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While nowhere on the scale of Patong, Kata is a major destination
for holiday makers, particularly those of Northern European extraction.
The long white stretch of sand that is Kata has attracted more than
its share of visitors over the years and hotels, resorts and restaurants
have sprung up to serve their needs. You'll find cuisines from all
over the world represented here and options run the gamut from mid-range
Thai seafood outlets to some of the finest dining anywhere on the
island.
Steak and seafood seem to be the most common offerings of Kata's
many restaurants. Most roadside restaurants display their selection
of lobsters, tiger prawns and plump fish right in front of their
shop for all to see - and for diners to handpick. There's no shortage
of Thai restaurants, and for international fare there's Scandinavian,
Tex-Mex, Indian and Italian places to choose from, just to name
a few.
Kata Beach North
As Phuket's main coastal road heads south from Karon it passes
through one of the two main commercial centres of Kata Beach. Along
this road you'll find a variety of international restaurants. Khan
Baba serves Royal Indian cuisine and specializes in Tandoori,
while Il Tagliere is a good-value Italian place
and the White House Inn has a varied menu as well
as a children's menu. The road splits at the centre of this district
and right at the fork you'll find a classic American style burger
stand called NASA Burger. This burger bar serves
all of the classics: hot dogs, fries, shakes and, of course, burgers.
The 'NASA Burger', two all-beef patties, cheese,
veggies, bacon and a fried egg, is a challenge for even the heartiest
of appetites.
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Just north of the split take a left and you'll be cruising down
Thai Na Road, which is lined on both sides with tailors, souvenir
shops and mid-range restaurants. The Danish Inn
and Grand Restaurant both serve a variety of western
and Thai food at fairly low prices. Charlie's Grill
is Swedish owned and has some great authentic Swedish food, while
Rico's Pizzeria and Steakhouse is a long established
place with a very good reputation. Kampong Kata Hill
is located in an old teak house with a fairly nice view of the sea
and serves authentic Thai food and Thai style seafood. The
Bluefin Tavern has been around for longer than several
locals would like to admit, ditto The Anchor Bar,
with its live sport coverage and snooker table.
If you take a right at the fork in the road you'll end up at the
northern, beach end of Kata and you'll find a few stalls serving
basic Thai food (noodles, rice, fish), but not much else. If you
take the left-hand fork you'll end up behind Club Med, running parallel
with the beach. About 100 metres (330 feet) south of the fork lies
the newly-finished Kata Night Bazaar, which has
about a dozen beer bars just like the bar sois in Patong. There
are one or two small cafés mixed in with this lot but the
ownerships are still in flux.
Kata Beach Central
Keep heading south along the main road and the next thing you'll
hit is Ket Kwan Road, an avenue lined with the usual tailors and
mid-range restaurants like Eightfold. The real
prize on this road is Sawasdee (formerly Fire &
Water Grill). The centrepiece of this classy venue is the indoor
fountain, which provides soothing background noise to a dinner amongst
the carved columns and lovely artwork.
A short distance farther along this road will take you to Soi Ton
Tan, mostly a bar soi, with a few places that serve food, such as
The Tavern, which does no-nonsense pub grub. It
has televised football and regular happy hour specials. The Sunday
roast is also worth a look. Also worth a look on this soi is Outdoor
Pizza, where you can get a pretty good pie for good value.
During happy hour (19:00-21:00) enjoy a free salad bar and a 10%
discount on your meal.
Kata Beach South
At the southern edge of Kata Beach, after the Club Med ends, you'll
find the other main concentration of Kata Restaurants. At the north
end of the three-way intersection lies a complex of good eateries.
Buffalo Steak House is one of the most established
and successful restaurants in Phuket, with three locations on the
island. The one at Kata South is closed during low season (April
to October). Likewise for Chilli, a promising new
venture backed by Buffalo Steakhouse. Tex-Mex and Pizza are the
order of the day at Chilli, and while pizza is nothing new, good
Tex-Mex is a welcome addition to Phuket's culinary repertoire.
Just behind these two is the ever popular Capannina,
an airy Italian bistro with a good selection of mains, pizzas, pastas
and sauces. Also in this area, look for Mali, a
hip seafood restaurant with an amazing seafood basket for two as
well as a well-stocked soup and salad bar. Kata Café
has a varied menu and a pleasant second-storey terrace with its
own bar.
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Rounding the intersection to the right (heading towards Kata Noi)
you'll find Two Chefs, a long time institution
in Phuket. Founded by two Swedish chefs and built on a combination
of good food, good value and good service, this is a popular choice.
