Guidebook for Ko Samui
Food Scene
Koh Thai Kitchen and Bar- Perched on a breezy hilltop amid a plantation of coconut palms, KOH offers simply stunning views of the lush island and blue ocean. It’s the perfect place to explore the island’s exciting flavors – both beloved and brand new.
40 locals recommend
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand
Koh Thai Kitchen and Bar- Perched on a breezy hilltop amid a plantation of coconut palms, KOH offers simply stunning views of the lush island and blue ocean. It’s the perfect place to explore the island’s exciting flavors – both beloved and brand new.
This restaurant has the reputation for serving some of
the best and most unusual food on Koh Samui and uses the freshest herbs, vegetables, and organic greens from the resorts own gardens. This award-winning restaurant is located at the tip of the head land and presents 270-degree views. A large selection of wines from many of the world's most respected regions is featured in The Cellar. Open daily for dinner.
31 locals recommend
Six Senses Samui
This restaurant has the reputation for serving some of
the best and most unusual food on Koh Samui and uses the freshest herbs, vegetables, and organic greens from the resorts own gardens. This award-winning restaurant is located at the tip of the head land and presents 270-degree views. A large selection of wines from many of the world's most respected regions is featured in The Cellar. Open daily for dinner.
Dine in an intimate setting offering direct beach dining or air-
conditioned comfort. Cuisine featured is Japanese in a sensual and chic environment; Sashimi is served as you like it or with one of the innovative special dressings from the chef. The tempting teppanaki grill is also always ablaze with a symphony of sauces, like wasabi and sea urchin roe butter for Tasmanian ocean trout or saikyo miso and Gorgonzola, which flawlessly garnishes a Matsusake steak. Open daily 6pm to 11pm.
60 locals recommend
W Koh Samui
Dine in an intimate setting offering direct beach dining or air-
conditioned comfort. Cuisine featured is Japanese in a sensual and chic environment; Sashimi is served as you like it or with one of the innovative special dressings from the chef. The tempting teppanaki grill is also always ablaze with a symphony of sauces, like wasabi and sea urchin roe butter for Tasmanian ocean trout or saikyo miso and Gorgonzola, which flawlessly garnishes a Matsusake steak. Open daily 6pm to 11pm.
This all-day, open-air restaurant is located at the resort pool and overlooks the beach at the Anantara Lawana resort. Sit indoors or out on the beachside for lunch and dinner where an impressive a la carte menu and well stocked wine cellar have you well taken care of.
12 locals recommend
Ocean Kiss
This all-day, open-air restaurant is located at the resort pool and overlooks the beach at the Anantara Lawana resort. Sit indoors or out on the beachside for lunch and dinner where an impressive a la carte menu and well stocked wine cellar have you well taken care of.
A hit with local expats and one of our favorite restaurants on the island, enjoy innovative comfort food with a twist. We highly recommend the peanut butter martini and any of the daily specials. No fuss! No fancy terms! No pretension! The Larder takes things back to basics serving up rustic fine dining. Closed on Sunday.
35 locals recommend
The Larder Ko Samui
A hit with local expats and one of our favorite restaurants on the island, enjoy innovative comfort food with a twist. We highly recommend the peanut butter martini and any of the daily specials. No fuss! No fancy terms! No pretension! The Larder takes things back to basics serving up rustic fine dining. Closed on Sunday.
