Mermaid Shows, Mughal Tents, Century-Old Houses: Six Phuket Restaurants Turn Setting Into the Main Course

Phuket isn't short on restaurants with ocean views, but what really sets the standouts apart is a willingness to commit fully to a concept—and let the kitchen follow the narrative. An underwater mermaid show, a Mughal-style rooftop tent, a century-old Southeast Asian house—the common thread among this island's top restaurants is that the space isn't just backdrop, it's the reason the menu exists.

Acqua sits in Kalim Bay, founded by chef-owner Alessandro Frau, with executive chef Fabrizio Crocetta running the kitchen and Marcella Mocci overseeing operations. The sleek monochrome space, paired with a geometric ceiling installation, echoes the kitchen's focus on structure and plating, all with the Andaman Sea as a backdrop through the windows. The à la carte menu leans Mediterranean seafood: Sicilian red prawns with Avruga caviar and Hokkaido sea urchin, lobster fregola from Sardinia, mains of Mediterranean red mullet with Pantelleria oregano, and a rum-soaked baba for dessert. Address: 324/15 Prabaramee Road, Kalim Bay, Patong, Kathu. Phone: +66 76 618 127. Open daily 5:30pm–11pm.

Baba Lee is restaurateur Dax Lee's Peranakan concept, set inside a restored heritage house on Yaowarat Road. Chef Luca Brozzu translates Lee's childhood memories from Malaysia into a refined take on Straits-style cuisine. The space feels like stepping into an old family home, but the food is elevated: barramundi with Vietnamese coriander, a hearty kari kambing lamb rack, Phuket wagyu rendang with spiced rice, and a dessert finished with coconut, palm sugar and local Prakaan whisky. The cocktail program at the bar is equally serious. Address: 175 Yaowarat Road, Tambon Talat Nuea, Phuket. Phone: +66 98 015 4712. Open Thursday to Monday, 7pm–11:30pm.

hom is tucked inside the Sawan Pavilion at InterContinental Phuket Resort, drawing inspiration from the ancient Traibhumikatha manuscript to reimagine layered Thai architecture as a near-pure-white minimalist sanctuary. Chef Marcelo Baruch's menu leans into unexpected pairings: local oysters with tree tomato kombucha, fresh berries with bitter sator beans and ant eggs. A beetroot-and-caviar "butterfly" plate, sea snail with corn custard, and confit grouper with fermented cherries all come together through a wine-pairing tasting menu. Address: InterContinental Phuket Resort, 333 Moo 3, Kamala, Kathu. Phone: +66 76 629 956. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm–11pm.

Su Va Na is Dax Lee's other, bolder venture, built into the basement of Central Phuket Floresta mall, complete with a deep-blue aquarium, purple lighting, and live mermaid performances. Lee insists the focus is still on the plate—chef Atanu Nath's ten-course tasting menu draws on premium global ingredients: sakura masu served both raw and lightly cooked, a Hua Hin caviar cheesecake, foie gras royale, mains featuring quail and Kinross Station lamb, and a dok dala torch ginger sorbet to close. Address: B Floor, Central Phuket Floresta, 199, Tambon Wichit. Phone: +66 63 308 8262. Open Thursday to Tuesday, 7pm–12am.

Tambu sits atop Avista Hideaway Phuket Patong, where the "Tented Palace" design brings Mughal-era romance to life with actual tents overlooking the Andaman Sea in the distance. Chef Saurabh Sachdeva uses fire and smoke techniques throughout a multi-course Indian menu: it opens with ragda samosa and smoked beetroot, followed by a deconstructed take on the street snack jhal muri—puffed rice crisps, avocado snow and tamarind—before mains of Old Delhi butter chicken, and finishes with a mango white chocolate ice cream. Address: Avista Hideaway Phuket Patong – MGallery, 39/9 Muen Ngern Road, Patong. Phone: +66 95 834 7208. Open daily for lunch 12pm–2:30pm and dinner 6pm–11pm.

The Smokaccia Laboratory is the joint creation of Brigitta Houkamp and chef Luca Mascolo. Dinner begins with a champagne lounge before moving into a tasting journey built around local ingredients. Address: 116/4 Moo 3 Surin, Tambon Choeng Thale, Thalang. Phone: +66 93 179 4489. Open Thursday to Monday, 6pm–10pm.