(Closed from May to September). Also on this road are two of the
best restaurants you'll find anywhere in Phuket: Mom
Tri's Boathouse and Mom Tri's Gung Café.
Renowned among discerning travelers worldwide for fantastic food,
award-winning wines and unparalleled hospitality, architect and
owner Mom Tri Devakul has created two unique and eminently tasteful
dining experiences. Further up this road on the left lies Joe's
South, an extremely upmarket tapas bar and fine dining
establishment founded by the owner of Patong's famous Baan Rim Pa.
Less classy but still highly enjoyable are Kata Bar B.Q.
and Kata Mama Seafood, two casual bar/restaurants
located right on the sand at Kata Beach. Offering informal and inexpensive
dining and drinks, these are both popular places to laze away an
afternoon while being serenaded by the tranquil Andaman Sea's surf.
Kata Noi Restaurants
On the other side of a small headland from Kata Beach lies Kata
Noi, a small quiet beach popular with visitors looking for a balance
between amenities and crowds. Located at the top of this headland
is the third part of Mom Tri's trio, Mom Tri's Kitchen.
Adjacent to Mom
Tri's Villa Royale, this fine dining venue commands
a stunning view of the sea and the beach. It's the perfect setting
in which to enjoy the chef's original organic creations, preferably
accompanied by a delicious organic wine from the unique Wine Cavern.
At the bottom of the hill are Kata Noi Seafood
and Jao Jong, both of which serve fresh seafood
in a relaxed setting. In front of the Katathani Resort lies the
Beach Club, a classy but chilled out beach bar
with a good lunch and snack menu.
Crème de la Crème
There are a few dining establishments that stand out from the crowd
in Kata. Often the tourist restaurants are hard to tell from one
another; they have similar menus with similar prices in similar
settings. But there are some places that offer an experience that
is clearly at a higher level. For those who want more than a full
belly these venues offer exquisite food.
Renowned among discerning travelers worldwide for fantastic food,
award-winning wines and unparalleled hospitality, architect and
owner Mom Tri Devakul has created three unique and eminently tasteful
dining experiences.
Mom Tri's Boathouse is the crown jewel of this
trio and is rightly famous for its impeccable service, first-class
location, unforgettable food and world-class wine selection. The
Boathouse is the recipient of the coveted Wine Spectator Award of
Excellence for its incredible cellar of 460 labels from every wine-producing
country in the world. The food is a fantastic variety of Thai and
European cuisine. Unpretentious and delicious, the philosophy seems
to be 'Do the basics, but do them to perfection'. The setting is
hard to beat, right over the sand at Kata Beach and the airy, relaxed
atmosphere would best be described as 'barefoot chic'.
Adjacent to the Boathouse is Mom Tri's Gung Café,
a more casual alternative that nevertheless offers one of the best
dining experiences on the island. The menu is inspired Thai-Japanese
fusion, supported by the award-winning wine list of the Boathouse.
Rounding out the trio is Mom Tri's Kitchen, located on the headland
that separates Kata from Kata Noi. This stunning location is home
to an eclectic menu of Fusion, Thai and European cuisine with an
emphasis on health and organic foods. The Wine Cavern has 130 different
labels of organic wine to choose from, all personally tasted and
approved by the discerning Mom Tri himself.
The same team that brought you Baan Rim Pa and Joe's Downstairs
in Patong has opened a branch of Joe's on the headland that separates
Kata and Kata Noi. It's called Joe's South and
is atmospheric and chic. Expect great fine dining, exotic cocktails
and a discerning wine list.
If great live jazz and a perfect sunset view sounds appealing then
head up (literally) to Ratri
Jazztaurant on Patak Road. The ascent to the restaurant
is intimidating but it's well worth the climb. From this vantage
point you get a spectacular view of Kata beach and some incredible
sunsets to watch while sipping on a cocktail or a selection from
the extensive wine list. The food is contemporary Thai with touches
of European and the jazz band is first rate. The final venue for a touch of class in Kata is Locanda
Argentine Steakhouse, also on Patak Rd, and easily located
by the large gold bull statue on the roadside. Relax poolside, belly
up to the bar or enjoy the tasteful but relaxed main dining area.
The meats are all imported and the steaks are large and grilled
to perfection in the open kitchen. A fantastic selection of sides
and salads provide the perfect addition after you've whetted your
appetite on the delicious crusty bread, served with an olive oil
and balsamic vinegar as well as tomato, olive oil and basil - instant
bruschetta! |
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