Guides
Thailand guides on travel, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle—discover top destinations, hidden gems, visa information, and essential tips. Plan your journey with The Thaiger, your trusted source for expert Thailand guides.
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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Do we need a Last Will and Testament in Thailand?
With the growing number of people retiring in Thailand, our firm has received several inquiries for a Last Will and Testament. The primary question that we receive is, “Do I need a will?” What does a Last Will and Testament do? The purpose of a Last Will and Testament is to direct funeral arrangements, determine property distributions, assign a guardian…
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Dining: Something for everyone at Moon Bistro
PHUKET: With the Cherng Talay area filled with flashy eateries, it is often difficult to decide where to grab a bite to eat. Driving down Lagoon Road, a small joint named Moon Bistro and Restaurant catches the eye at first glance. This elegantly-designed restaurant appeals to tourists, as well as long-term expats and locals, with both indoor and outdoor seating…
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Putting the fun back in Sunday
PHUKET: Those who enjoy Sunday brunch will be happy to know that Xana Beach Club relaunched its ‘Sunday Fun Brunch’ last month. The brunch is set in a scenic location overlooking Bang Tao Bay, making it ideal for spending a relaxed Sunday afternoon with family and friends. It features the largest number of live stations in Phuket, including a salad…
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Food: Fusion fare at Wok Pagoda
PHUKET: Located 10 minutes from Chalong Circle along the road to Kata-Karon, Mom Tri’s Wok Pagoda fuses gourmet Western and traditional Thai dishes together over an open-air pavilion. Nestled in the steep slopes of Phuket’s mountainous East-West divide, Wok Pagoda’s vantage captures a nearly 180-degree view of Chalong Bay, Phi Phi island and the carpet of lush terrain rising into…
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Indulge your Italian cravings
PHUKET: My tastebuds had been tingling for some authentic Italian food for a few weeks, so I feel fortunate to have discovered Leonardo DaVinci restaurant located in Kata Hills. The restaurant recently launched a new menu, in addition to a sizable wine list offering a variety of sparkling, white, rose and red wines. The newly renovated restaurant can seat up…
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Treat yourself to Sunday tapas
PHUKET: Good food and relaxation are what Sundays are all about. The Sunday Tapas lunch at Banyan Tree Phuket provides this and more. This weekly event is about a three hour affair, which starts at noon and replaces the resort’s Sunday Seafood Brunch. The ambience at the newly relocated ‘The Watercourt’ complements the meal, a live jazz band, a view…
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Dining in secluded luxury at Big Fish
PHUKET: You won’t know about Big Fish unless you’ve stayed at the Marriott Resort & Spa in Nai Yang. The upscale restaurant is tucked against the sea-side base of the modern hotel, and is nearly surrounded by Sirinath National Park. Even after arriving, would-be diners must speak with a bellhop to be driven down by golf cart to the restaurant.…
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Indulge your cheesebuds at Only Cheese
PHUKET: Three hungry Gazette editors with a craving for cheese descended on ‘Only Cheese’ in Kathu for lunch last week, and much to the annoyance of other editorial team members couldn’t stop talking about it for a week afterward. Whether you are a cheese lover or not, there’s something for everyone on the menu. At first glance, it looks like…
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Celebration of good food and good friends at Da Maurizio
PHUKET: It would best be described as a celebration of good friends sharing great cuisine when Rose Maitland-Smith, brand ambassador for Pommery, hosted an evening of fine dining at the beautiful Da Maurizio Bar Ristorante. Invited guests at the event last month included famed vintner Pascal Jolivet, who flew in from his Loire Valley estate in France to taste Chef…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Discover La Gritta at Amari
PHUKET: Recently awarded ‘Best Beach Resort in Asia-Pacific’ at the 26th annual Travel Trade Gazette Awards and the ‘2015 Best In Stay Elite Award’ by Orbitz Worldwide, Amari Phuket is a charming and elegant resort located at the southern tip of Patong. One of the greatest gems of this beautiful beach resort is the dining experience you will have within.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Head to hotcake heaven
PHUKET: Ever wonder what life would be like if all of your favorite foods were made with pancakes? Well, wonder no more. With the moto ‘If there is no pancakes in heaven, I am not going’, the Pancake Corner is making flapjack fantasies a reality with their inventive and creative menu of pancake-themed delights that are available all day, and…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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The art of Food Gallery
PHUKET: In Phuket Town, there are many options for your culinary taste buds to explore. In one block, you can find street food, Thai cuisine, Chinese-inspired dishes, breakfast and an array of coffee shops, so it’s nice when you find a place that you want to go to over and over again. For many people, this place is The Food…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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Teeing up a new menu at Banyan Cafe
PHUKET: If you’re looking for a change from all the sea-view dining on the island, head for Banyan Tree in Laguna Phuket and grab a table at the Banyan Cafe. A meal with a lush-green golf-course view will surely provide a break from the norm. Even if you are one of the many returning customers of the Banyan Cafe, there…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Food: You say Kobe, I say Saga
PHUKET: Have you ever heard of Saga beef? Most of us haven’t. Many of us, though, are familiar with Kobe beef – if not with its fabled flavor, than at least with its lore, which tells of pampered cows enjoying lives filled with Beethoven’s symphonies, gentle massages and buckets of sake before they meet their fate at the slaughter house.…
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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…
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