Rediscover Koh Samui with its slew of new restaurants and bars

If you’re still looking for a place to go to for your annual vacation, then look no further than Koh Samui. In fact, even if you’ve been there, it’s a great reason to rediscover Thailand’s second largest island, especially with the cool new restaurants and bars, and some of the hottest resorts in the country.

 

This sunset dining hot spot in the north of the island is run by the same people as Bangkok’s long-standing Pola Pola Restaurant & Bar. The chic, modern-tropical interior comes from leading Thai product designers Thinkk Studio, who contributed all the chairs, tables and lamps. Thai fusion and Italian dishes dominate the menu with picks like truffle pizza ($19), spicy Australian beef salad ($18) and the whopping mixed seafood box ($47). Get there early to claim a daybed on the wooden terrace to enjoy the sunset with a mojito in hand.

 

 

The successful cafe at Bophut fisherman’s village just launched a new branch on Chaweng Road. The smaller venue opens early in the morning for visitors to enjoy a healthy breakfast, including poached pear in red wine, granola and fresh berries ($10). The coffee station serves a heady brew made from medium-dark beans sourced from Nan in Northern Thailand.

 

 

 

Conrad Koh Samui’s modern Thai restaurant has rolled out a tantalizing new set menu, dubbed “Journey of Jahn.” The restaurant presents each dish in a way that depicts the journey of the ingredients. “Plaa Pla Bai Bua,” for example, sees seared tuna placed on a lotus leaf drizzled with mineral water to represent fishermen heading out to sea in the early morning. The eight-course set is available for $118 and $204 with wine pairing.

 

 

 

The Library’s Drink Gallery, one of the island’s most stylish drinking spots, has introduced a new Thai tapas bar right next to it. Boasting surprisingly cheap prices from $4, the menu is packed with famous Thai dishes such as thod man (spicy fish cakes), moo klunk foon (spicy deep-fried pork salad), sue rong hai (grilled beef), satay ruam (mixed grilled meat satay) and moo manao (spicy pork with lime) to go with your killer cocktail from next door.

 

 

 

The Library hotel, a long-time favorite among design-savvy travelers, has expanded its beachfront restaurant, The Page (also see Tapas Bar). You’ll now find not just more seats perfectly poised for beach views, but also a list of 40 new dishes drawn from old Thai recipes. Go for Samrab Thai, an eight-course set dinner ($153 for two persons), to get a well-rounded hit of rare flavors like gaeng run juan nua nong lai (beef stewed in shrimp paste soup), beef massaman and ray rai na gaeng krati fuktong (coconut noodle, grilled pork and pumpkin curry).

 

 

 

This beachside eatery comes with a stunning all-wood design that’s rustic yet sleek. Take a place on the balcony and tuck into international fare like pizza and pasta plus freshly caught seafood like spicy seabass with lime ($24) and seared scallops ($20).

 

 

These experienced bakers supply pastries to hotels all over the island. Now you can also taste their treats at this cafe located at a new open-air shopping arcade. Pick up some sourdough or a baguette to go, or step things up with an Australian lamb burger ($12) or delicious panang pulled-pork burger served with Greek yogurt coleslaw ($11).

 

 

After a brief relationship with Bangkok’s beloved Peppina, this new pizza and pasta spot on Chaweng Beach’s Malibu resort has now gone it alone. The menu still features Peppina-like pizzas such as the pomodoroni and ricotta cheese ($16) and Piennulo parma ham ($16).

 

 

 

The cafe that was once a branch of Bangkok’s beloved Casa Lapin is now Cafe de Pier, which puts a heavy focus on cocktails—try such creations as Fog Garden & Redsun (whiskey, white wine, lime, raspberry puree, cranberry juice, cinnamon syrup, $14) or Crocodile Mango Chili Pepper (aloe vera, passion fruit, spicy mango and gin, $14). The kitchen rolls out international staples—salad, pasta, sandwiches, you name it—and popular Thai dishes such as beef massaman and fried chicken with cashew nuts.

 

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Four Seasons Resort has stepped up its bar game by introducing one of the most impressive rum bars in Thailand, serving more than a hundred quality rums from all over the world. Set right on the edge of the resort’s new Olympic-size infinity lap pool, the bar complements its booze selection with hearty Latin American food such as Peruvian ceviche ($23) and wagyu beef anticucho ($33), all prepared at a live-cooking station. Opt for a $59 fine rum tasting and explore four rare bottles from Trinidad, Guyana, Venezuela and Barbados. They also serve decent tiki-style cocktails.

 

 

 

This bar on Chaweng Noi Beach is as down to earth as beach bars get: a smattering of thatched umbrellas and cabanas, and a soundsystem playing chill house and down-tempo tunes. On top of the regular Thai dishes, a barbecue seafood buffet ($12) takes place at 3pm daily.

 

 

 

Cocotam

Located on Bo Phut fisherman’s village walking street, this tiny, open-air shopping arcade boasts a colorful, old-school Thai vibe. The wooden kiosks are packed with T-shirts plus craft and design pieces. One highlight is Little Me shop, which sells cool items from Chiang Mai brand Rubber Killer. Then make your way to Blue Vanilla, an ocean theme souvenir shop on the same road.

 

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After a US$20-million renovation, this Samui institution is now home to luxuriously contemporary villas and suites. The revamp also includes new looks for classic restaurants Rim Talay, Sala Thai, Vimarnmek, The Lounge and Poolside Bar, plus a brand new spa which focuses on Thai ayurvedic treatments. Rates from $492.

 

 

 

Bespoke Hospitality Management Asia has finally followed up its famously chill Away Koh Kood property with this resort on Phang Ka, in the southwest of Samui. The 37-room resort is packed with single- and double-bedroom pool villas and deluxe suites with a private beach plus two restaurants, including the beachfront Bamboo. Rates from $216.

 

 

 

Perched amid coconut trees on a mountain overlooking Chaweng Noi Beach, these villas offer a real tropical hideaway. Both the one-bedroom pool villa and two-bedroom deluxe villa come with fully-equipped kitchen and private plunge pool. Rates from $165.

 

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Do

The oh-so-chic spa at W Retreat has launched an exciting sauna experience. Thaimazcal combines Thai herbs with Mexican temazcal, an ancient form of sweat lodge believed to improve health and purify the body. The treatment finishes with delicious mocktails featuring yet more Thai herbs at W’s Tonic Bar.

 

 

 

Kia Ora

Samart Payakaroom Gym