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Thailand best-of guides on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and property—discover hidden gems, top attractions, and expert tips. Explore with The Thaiger, your trusted source for the best experiences in Thailand.

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    How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?

    Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....

  • Meka Sky Lounge: Above the Rest

    Meka Sky Lounge: Above the Rest

    PHUKET: Our golf cart weaves through The Naka Phuket resort estate, climbing ever higher on the hill as we approach The Meka Sky Lounge. The building is a monolith with clean, modern cement walls rising up toward the vast tropical sky; a guard tower overlooking the enchanting and daringly-designed villa development by Duangrit Bunnag. On an island where stunning sea…

  • Threesome at Chalk & Cheese

    Threesome at Chalk & Cheese

    Three Phuket Gazette editors descended on Chalk & Cheese – A Brasserie by Thong Dee, located in the heart of Kathu. Three hours and ‘several’ glasses of wine later, a single opinion for three different reasons was ready to be plated up. ISAAC LOVES THEM BALLS THERE are certain balls you remember, and certainly certain balls you crave. Made from…

  • Fusion food gets down in town at Surf & Turf

    Fusion food gets down in town at Surf & Turf

    PHUKET: December ushered in a new air of excitement to the island. The start of the holiday season brought the streets to an even busier bustle, as did the large number of arrivals at Phuket International Airport. Along with those arrivals was the appearance of new shops and restaurants open and ready to please the hungriest of patrons for the…

  • Menu changes mark new ‘season’

    Menu changes mark new ‘season’

    PHUKET: The soft sounds of warm hands playing on a baby grand in the bar area of Mom Tri’s Villa Royale rise gently above the sound of the waves splashing onto the rocks at the north end of Kata Noi Beach. It’s already high season, so the waves, catching the light of a three-quarter moon, are rolling in small and…

  • Planting seeds to grow a community

    Planting seeds to grow a community

    PHUKET: Late last year Laguna Phuket Resort announced the launch of a new program aimed at helping underprivileged youth, under the slogan ‘Plant A Seed, Change A Life’. The ‘Seedlings Phuket’ initiative includes a nine-month food and beverage training program specializing in career and personal development at Banyan Tree Phuket Resort, with an additional nine-month work experience at the newly…

  • Food: Buggy beverages – Isaan dream, health concern or mixologist magic

    Food: Buggy beverages – Isaan dream, health concern or mixologist magic

    PHUKET: If I found a bamboo grub in my tom yum rum and coke, I would either assume the health office hadn’t been through that particular bar in Phuket in a long time, or my bartender was adding some Isaan flare to an already Thai-style cocktail. As it turns out – health code concerns aside – it might just mean…

  • Confessions of a Caffeine addict

    Confessions of a Caffeine addict

    PHUKET: Located on the very busy Wichitsongkram Road, near Prince of Songkhla University in Kathu, is one of the best places in Phuket to satisfy all Italian cravings. Caffeine Food and Coffee Bar has been part of the Kathu community since October 2013. Opened by Andrea Capucci and his wife Kui, Caffeine offers up some of the best authentic Italian…

  • Food: Welcome to the dark side

    Food: Welcome to the dark side

    PHUKET: The black burger is all the rage in Bangkok lately, but unless one is actively paying attention to food trends from around the nation, one might not have had any idea that such a trend even existed. What makes this particular burger special, and gives it its color identifier, is its black bun, which has edible charcoal powder mixed…

  • I did it all for the gnocchi

    I did it all for the gnocchi

    PHUKET: Tucked away in a small soi off Rassada Road in Phuket Town, just after Krungsri Bank, you will discover one of the island’s many hidden gems. Unlike the ever-changing coffee shop and restaurant scene in town, Spaghetti & C has been around for longer than I can remember. Nee, the owner, has been serving up some of the best…

  • Serving Indian soul food

    Serving Indian soul food

    PHUKET: The dishes served up by Spice Box’s chef, Savita Sriram, are the Indian version of the Southern American soul food that makes New Orleans a must-stop destination on any foodie’s travels – they are simply everything you want from Indian food and nothing you expect. “We are not a fancy restaurant. We are not tandoori chefs. We are none…

  • They say: “A pizza a day’

    They say: “A pizza a day’

