 Asian flavors 650 THB
Tenderloin of Wagyu beef 2,500 THB
15 petit dinner – set of 15 signature dishes 1,500 THB per person

Open for dinner from 7pm to 11.30pm

Spirit House

Spirit House in Chaweng is often regarded as the place to get the best authentic Thai food in Koh Samui. It is located on the Chaweng Beach Road opposite Banana Fan Sea Hotel. The restaurant has attractive traditional Thai architecture featuring original walls and chedi from a former temple.

Recommended dishes include:

Phad Thai goonk
Laab salad
Tamarind prawn
Red duck curry

Open from 12pm to 10.30pm
They also have Thai cooking lessons

Wat Samret

Wat Samret is one of the lesser known gems of Koh Samui. It is located near Hua Thanon Village on the 4169 road between Lamai and Laem Set beaches on the east coast. Wat Samret is a fairly small and unassuming temple from the inside. It, however, has a small chapel, that the monks will open up on request. If not you can see inside from window slats.

Inside this chapel there is a large collection of stone Buddha statues all crowded together in a small space. As is tradition in Thailand these statues are draped in saffron robes in similar style to Thai monks.

The most prominent statues are a large seated Buddha and a large reclining Buddha. All the Buddha statues are guardians for the ancient White Marble Buddha in the chapel that is meant to have come all the way from India.

Other things worthy of note about Wat Samret is that it has one of the largest trees on the island behind. In the grounds there is a packed grave yard that is worth a look. It contains the grave of one foreigner.

As with Wat Khunaram a trip to Wat Samret offers something different for the visitor. For those bored of gold wats with tall roofs both these places will be of interest.

Taxis in Koh Samui

There is a certain knack to catching taxis in Thailand. The trick is to know the correct way to proceed. In Bangkok there are of course taxis around Khao San Road that refuse to use the meter. From the street around the corner this is not the case. Knowing these types of things in Thailand saves you both money and stress.

It is not always the case that the taxi driver is being greedy or obstinate. Some journeys require toll fees to be paid. Some passengers will complain that are being cheated if this additional fee is added on to the meter price. Other times it is because the traffic is very bad or there is a one-way street that means a driver would have to go several miles out of his way.

In Koh Samui all the taxis say meter taxi but to a car none of them will do so. There is very little room to negotiate prices. The main advice is to know what the price should be for a journey and make sure you pay a similar amount. You can ask any number of people about this. It is always worth checking if you come back a year later as the prices change frequently. On Koh Samui many ex-pat residents use their own transport or the songthaew system which is like a ‘bus’ system.

For short journeys an alternative form of public transport is ‘mototaxis’. These are men with yellow vests that often mill around in groups on road corners. You negotiate in advance a fee and jump on the back of a small motorbike. If you have little baggage and find a friendly motorbike taxi driver this can be a relatively cheap way to make short trips.

At the airport there is a taxi limousine service. That is pre-paid. It isn’t any cheaper than the normal price, but it is a stress free system. Cheaper is a mini bus system that is also pre-paid at the airport. However, if there are more than three people traveling together taxis can be a better option than paying per person.

Many resorts will offer a transfer service. This is a convenient way to get picked up the airport but is usually a 100 Thai Baht more expensive than regular yellow taxis in Koh Samui.

The best advice about taxis in Koh Samui is not to get angry. Your frustration will not bring about change. Complaining on the help line numbers will also bear no fruit. Just accept the situation and always remain polite. Shouting and swearing is regarded as serious escalation in Thailand and is sometimes met with similar or greater emotion.

Tongsai Bay

There are not many resorts in Koh Samui or even in the Samui archipelago that can boast that it has its own private beach. Off the top of my head, there is the Santhiya  Resort and Spa that has a small (and mostly unused) beach next to Thong Nai Pan Noi’s main stretch of sand. And there is Charm Churee Village in Koh Tao that has a private beach just south of Sairee beach. Add to this list the Tongsai Bay. It is a resort that names itself after the beach where it is placed. The hotel is eponymous.

However, both the Tongsai Bay Resort and the beach at Tongsai are of an equally high standard thus the two deserve to be treated together. The beach is fine white sand flanked by rocks at both sides. Behind the beach the land gently inclines and is covered in coconut palms and tropical vegetation. It is one of the most picturesque beaches in Koh Samui.