This unique restaurant is positioned as romantic and exclusive. Guests can enjoy the most luxurious setting amongst the treetops. The menu encompasses carefully selected high quality fresh products brought together on your plate with all the years of the culinary team's experience. The menu is complemented with an extensive wine list. Open daily
26 locals recommend
Tree Tops Sky Dining & Bar
92/1 หมู 2This unique restaurant is positioned as romantic and exclusive. Guests can enjoy the most luxurious setting amongst the treetops. The menu encompasses carefully selected high quality fresh products brought together on your plate with all the years of the culinary team's experience. The menu is complemented with an extensive wine list. Open daily
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar Solo is an ultra-modern two-storey building located on Chaweng Beach Road right next to Starbucks Café’s Chaweng Branch; its Sci-Fi design makes it unmistakable. Solo Bar has a cool, sleek interior, an open-air front terrace and a great music policy as well as a pool table and six plasma screens showing major sporting events
30 locals recommend
Bar Solo
166 Chaweng Beach RdBar Solo is an ultra-modern two-storey building located on Chaweng Beach Road right next to Starbucks Café’s Chaweng Branch; its Sci-Fi design makes it unmistakable. Solo Bar has a cool, sleek interior, an open-air front terrace and a great music policy as well as a pool table and six plasma screens showing major sporting events
Bar Solo is an ultra-modern two-storey building located on Chaweng Beach Road right next to Starbucks Café’s Chaweng Branch; its Sci-Fi design makes it unmistakable. Solo Bar has a cool, sleek interior, an open-air front terrace and a great music policy as well as a pool table and six plasma screens showing major sporting events
54 locals recommend
Bar Ice Samui
162 Chaweng Beach RoadBar Solo is an ultra-modern two-storey building located on Chaweng Beach Road right next to Starbucks Café’s Chaweng Branch; its Sci-Fi design makes it unmistakable. Solo Bar has a cool, sleek interior, an open-air front terrace and a great music policy as well as a pool table and six plasma screens showing major sporting events
Miami meets modern Samui at 9Gems. Don your finest jet-set attire and drink, dine and dance the night away at this lounge restaurant. This over-the-top hilltop destination offers high-end cocktails and fusion feasts.
24 locals recommend
9Gems Koh Samui
Miami meets modern Samui at 9Gems. Don your finest jet-set attire and drink, dine and dance the night away at this lounge restaurant. This over-the-top hilltop destination offers high-end cocktails and fusion feasts.
WOOBAR- offers 270-degree views of the Gulf of Thailand and nearby islands. Its unique design allows the bar to transform from day to night, becoming the ultimate destination for unique W Happenings—lifestyle events that reflect our passion for music, design and fashion.
60 locals recommend
W Koh Samui
WOOBAR- offers 270-degree views of the Gulf of Thailand and nearby islands. Its unique design allows the bar to transform from day to night, becoming the ultimate destination for unique W Happenings—lifestyle events that reflect our passion for music, design and fashion.
is located hillside above Chaweng Beach with a stunning view over the town and Chaweng lake. Q Bar features a classy outside bar serving a broad selection of cocktails, and a spacious, stylish indoor area. The food menu offers a variety of Thai and Western dishes, including seafood, Angus beef, homemade pizzas, a wide selection of healthy salads and some unique signature appetisers. The venue features a state of the art sound and lighting system.
24 locals recommend
Q Bar
is located hillside above Chaweng Beach with a stunning view over the town and Chaweng lake. Q Bar features a classy outside bar serving a broad selection of cocktails, and a spacious, stylish indoor area. The food menu offers a variety of Thai and Western dishes, including seafood, Angus beef, homemade pizzas, a wide selection of healthy salads and some unique signature appetisers. The venue features a state of the art sound and lighting system.
Nikki Beach Samui is part of the legendary global network of beach clubs founded in Miami in 1997, with branches in St. Tropez, Marrakech, Ibiza and Bali The brand identity is glamor and indulgence, Starched white umbrellas shelter wealthy patrons sipping on champagne while they listen to DJ beats.
134 locals recommend
Nikki Beach Resort Koh Samui
Nikki Beach Samui is part of the legendary global network of beach clubs founded in Miami in 1997, with branches in St. Tropez, Marrakech, Ibiza and Bali The brand identity is glamor and indulgence, Starched white umbrellas shelter wealthy patrons sipping on champagne while they listen to DJ beats.
Entertainment & Activities
For adrenaline junkies, Samui Bungee Jump is western managed and operated and available all year round in Chaweng. Go ahead and jump from a platform 50 metres above the ground!
