10 Great Restaurants in Koh Samui

A romantic dinner under the stars at the Dining on the Rocks, the signature restaurant of Six Senses Samui, can be a unique and superb experience. Relax on the terraced decks, whether in the open air or in the covered seating areas, and enjoy fantastic 270-degree views of the ocean and surrounding islands. The menu offers New Asian cuisine with a crossover accent and is a fine exponent of the increasingly popular ‘slow cuisine.’

Tree Tops Sky Dining & Bar is located in Anantara Lawana in north Chaweng and is one of Samui’s most accomplished restaurants. It’s definitely the place to head to if you are a fine-dining enthusiast. With only 8 tables in the restaurant and each an individual ‘treehouse’ the experience here is unique. It’s particularly romantic, too – a good one for couples looking for something a little special.

Located in the heart of Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village, 2 Fishes Samui is an unpretentious yet stylish Italian restaurant. You can sample the freshest local seafood here, prepared with love by the talented Chef Leandra Panza. With over 25 years of experience in noteworthy Italian restaurants in London, Sidney, Melbourne, and Singapore, Leandro Panza offers one of the best gastronomic experiences in Bophut.

Standout dishes include grilled king prawns with hot garlic oil, chili and lemon or steamed red snapper fillet with sautéed kale and hot garlic dressing, olive oil parsley and aged red wine vinegar.

Chez François is housed in a non-descript building that looks like nothing more than an ordinary home from the outside. Inside, it’s rated as perhaps the best restaurant in Bophut and among the best in all of Samui. The only choice on the menu is a specially prepared 4-course meal by Chef François Porté-Garcia. Mostly consisting of first-class French cuisine, this fantastic feast of fine dining is great value when you consider the high level of the cuisine.  

Café 69 is a trendy venue on the Samui Ring Road near Bophut. The colourful and modern décor is emphasised by clever lighting effects to create a welcoming vibe. It’s a cosy venue run by an extremely pleasant host (and talented chef!) – Vivien Bella – who despite the constant hustle and bustle in his establishment always find some time to have a word with his guests.

The food served at Café 69 is “a new twist on Southern Thai indigenous cuisine,” as they call it themselves. You can sample standard Thai and Asian dishes – duck dumplings, deep-fried betel leaves with prawns, or white snapper with mango – enhanced by Vivien’s special touch. One of our favourites is the smoked duck curry with lychee and grape.

With a relaxing atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food, Kob Thai is a highly recommended place if you come to Lamai. Under French management, the Thai chef prepares all the classics of Thai cuisine from outstanding seafood to spicy salads to mouth-watering desserts, all of them at affordable prices.

A serene tropical setting, just off the main hub of Lamai Beach Road, adds a lot to the experience. Tables are set in a tropical garden under individual wooden salas. The restaurant also has an outdoor swimming pool for the kids to splash in, so be sure to bring your swimsuits. After dark, the garden and pool are lit up with multi-coloured lights, creating a rather romantic ambience.

Strongly focused on delivering cuisine at the highest level, H Bistro at the Hansar Resort features a French Mediterranean menu and exclusive wine list. The award-winning 74-cover restaurant has indoor and alfresco dining from breakfast until late at night. This is fine, innovative dining and definitely worth a visit.

With modern lines, sea breezes and well-trained staff, H Bistro is one of Bophut's classiest restaurants. Diners can enjoy views of Koh Phangan from the wood-decked terrace, which also makes for an idyllic place for sundowners, cocktails, and people-watching in Koh Samui.

Red Snapper doesn’t seem to be totally focused on its food, judging by the big screen and a nightly live band. However, the quality of the cuisine speaks for itself. Part of the Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Red Snapper fronts onto the Beach Road and is great for a laid-back meal, enjoyed while watching the passing throngs.

Essentially a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant, you can enjoy dishes such as roasted duck breast with red wine sauce and polenta, roasted snow fish fillet in chorizo oil, a whole range of healthy salads and dessert treats such as poached pear belle Helene.

The Boudoir is opulent dining at its best. Swirling silks, scintillating satins, reams of textiles – it’s the sort of place a Pasha would feel right at home in, sprawled among the cushions. Essentially French cooking, there's a good selection of cheeses, meats, foie gras and even escargots – and a good and cheap house wine.