Choeng Mon with its super soft white sand and crystal clear waters was one of my favourite places in Koh Samui. It had a laid back, relaxed feel with just enough going on to make it the perfect base for exploring the island.
Many of the best restaurants are found along the main road, but there are also some excellent options that have idyllic beach front locations.
Pi Samui
Pi Samui simply has to be my favourite restaurant due to its amazing location, delicious food and chilled atmosphere. It sits at the end of the gorgeous white sandy stretch, that makes up Choeng Mon beach, and looks out towards the tiny private island of Ko Fan Yai, home to a 5 star hotel.
Pi Samui is a circular building offering panoramic views in a modern yet comfortable setting. You can grab a table on the beach or head indoors, to soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the live music that is often playing.
As well as the idyllic location, the food is amazing too. They offer a combination of Mediterranean and Thai cuisine that is beautifully presented and tastes fantastic.
Krua Thai
Krua Thai was recommended to us by someone who lives in Koh Samui, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It is at the same end of Choeng Mon as Pi Samui, but set on the main road.
It’s a family run restaurant with an extensive Thai menu and seafood specials which are displayed on chalk boards around the restaurant. Everything we ordered was delicious and the service was also great. The waiter gave us advice on what to order and all the staff were extremely attentive.
It was so good that we visited twice during our 6 night stay, even though it was the furthest restaurant from where we were staying. My personal recommendation would be the red snapper which was perfectly cooked and great value!
A & B Restaurant
A & B Restaurant is on the main road in the heart of Choeng Mon and offers a range of both Thai and Western food. Not only is the food fresh and full of flavour, it’s also great value for money.
The family run restaurant offers fragrant curries and Thai dishes, alongside delicious juicy burgers. The staff again are extremely friendly and even gave us a complimentary fruit platter at the end of our meal.
The Jumping Bean Samui
If you fancy something a bit different, then The jumping Bean Samui is the perfect place. It offers Texan BBQ food with everything from amazingly tender ribs to tacos, with a selection of yummy fillings.
We had a very warm welcome here and they had lots of activities to entertain the kids, from a huge “pin the tail on the donkey” to board games you can play while you wait for your food.
Leeloo’s
This little cafe drew us in immediately with its amazing selection of pastries, bagels and sourdough bread displayed in the window (something which is hard to find in Thailand).
It is a lovely modern cafe with great air-con, very important to help you enjoy your coffee and bagel without working up a too much of a sweat.
Lanai Bar & Lounge Pop-Up Beach BBQ
Every Wednesday, at the exclusive Kimpton Kitalay resort they have a beach bbq and fire show. As part of this you get unlimited food from the salad and noodle bar and also a delicious desert section. You can have a selection of meat or seafood cooked to order on the bbq by their expert chefs who have been credited in the Michelin guide.
When we were finished the kids could play on the beach or sit on one of the big bean bags and enjoy the impressive fire show. It was a great experience in a beautiful setting, the Kimpton Kitalay is a stunning resort, however we felt it was a little overpriced compared to other places we had visited.
The Mother Restaurant
The Mother Restaurant is one of the larger restaurants along the main road in Choeng Mon. This family run restaurant offers a selection of Thai and Western food in a friendly environment. The penang curry was one of the best we tried while in Thailand and the pad thai was also pretty good.
This traditionally decorated restaurant with comfy seating and plenty of fans was a hit with all the family.
Best Pancake
Our daily desert was bought from our favourite street food vendor. A little portable kitchen and kiosk attached to a scooter. We loved watching how carefully he prepared each pancake and they never failed to hit the spot!
My personal favourite was peanut butter and Nutella, but there were endless flavour combinations on offer.
Laura loves travelling across the UK and abroad. She has two children and a husband who are often her travel companions. Beach holidays, cosy cottages, treehouse adventures and brunching are just a few of her favourite ways to spend her travel time.