Places to eat on Koh Kood
As Koh Kood has very minimal development, the island is not exactly overflowing with restaurants outside of the resorts. That said, there are still a few excellent standalone eateries scattered along the west coast of the island.
Most of the restaurants specialize in Thai food or seafood, with only a couple of eateries offering international cuisine. In our opinion, this is a good thing, and only adds to the islands authentic, rustic charm. We really loved eating fresh seafood on the beach everyday – it made the island feel even more like paradise, you know. However, if you would prefer to eat in the island’s resorts, most will allow visitors who are not already guests.
Cemyral Khlong Chao
Starting with Khlong Chao on the central west coast, there are a few cheap eateries here, including Chill Out Café and Rimtang Kitchen, plus a decent and popular seafood restaurant called The Fisherman Hut. They serve a nightly bbq for a reasonable price, plus the standard Thai fare. There’s also an Indian restaurant called Masaala Haat which has nice terrace views over the surrounding mangroves.
North of Khlong Chao
To the north of Khlong Chao, you’re likely to stumble across some great little cheap noodle shacks – the perfect place to stop for lunch if you’re exploring the island by motorbike or bicycle.
A few kilometers north, there’s a great seafood place called Kreten Seafood (Ao Salad Bay, near the ferry port), which is a good spot for lunch and has lovely views over the bay.
Further north, there is the exquisite Restaurant Benz (near Captain Hook Resort), which is mainly for the benefit of guests at the luxurious Soneva Kiri resort, although anyone is welcome. This really is a hidden gem, and it’s perfect for celebrating a special occasion (honeymooning couples, take note!). The restaurant serves a feast of delicious Thai dishes, served whilst you enjoy sunset views over the water. This probably isn’t somewhere you’ll visit every day, as it costs THB3,250 per head! But everyone deserves a treat once in a while, and it really is worth the cost.
South of Khlong Chao
South of Khlong Chao, there is a lot more choice, including some of the best seafood restaurants on the island.
At the very southern tip of the island is Chonthica Seafood (Ao Yai fishing village), which serves fresh seafood in an authentic fishing port setting. You can even check the fishing nets hanging off the pier to see what’s been caught that very day. There are also some other seafood restaurants in the village if Chonthica is full.
Close to Bang Bao Bay, the place somewhat misleadingly named Chiang Mai, is a popular restaurant with expats, who come here to enjoy northeastern Thai cuisine, and lots of it!
Nearby, backpackers will find some street food style stalls selling take-away barbeque chicken and som-tam; perfect for a picnic lunch on the beach.
Tip The best Thai food on the island can be found at Ngam Kho resort, and whilst it may seem expensive, the portions are large and can easily feed two people.
Cafes and Coffe Houses
Whilst coffee is obviously available at most restaurants and resorts, make sure to check out Viewpoint Café (Khlong Chao Beach, near Sunset Bar). They serve a range of delicious coffee drinks, including a Vietnamese-style blend. Vietnamese coffee is one of our favourite, so we spent lots of time here enjoying both the coffee and the great ocean views!
Nightlife
For nightlife, there isn’t really much going on, and party animals would be much better suited to Koh Chang. However, there are a few nice places to enjoy a drink and some stunning sunset views.
Sunset Bar (Khlong Chao) has the nicest views, but nearby Tawan Eco bar has a better atmosphere and good music.
Many of the resorts along the beach also have their own bar, and will happily welcome visitors that are not already guests of the resort. Bang Bao Bay is one of the best spots to enjoy a sunset drink with spectacular views and crystal clear waters.
