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 be – without anything exciting to follow it up.

This is not the case at Nikki Beach Club’s Amazing Sunday Brunch. This isn’t just a brunch – it’s a spectacular event. The jovial energy is palpable and the atmosphere is unlike any other Sunday brunch I have attended – and I’ve enjoyed my fair share of them.

As you are graciously welcomed to the open air venue, you can see Layan Beach ahead of you, just beyond a restaurant packed full of relaxed diners enjoying an impressive spread of irresistible foods.

It’s immediately evident that this particular brunch is the place to be. There are young, lively tourists, happy families and even a sprinkling of Phuket expats and residents dining, playing in the pool, laying on sunbeds or taking advantage of one of the two poolside bars. The crowd is diverse, with varying amounts of energy – and clothing – but everyone has a smile on their face.

I am shown to my table and asked to order a drink. I opt for a young coconut, which is promptly delivered to me before the kind server invites me to enjoy the experience.

There are various food stations scattered around the restaurant: a beautiful sushi selection, a meat-carving station, a salads table, fresh seafood on ice, a bread and pastries area, an omelet and pad thai creation station and, of course, a dessert counter.

With brunch, it’s best to try a little bit of everything – and so I tried.

To start, there was the hand-rolled sushi (which came with a smile from the sushi chef), fresh prawns, an omelet, ahi tuna pasta and a few choice salad dishes.

The chosen meat, pork, was so juicy and tender that it practically slid off the bone. The prawns were massive, and tasted as if they had been caught and steamed moments before being plopped onto my plate. Everything was exploding with flavor – sadly there are numerous dishes I could not make room for.

Throughout the meal the server was quick, detail-oriented and attentive. I haven’t had such great service in a restaurant since I arrived in Phuket almost two years ago. Without a doubt it enhanced the experience.

After finishing off the mouth-watering meal with a just-the-right-amount-of-sweet coconut cake and a hot coffee, it was time to venture outside to join my fellow bikini-clad patrons.

Before I could get up from my table, though, there was the roaring of an engine. Suddenly, a man on a gleaming black motorcycle zoomed through the restaurant, with a stunning woman riding pillion and holding a giant – for lack of a better word – bottle of champagne, which had sparklers attached to the top.

So, just when I thought the Sunday brunch couldn’t get more unique, I was proven wrong.

At Nikki Beach Club, the fabulous culinary start to the day was only the beginning – the party was just getting started. No matter what you want from your day – relaxation, family time, a party with friends – Nikki Beach has it. And they deliver it with class, style and taste.

— Mauri Grant