One of the major attractions of the beach is that it is very peaceful. There is no traffic noise; there are not hundreds of sun loungers lining the beach. There aren’t any beach vendors patrolling the sands; there isn’t a row of bars competing with each other by turning up their sound systems. It is just tranquil.

The Tongsai Bay is set in 25 acres of tropical land. At the front of the resort, next to the beach is a large free form swimming pool with little islands of shade. Behind is a hotel accommodation block and spread out to either side are individual villas.

In total there are 83 rooms in the resort all with sea views. Each room features air-con, hot water, satellite TV, mini bar and private balcony. There are cottage suites and beachfront suites with baths with views over the bay. At the top end are private pool villas.

The Tongsai Bay has 3 restaurants, 2 bars, a fitness center and a spa. There is also a tennis court. Guests are given unlimited free drinking water and have access to babysitting services. The resort is very much self-contained. There is even free golf buggy transport within the resort.

One of the secrets of the Tongsai Bay is that the management are also the owners. In this way they keep their eyes firmly on the ball and try to ensure customer satisfaction. They even host a free cocktail party twice a week.

Tongsai Bay and the Tongsai Bay Resort are located just north of Choeng Mon beach in the north east corner of Koh Samui. To get a better notion of the place, have a look at this video below.

Thong Tanote and Phangka

These are two of the least visited beaches in Koh Samui. They are situated on the south-west peninsula in an area that has escaped the uncontrolled development that has marred the beauty of places such as Chaweng and Lamai. Both Thong Tanote and Phangka are in a region where you can still see the traditional wooden houses of fishermen used as such not turned into expensive boutique shops (as is the case in Bophut).

There are few bars in this area. The restaurants are small local affairs where you can sample authentic island food at prices far below those on the menus in other parts of the island.

Thong Tanote

Thong Tanote is a small secluded beach with palm trees leaning towards the water. It is a narrow beach behind which is plenty of open space. The sea here recedes quite far at low tide. At high tide it is suitable for swimming. The sand is not the finest on Koh Samui, however this is made up for the fact that if you stay at Thong Tanote there is a good chance that you will be the only person around when you venture down to the beach. Thong Tanote offers idyllic seclusion.

There are few accommodation choices at Thong Tanote. At the cheaper end of the accommodation spectrum is Jinta Beach Bungalows that offers fan or air-con huts that start at 600 THB in the low season. Jinta Beach Bungalows is run by a local family. The resort includes a small pool and a restaurant.

The best place to stay in Thong Tanote is Coconut Villa Resort and Spa. It has hotel style rooms and has a pool with swim up bar, free wifi access, a restaurant and a spa.

Phangka

Just around the headland and facing west is Phangka beach. It is also called the Emerald Bay. It is without doubt one of the most remote spots on the island. At Phangka there is a small fishing village where you can still witness traditional island life. Here you can hire a longtail boat to take you out to the two small islands just off the coast called Koh Mutsum and Koh Tan. These deserted islands are surrounded by coral reefs that are great for snorkeling.

The resorts at Phangka are fairly well self-contained as there are few facilities in the area. The stand out place is Elements Boutique Resort and Spa. It features private pool villas with direct access to the beach. It is a very stylish place where the staff pampers the guests with luxury. Check out their promo video below.

Finally, it should be mentioned that Phangka has probably the best sunset on Koh Samui. It is an ideal spot for honeymooners who want privacy and a beach to themselves.

Coral Cove Bay

Coral Cove Bay is interesting in that it is sandwiched between the very popular beaches of Chaweng and Lamai and yet it is a quiet and peaceful beach that gets very few visitors. Many of the people who do book a resort in Coral Cove Bay are slightly mislead. They read the address of the resort as ‘Chaweng Road’ and erroneously conclude that the resort must be on the edge of Chaweng.

These people should not be disappointed. Coral Cove Bay is a gem of a beach. It is the perfect spot to relax and escape the crowds of Chaweng to the north and Lamai to the south. The beach at Coral Cove Bay has just as good sand as its more famous neighbors. It is also just as good for swimming.

The one advantage that Coral Cove Bay has over its bigger and more famous neighbors is that it is better for snorkeling. There are numerous giant boulders in the sea that form a haven for corals to form. It is a very short swim out from the beach to find great snorkeling spots which hold a colorful profusion of fish and corals.

