Catch Beach Club - Phuket

Where Is It?

Directly opposite Twinpalms on Surin Beach itself. If driving, go into the municipal beach car park and head down the track to the right until you see the sign.

Alternatively, park at Twinpalms and walk across the field to the beach.

Décor

Catch club is one of the most innovative restaurants on the island when it comes to décor. The club has several sections: the beachside al fresco part features boardwalk wooden floors, comfortable sofas and cushions, large parasols and vases, lots of canvas to keep off the sun and rows of recently planted palms. To the side, next to a blue under-lit bar is a gas flame gushing out of a purpose-built hole in the floor. Groovy? You bet.

There are two covered dining spaces, one of which houses the stage where guest acts liven up the nights – the most recent party here had 700 people dancing the night away. The other is a café-cum pizza/pasta place that also doubles as the restaurant's 'reception'. 

Atmosphere

The cool layout and snazzy background music does a lot to help things along here but really, Catch Club is already in a fantastic location, nestled into sand dunes and directly facing the sea so as lighting goes, a flame-red sun dropping into the mottled Andaman Sea isn't too bad a start and the twinkling stars up above equally impressive, as are the spotlights in the palms.

When Catch Club rocks it rocks hard but at other times it's a prime place for hip boys and girls to chill out at and appreciate the fine wines and food available.

Wine

With a more than capable 60-label wine list and an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine there's not a lot more to add about the wine here.

Still, The Chilean Echeverria 2005 house wine we sampled was more than impressive and shows that good tastes at Beach Club do not exclusively run to fab décor.

Diners also have access to nearby Twinpalms' extensive cellars. 

Food

In theory Catch Club has separate lunch and dinner menus but this is Thailand and Catch Club is more than willing to satisfy its clientele so evening diners are also able to order lighter lunch fare.

As would be imagined, many of the dishes feature seafood but there's also a range of pastas, pizzas and pennes served from the Catch Café as well as lamb and steaks and even Mexican. Grilled white snapper in banana leaves with garlic, herbs and lemon chunks is heaven while the grain-fed sirloin with peppercorn sauce and roti potatoes is also a winner but the star of the evening is most certainly one of the most popular dishes in Thailand – a som tam papaya salad, bursting with goodness, flavours and character.

Most definitely the place to take your time over dinner, the Catch Club covers culinary bases with ease. 

Service

White-clad staff members are punctual, polite and perceptive.

This is not the sort of place where waiters hover at your table as it is fairly spacious but still the service carries it off nicely.