20 locals recommend
Bungee Jumping
For adrenaline junkies, Samui Bungee Jump is western managed and operated and available all year round in Chaweng. Go ahead and jump from a platform 50 metres above the ground!
is a unique and memorable golfing experience, truly one of the most beautiful courses in the region and recently voted as the one of the top five golf courses in Thailand
53 locals recommend
Santiburi Golf Course
Highway 4169is a unique and memorable golfing experience, truly one of the most beautiful courses in the region and recently voted as the one of the top five golf courses in Thailand
Samui's newest waterpark is a great day of fun for the whole family.
37 locals recommend
Pink Elephant, Samui Water Park
41 หมู่ที่ 1 ถนนแม่น้ำซอย1Samui's newest waterpark is a great day of fun for the whole family.
Football Golf is an original and more and more popular game created in Thailand at Samui Football Golf, and is becoming better known around the world. The idea is simple enough: it's a hybrid of football and golf in which players try to steer a football into the 18 holes in as few strokes as possible - using their feet of course.
38 locals recommend
Samui Football Golf
Football Golf is an original and more and more popular game created in Thailand at Samui Football Golf, and is becoming better known around the world. The idea is simple enough: it's a hybrid of football and golf in which players try to steer a football into the 18 holes in as few strokes as possible - using their feet of course.
The best way to see the jungle for folks who don’t fancy trekking on foot is to drive an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) in the jungle. Hours of fun to be had driving through mud and forestland with the reward of some of the most spectacular views on Samui otherwise inaccessible to most visitors.
24 locals recommend
Quadrophenia ATV Koh Samui
The best way to see the jungle for folks who don’t fancy trekking on foot is to drive an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) in the jungle. Hours of fun to be had driving through mud and forestland with the reward of some of the most spectacular views on Samui otherwise inaccessible to most visitors.
Canopy adventures offer four cable rides connecting six tree houses taking you on a scenic tour over the tropical jungle of Samui's north coast, covering a distance of 300 meter in total.
32 locals recommend
Canopy Adventures Secret Falls - Koh Samui
Soi 5Canopy adventures offer four cable rides connecting six tree houses taking you on a scenic tour over the tropical jungle of Samui's north coast, covering a distance of 300 meter in total.
Everything Else
A visit to this rum distillery, owned by a French couple, is a great way to meet some Samui people and taste some pretty good rum. The sugar cane used is from Thailand and the rum is offered in lemon, orange, coconut, pineapple and natural flavours. Be prepared to enjoy a few mojitos and have some fun.
51 locals recommend
Magic Alambic Rum distillery
A visit to this rum distillery, owned by a French couple, is a great way to meet some Samui people and taste some pretty good rum. The sugar cane used is from Thailand and the rum is offered in lemon, orange, coconut, pineapple and natural flavours. Be prepared to enjoy a few mojitos and have some fun.
Muay Thai - Muay Thai is held here every Saturday evening from 9pm and is free to watch but you must buy a drink from one of the bars to sit. The Chaweng Stadium and Petchbuncha Samui Stadium are the main stadiums on Koh Samui. Fights are several times a week and boast champions and amateurs from around the globe. If you’d like to take part or hire a personal trainer to come and teach you Muay Thai please speak to your Villa Manager who’d be delighted to arrange this for you.
38 locals recommend
Chaweng Muay Thai Boxing Stadium
Muay Thai - Muay Thai is held here every Saturday evening from 9pm and is free to watch but you must buy a drink from one of the bars to sit. The Chaweng Stadium and Petchbuncha Samui Stadium are the main stadiums on Koh Samui. Fights are several times a week and boast champions and amateurs from around the globe. If you’d like to take part or hire a personal trainer to come and teach you Muay Thai please speak to your Villa Manager who’d be delighted to arrange this for you.