The beach at Coral Cove Bay is only 200 meters long so there are only a few beachfront places to stay at. More accommodation can be found at the edges of the beach set on dramatic cliff locations. One such example is the Kamala Samui. It is a luxury resort that boasts private pool villas with stunning sea views. The Kamala Samui has boutique interior design, a communal pool that features imported Balinese stone and a restaurant that serves fusion cuisine. The resort also has a private pier. They offer guests free fishing equipment, snorkeling equipment and kayak use. Guests at The Kamala Samui might initially be disappointed that they are not staying in Chaweng but on the Chaweng Road, but will soon come to appreciate the gorgeous scenery and luxury atmosphere of the Kamala Samui.

At the other end of the accommodation spectrum are Coral Cove Resort and Hi Coral Cove. These two resorts are also on hills. They have communal pools and offer both air-con and fan bungalows; the latter for as little as 500 Thai Baht a night.

If you are in Koh Samui and looking for something near the action of Chaweng but don’t really fancy staying on a beach with thousands of other people then Coral Cove Bay is a great option.

Coral Cove Bay is reached via the main ring road on the island. The turning for the beach is very easy to miss so drive slowly when you get south of Chaweng Noi.

Choeng Mon

 

Choeng Mon is the name of a beach on the northeast peninsula of Koh Samui. It is an area that is blessed with some of the best and most peaceful beaches on the island. It is also an area that is ideally located near a number of good beaches, transport hubs and shopping areas. It is no surprise therefore that some of the best hotels in Koh Samui are located in Choeng Mon.

The beach at Choeng Mon is wide and sweeps in a crescent around a bay on the peninsula. It is blessed with the same fine white sand that is found at Chaweng and Lamai. Unlike many of the beaches in Koh Samui, especially in the south and west, the sea bed is sandy and free of dead corals that can cut the feet of swimmers.

The atmosphere of Choeng Mon is very different from the nearby beaches of Bophut and Chaweng. Despite the high quality of the beach the area is free of an urban center. There a few shops and bars but nothing that really qualifies as nightlife. This is not an area where men prowl for sex workers or young people go to listen to dance music. The peace and quiet along with the great beach are the great draw cards for Choeng Mon. Residents at Choeng Mon have the option to make the short journey to Chaweng or Bophut if they want bars, live music and other night diversions.

The location of Choeng Mon is another noteworthy point about the beach. Not only is it close to Chaweng and Bophut it is also just 10 minutes from Samui Airport. Other transport hubs nearby are Big Buddha pier (ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao) and Maenam pier (ferries and speed boats to Haad Rin and Thong Nai Pan in Koh Phangan). Luckily Choeng Mon is not under the flight paths from the airport, unlike Big Buddha beach.

Choeng Mon is also not far away from Big C supermarket and Tesco Lotus supermarket that have a wide variety of products for sale at very reasonable prices. Tesco Lotus also has a cheap food court with lots of Thai dishes on offer.

Also Choeng is very close to the iconic Big Buddha statue in Bang Rak. It is a 12 meter high golden Buddha statue at the top of a wide staircase that has become one of the strongest symbols for Koh Samui.

Cheong Mon accommodation is some of the best in Koh Samui. The best hotel is the Sala Samui Resort and Spa that features some of the most stunning architecture and interior design on the island. Sala Samui has taken the best of modern Thai design to make an exclusive resort that features pool villas with open air baths. The resort has 2 communal swimming pools, a boardroom, floating massage salas and 80 meters of private beachfront.

Not as architecturally successful but very ambitious is the Imperial Boat House Beach Resort. The theme is rice barges. All the accommodations are shaped as boats. The large central pool is also in a boat shape. The effect is like a fishing fleet that has been flung into the jungle by a tidal wave.

Q Signature Samui is perched on a hill near the beach. It brings a touch of boutique style to its aesthetic using Thai sloping roofs. It is located at the southern end of Choeng Mon Bay.

For those on a budget Choengmon Buri Hotel is a 1 minute walk from the beach and has air-con rooms with hot water, fridge and TV starting at 680 Thai Baht a night.

For convenience, for tranquility, for quality of beach, for stylish accommodation it is hard to find better on Koh Samui than Choeng Mon.