    PHUKET: At a mere seven months old, the OSOT Apotheke Cafe and Pizzeria on Phuket Road in town has already begun to stand out as one of the best places to grab a coffee, all-day breakfast and, yes, even a pizza. With fresh ingredients, homemade food and a very cool atmosphere, OSOT has locals and expats excited and full of…

  • A Phuket high from Smokin’ Fish

    A Phuket high from Smokin’ Fish

    PHUKET: THERE has been a lot of buzz lately about new and upcoming restaurants popping up all over Phuket Town, but there is one restaurant that made its mark long ago and has locals and expats alike lined up at the door. Smokin’ Fish on Phang Nga Road is a sight for sore eyes and a haven for the hungry.…

  • Brunch with a bang at Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort

    Brunch with a bang at Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort

    PHUKET: Tucked away in scenic Kamala you will find the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort. With a beautiful view of the Andaman from up in your room or from the refreshing infinity pool down below, it’s clear that luxury is only steps away. This quality carries over to the resort’s newest attraction, the Sunday brunch, which kicked off on March 29.…

  • Going cuckoo for quality cocoa in our chocolates

    Going cuckoo for quality cocoa in our chocolates

    PHUKET: Though the week-long Classic Belgian Gourmet Chocolate Of Legend event hosted by the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa came to a close on March 13, some of the delicious creations remain. French chocolatier and pastry chef Jean-Marc Bernelin not only led classes and chocolate-making demonstrations, but he also created a number of creamy and dark chocolate masterpieces to…

  • From brunch to beach: Nikki Beach Club’s Amazing Sunday Brunch

    From brunch to beach: Nikki Beach Club’s Amazing Sunday Brunch

    PHUKET: At the end of most Sunday brunches, as the meal winds down and champagne diminishes, you start to think about the day ahead, and how to make the most of it, so the impending doom of an inevitable Monday doesn’t seem so bad. The focus of the event is often only the food – as delicious as it may…

  • Hotpot: Sharing is caring

    Hotpot: Sharing is caring

    PHUKET: There are two ways to make your food taste better: eat it fresh and share it with friends. There are few dishes out there fresher and easier to share than an Asian hotpot. To try the latest incarnation in Phuket, visit Karon Beach Square’s Orient Asia restaurant. The concept of Karon Beach Square is based on a simple goal:…

  • Dining among the gods at Le Versace

    Dining among the gods at Le Versace

    PHUKET: The journey to Le Versace began with an exciting climb up an impressive hill. It felt like we were ascending to a restaurant for the gods. Our anticipation of what was to come heightened with the trek. On arrival, we were ushered to the balcony, where we were treated to a spectacular view of Patong Beach – a much…

  • Phuket’s Jasmine B brings feline touch to fine dining

    Phuket’s Jasmine B brings feline touch to fine dining

    PHUKET: Jasmine B is a charming new restaurant opposite Home Pro Shopping Center on Chao Fa Road West. It also happens to be the name of owner and manager Khun Nidnoi’s pet Bengal cat, which is fitting, as this is one lovely hang-out for cool humans and cats alike. Jasmine B is air-conditioned, elegantly decorated and boasts a state-of-the-art glass-fronted…

  • Aziamendi: Breaking culinary boundaries

    Aziamendi: Breaking culinary boundaries

    PHUKET: Some restaurants are defined by their menu, others by their location or wines. Iniala’s Aziamendi is difficult to define. It gets everything right – the menu, the location and the wines. But, if there is one thing that sets it apart, it’s the boundaries that it breaks. Where to begin? Take the chef, for a first example. Eneko Atxa…

  • Beefing up the classic lazy Phuket beachside Sunday BBQ

    Beefing up the classic lazy Phuket beachside Sunday BBQ

    PHUKET: To live on a tropical island like Phuket and not to go to the beach? It’s a crime! And yet, busy schedules, early sunsets and impossible heat during the day, all seem like good excuses for not making it there. At times, it feels like we only see the beach in our friends’ Facebook posts. Luckily, Sunday is here…