Perhaps it's the excellent views of Koh Phangan that have kept Maenam as Samui's last predominantly backpacker beach. Or maybe it's the fact that many of its resorts are located at the end of long rambling pathways, affording a degree of privacy unavailable elsewhere
81 locals recommend
Maenam Beach
2Perhaps it's the excellent views of Koh Phangan that have kept Maenam as Samui's last predominantly backpacker beach. Or maybe it's the fact that many of its resorts are located at the end of long rambling pathways, affording a degree of privacy unavailable elsewhere
Chaweng is the beach on the east coast of Ko Samui and has a reputation for a pristine white beach and an excellent nightlife infrastructure especially on the northern end of the beach.
259 locals recommend
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng is the beach on the east coast of Ko Samui and has a reputation for a pristine white beach and an excellent nightlife infrastructure especially on the northern end of the beach.
Since its inception in 1998 visitors have been enjoying superb massage treatments among lush tropical vegetation and giant granite boulders, and drifting between herbal steam caves and cooling rock pools. Our professional therapists have been internationally trained in traditional Eastern as well as Western techniques, to deliver profound treatment results.
45 locals recommend
Tamarind Springs Forest Spa
265/7 Thong TakianSince its inception in 1998 visitors have been enjoying superb massage treatments among lush tropical vegetation and giant granite boulders, and drifting between herbal steam caves and cooling rock pools. Our professional therapists have been internationally trained in traditional Eastern as well as Western techniques, to deliver profound treatment results.
Only an hour by boat, nearby island Koh Phangan has some stunning beaches. Main beach and full moon party site Hat Rin isn’t stunning, but is a good starting point from which to grab a longtail boat to the gems along the coast, some of which are only accessible by sea
41 locals recommend
Ko Pha Ngan
Only an hour by boat, nearby island Koh Phangan has some stunning beaches. Main beach and full moon party site Hat Rin isn’t stunning, but is a good starting point from which to grab a longtail boat to the gems along the coast, some of which are only accessible by sea
Sightseeing
This viewpoint is the best of view that you can see the sea in panorama view.
61 locals recommend
Lad Koh View Point
This viewpoint is the best of view that you can see the sea in panorama view.
The Butterfly Garden is a beautiful tropical garden with hundreds of colorful butterflies along a charming garden trail. Visit a bee house overlooking the garden, and an insect museum of rare and wonderful insects. The garden also offers stunning views of the sea at several observation decks. This is a great place to spend an afternoon or morning
25 locals recommend
The Butterfly Hill @ Samui
ถนน ทวีราษฎร์ภักดีThe Butterfly Garden is a beautiful tropical garden with hundreds of colorful butterflies along a charming garden trail. Visit a bee house overlooking the garden, and an insect museum of rare and wonderful insects. The garden also offers stunning views of the sea at several observation decks. This is a great place to spend an afternoon or morning
Koh Samui has many temples that are worth visiting. Plai Laem is in the north of the island and is considered to be the most decorative temple. It features many large and colourful statues representing various gods and a lake where you can feed the fish. Please go ahead and ask your Villa Attendants for their recommendations.
173 locals recommend
Wat Plai Laem
Koh Samui has many temples that are worth visiting. Plai Laem is in the north of the island and is considered to be the most decorative temple. It features many large and colourful statues representing various gods and a lake where you can feed the fish. Please go ahead and ask your Villa Attendants for their recommendations.
Wat Phra Yai is a Buddha statue over 12 meter high; you may have seen it on your arrival into Samui from the airplane and is well worth a visit. It was built in 1972 and is Koh Samui’s most famous temple located on a small island connected to Samui by a bridge. Please dress appropriately as this temple is an important Buddhist symbol for Thai people.
344 locals recommend
Big Buddha
Wat phra yaiWat Phra Yai is a Buddha statue over 12 meter high; you may have seen it on your arrival into Samui from the airplane and is well worth a visit. It was built in 1972 and is Koh Samui’s most famous temple located on a small island connected to Samui by a bridge. Please dress appropriately as this temple is an important Buddhist symbol for Thai people.
Secret Buddha Garden is hidden away high in the hills in Koh Samui's interior, offering majestic views and an unusual collection of statues amid lush jungle surrounds. The gardens are a creation of an old Samui fruit farmer, Nim Thongsuk, who in 1976 began erecting several statues and temples around his family's verdant land.
