Phuket: More Than a Beach Destination, A Foodie’s Paradise

• Plan your dinners: Besides beautiful beaches and many other activities, Phuket is a food destination, from street food to Michelin starred there is everything for everyone, so do some research and pick what it might suit your taste and mood, but don’t ignore this, it’s one of Phuket’s greatest assets. You can get some inspiration from the Michelin Guide, Top 25 Restaurants or my favorites below…

• Massage: This is another big asset of Phuket, and Thailand in general. And I don’t mean just a $100-$200 luxury spa, which of course is an amazing experience (I’ve tried the ones at Amanpuri, Rosewood, Banyan Tree and Anantara), but you might have the best massage in your life for $10-$15 and leave the place feeling like a newborn. I highly recommend the traditional Thai massage, which is a therapeutic massage that combines deep tissue pressure, muscle and joint stretching, and gentle adjustments of the body into yoga-like poses, performed on a mat, while the massaged person wears a comfortable loose attire. Foot massage is also very popular.

• Visit an elephant ethical sanctuary: There are many places in Phuket where you can experience feeding, walking with, learning about and observing the elephants in their natural habitat or playing in the ponds or sea, so I suggest picking one closer to your hotel.

• Old Phuket Town: Charming place known for the Sino-Portuguese architecture and lovely colourful local shops along the Thalang Road

• The Big Buddha: A popular tourist attraction, the impressive 45m height statue is located in the southern part of the island. Don’t forget it is an active temple where monks are present and you should dress modestly, no beachwear, shoulders and knees covered.

Day trips

• Phi Phi Island is very famous since “The Beach” movie starring Leonardo di Caprio, it’s a beautiful place, indeed, with amazing clear blue water. There are also a few stops on the way to or back to capture spectacular views, swim and snorkel, or idyllic deserted places like Khai Island, which I particularly enjoyed. There are many suppliers, make sure you pick a trustworthy one, not too many customers crowded on a boat, because if a storm happens, which is most likely without a previous forecast and we’ve experienced this, the team should be well prepared.

• James Bond Island. This one is usually by speed boat.

• Krabi Islands are beautiful with views like you are transported to a movie, but I would rather recommend 3 days stay at Ritz Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay, the huge villas and stunning design of the hotel topped with watching the sunset atmosphere at the beach bar make it a destination itself; plus the Coconut French toast at breakfast make the extra swimming worth it.

Waterparks

If you are traveling with kids and the beach activities, swimming or kids' clubs (the ones at Rosewood Phuket and Amanpuri are amazing and I am thankful they exist) are not enough for them, waterparks like Blue Tree or Andamanda are fun for them.

If the kids, though, want to visit FantaSea, a cultural theme park, go just if they insist, like mine did, there is nothing spectacular about the show, it just feels like a tourist trap.

Phuket has so much to offer in this area, not only delicious Thai food, but the island became home to many chefs from all over the world, some of them with previous experience in Michelin restaurants, and their experience and creativity, influenced by the island life and the quality fresh local products, led to an incredible restaurant scene rivaled just by a few other islands across the globe.

So, I would recommend not to leave your dinners to the unknown, do some research and book your restaurants ahead, especially if you’re traveling in peak season when Phuket is very busy.

• Jampa Restaurant: Holding a Green Michelin star 🍀, inventive farm to table, open fire, sustainable concept, not only beautifully presented, but also really tasty; imagine beetroot, something I rarely order, Chef Rick Dingen turned into a dish so interesting and tasty I would definitely return to enjoy. Location and interior design are also very beautiful.

• Ta Khai: It's one of my top favorite Thai restaurants, located at Rosewood Phuket, one of the best hotels on the island; from pomelo salad to prawns in delicious tamarind sauce and unmissable pad thai, in beautiful surroundings and atmosphere. Dined here many times, sometimes driving especially for an hour, and never disappointed.

• Black Ginger: Also, one of my favorite Thai restaurants, dreamy location in a traditional Thai mansion on a lagoon accessible by raft, topped by amazing authentic Thai food, an essential Phuket restaurant worthing the trip.

• Suay Cherngtalay: A modern Thai cuisine restaurant, among other interesting dishes I would always return for the tuna carpaccio with wasabi ice cream, foie gras in betel leaves or Chef’s Noi Tammasak revisited Mango sticky rice with sesame ice cream.

• Nama: At Amanpuri is one of the best Japanese restaurants I’ve dined in, not to mention the heavenly location. Hard to book during high season if you’re not a guest of the hotel.

• Arva: At Amanpuri is an excellent fine dining Italian restaurant, authentic and delicious dishes with a nice original touch.

• Mrs B: International cuisine, they serve excellent Beef tartare, fish ceviche and local whole fish, nice atmosphere, I always put it on my list when traveling to Phuket.

• Zuma: The renowned modern Japanese restaurant, has a winter pop up at Anantara Layan Phuket and it is everything you would expect from a Zuma restaurant.

• Pru: This one I didn’t get the chance to try yet, as they don’t accept small kids, but being the only restaurant on the island holding a Michelin star and a green one ⭐️☘️, I assume it is good.

• Acqua Ristorante: It is one of the best restaurants on the island, stylish interior design and a beautifully presented menu influenced by the Sardinian roots of the chef and his many years of experience over the world and in Thailand; my favorite dish, the Seared Foie Gras.

• Talung Thai: Located at Paresa Resort hotel, Thai and international cuisine, the sunset views and driving along the so-called “Millionaire Mile” to reach there, make it worth it.

• Blue Elephant: Traditional Thai, pretty commercial, but the beautiful location makes it a good option when in Phuket Old Town but wouldn’t repeat or drive especially for it.

• Not really a place to eat, but you’ll find at Villa Market Supermarket in Boat Avenue or Porto de Phuket the best fresh whole Passion fruit juice, nobody else does it as good, I’ve tried everywhere, so don’t miss it if you’re in the area.