  • Enjoy a crackin’ meal at The Crab House in Patong

    Enjoy a crackin’ meal at The Crab House in Patong

    PHUKET: Get ready to get your hands dirty. With shells cracking, sending fragments flying all over the place, dining at the The Crab House in Patong isn’t your average meal out – it’s an experience. “We have something very special here, something nobody else has – the biggest mud crabs in Thailand. They come from a secret location, and we…

  • Thanyapura’s brunch simply DiVine (video)

    Thanyapura’s brunch simply DiVine (video)

    PHUKET: If Phuket has a favorite meal, it’s got to be Sunday brunch. Just about any respectable hotel or resort has one on offer, and most are doing a great job with it – inviting guests for incredible food in spectacular locations. Thanyapura, which has long-offered a delectable Sunday brunch variation, recently came up with a new Sunday brunch formula…

  • Local flavors with a stunning Phuket view

    Local flavors with a stunning Phuket view

    PHUKET: Phuket is a unique island, unlike any other in Thailand, and many consider it to be more of a separate entity with its own culture, history and cuisine. All three can be discovered in the narrow lanes of Old Phuket Town. But, if your main focus is food and you like to dine while enjoying a sea view, Senzees…

  • Senzanome: No name, just flavor

    Senzanome: No name, just flavor

    PHUKET: Confidence is silent, insecurities are loud. In a world of bragging loudmouths, marketing talk and aggressive advertising, food at Phuket’s Senzanome restaurant speaks for itself. At the far end of Phuket Boat Lagoon, right on the edge of a yacht pier, is a quiet place. There are no crowds here and no motorbikes zooming back and forth, just an…

  • Dining: Phuket’s chef Garfield marries East and West with elegance at Zeascape

    Dining: Phuket’s chef Garfield marries East and West with elegance at Zeascape

    PHUKET: You’re probably familiar with the feeling of staring at a long menu, only to realize that everything looks delicious and you have no idea what to opt for. For Phuket foodies, it’s a daily struggle. With the island’s immense variety of dining options, it’s best to choose wisely. Uzenmaya Hotel’s Zeascape Restaurant is one wise choice. It’s easy to…

  • Discovering familiar flavors in new ways in Phuket

    Discovering familiar flavors in new ways in Phuket

    PHUKET: We all feel adventurous sometimes, eager to try new things, explore the terra incognita. Yet, there are times, when all we crave is the well known, the familiar, the home-cooked. La Gritta’s new “Discovery Menu” is the right choice, no matter what your mood is. Scanning through La Gritta’s new Discovery Menu is more relaxing than exciting. It’s all…

  • When a plate is turned into a canvas

    When a plate is turned into a canvas

    PHUKET: Sitting at JW Marriott’s Cafe, I look down on my plate and see a piece of art. Ingredients are elaborately piled up to form a miniature sculpture, and there are swooshes of sauce and sprinkles of spices, all resembling a contemporary painting. On top of these visual impressions, is the aroma rising to my nostrils and soon after, the…

  • Phuket’s top chefs join forces to benefit the Home & Life Orphanage Foundation [video] | Thaiger

    Phuket’s top chefs join forces to benefit the Home & Life Orphanage Foundation [video]

    Phuket Today spoke with Iniala’s Danny Drinkwater about the Enchanted Evening and meets the chefs who will be on the auction block on Nov 1. PHUKET: Food and sharing go together like a horse and carriage. The upcoming “Enchanted Evening” charity dinner, which will take place at the five-star Centara Grand Beach Resort on November 1, is about to take…

  • An island of Asian flavors in Patong’s fast-food strip

    An island of Asian flavors in Patong’s fast-food strip

    PHUKET: It’s easy to forget you’re in Asia when walking down the busy streets of Patong. Pizza, burgers and steaks are all widely available, but try and find some oriental flavors and you’ll be faced with a challenge. Here’s a hint – if you’re after some of the best Asian flavors in Patong, look up. Located on the 7th floor…

  • The Slaughter of the Veggies: A food guide for Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival [video] | Thaiger

    The Slaughter of the Veggies: A food guide for Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival [video]

    PHUKET: Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival is upon us again (story here). The unmistakable sound of popping firecrackers meant to drive away evil spirits can be heard in the distance, competing with eery Chinese prayers that play on repeat at all hours of the day. Inside the shrines, there is a quiet reverence as devotees of all ages and backgrounds make merit…