110 locals recommend
Secret Buddha Garden
Secret Buddha Garden is hidden away high in the hills in Koh Samui's interior, offering majestic views and an unusual collection of statues amid lush jungle surrounds. The gardens are a creation of an old Samui fruit farmer, Nim Thongsuk, who in 1976 began erecting several statues and temples around his family's verdant land.
Hin Ta and Hin Yai, some fascinating rock formations on Koh Samui’s south coast, have been a source of mirth and wonder on the island since they were discovered by the locals many years ago. Art often imitates Nature, but less common is Nature imitating Art, especially the Art of the Ribald. But in Thailand anything is possible and these rocks, known as Grandpa (Ta) and Grandma (Yai).
80 locals recommend
Lalanta cafe
Thanon Had LamaiHin Ta and Hin Yai, some fascinating rock formations on Koh Samui’s south coast, have been a source of mirth and wonder on the island since they were discovered by the locals many years ago. Art often imitates Nature, but less common is Nature imitating Art, especially the Art of the Ribald. But in Thailand anything is possible and these rocks, known as Grandpa (Ta) and Grandma (Yai).
Parks & Nature
Known in Thai as Wat Namtok Hin Lad, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple (or Saunthamma Pala Nikrotharam Temple in full) is set in evergreen tropical jungle just before the trail up to the famous Hin Lad Waterfall, a few kilometres south of Nathon Town, Samui.
71 locals recommend
Hin Lat Waterfall
Known in Thai as Wat Namtok Hin Lad, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple (or Saunthamma Pala Nikrotharam Temple in full) is set in evergreen tropical jungle just before the trail up to the famous Hin Lad Waterfall, a few kilometres south of Nathon Town, Samui.
is about 80 meter high. You have to be prepared for a walk to get here. Rocks can be slippery so adequate footwear is advised and not ideal for elderly or people with restricted mobility.
103 locals recommend
Na Muang water fall 2 - upper natural pool & rocks
is about 80 meter high. You have to be prepared for a walk to get here. Rocks can be slippery so adequate footwear is advised and not ideal for elderly or people with restricted mobility.
Close to Na Muang Waterfall 1 and just a short walk from the car park. Rocks can be slippery so adequate footwear is advised and not ideal for elderly or people with restricted mobility. Elephant rides are also available in this area.
68 locals recommend
Na Mueang-1 Waterfall
4169Close to Na Muang Waterfall 1 and just a short walk from the car park. Rocks can be slippery so adequate footwear is advised and not ideal for elderly or people with restricted mobility. Elephant rides are also available in this area.
Arts & Culture
Located at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand, the Gallery La Fayette is a art studio mastering in fine-art reproductions and commissioned works of the highest standard.
25 locals recommend
Gallery La Fayette
Located at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand, the Gallery La Fayette is a art studio mastering in fine-art reproductions and commissioned works of the highest standard.
Hansen is an award-winning pro shutterbug who’s travelled the world. Samui showcases his superb photographs, especially his work on temples, monks and unbelievable beaches, in Chaweng’s Apsara Gallery as well as his artist residence up in the hills. Well worth booking a visit.
26 locals recommend
Cameron Hansen
Hansen is an award-winning pro shutterbug who’s travelled the world. Samui showcases his superb photographs, especially his work on temples, monks and unbelievable beaches, in Chaweng’s Apsara Gallery as well as his artist residence up in the hills. Well worth booking a visit.
Art Samui gives visitors an experience that offers the best of arts as well as a glimpse into art pieces that have redefined the art scene in Thailand. The art museum thrives on a type of art called Trick Art. Just as the name suggests, this form of art tricks the human brain into believing that the picture presented is in 3D
41 locals recommend
Art Samui Musem
Art Samui gives visitors an experience that offers the best of arts as well as a glimpse into art pieces that have redefined the art scene in Thailand. The art museum thrives on a type of art called Trick Art. Just as the name suggests, this form of art tricks the human brain into believing that the picture presented is in 3D