ÉTAT HER

Tom Holland Was Interviewed Making Pizza, But Ended Up Endorsing This Kingston Thai Pub Instead

To promote "The Odyssey," Tom Holland and Matt Damon made pizza on camera for The New York Times, but the conversation shifted to his go-to restaurant back home—The Cocoanut, a Thai pub in Kingston upon Thames that's been open for over a decade.

Hsin-Yi Ho, Food Editor
Tom Holland Was Interviewed Making Pizza, But Ended Up Endorsing This Kingston Thai Pub Instead

There's a bit of a mismatch here: an actor making pizza on camera for a shoot promoting Christopher Nolan's new film, yet ending up talking about a completely different cuisine. On July 14, Tom Holland sat down with The New York Times to promote "The Odyssey" (2026), cooking pizza alongside Matt Damon, who plays his father in the film. Mid-interview, the conversation veered off to his favorite restaurant back home—a Thai pub called The Cocoanut in Kingston upon Thames.

湯姆霍蘭德做披薩受訪,卻認證這家Kingston泰式酒館最好吃

This isn't some Instagram-famous spot—it's a family business that's been running for over a decade. The Cocoanut has been open since 2010 and is now on its third generation of ownership, blending a dog-friendly English pub with a Thai kitchen. The menu keeps things homey: pad kra pao, glass noodle salad, garlic black pepper fried rice, pad Thai, and a few curries, with vegetarian options listed separately on their website.

Holland isn't the first in his family to publicly love this place. His brother Sam Holland—who also starred in "The Impossible" (2012), set against the backdrop of the 2004 Thailand tsunami in Khao Lak—visited back in 2024. The coincidence also serves as a reminder that the Holland brothers' connection to Thailand runs deeper than just that one film.

湯姆霍蘭德做披薩受訪,卻認證這家Kingston泰式酒館最好吃

The restaurant takes "proper eating etiquette" seriously. The Cocoanut once posted on Instagram reminding customers that traditional Thai dining doesn't involve chopsticks—instead, you use a fork in your dominant hand to push food onto a spoon held in the other, then bring it to your mouth.

If you want to check it out yourself, the address is 16 Mill Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2RF. Lunch runs Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 3pm, and dinner service is from 6pm to 11pm.

Related

Tokyo's Star Map: From a Bowl of Ramen to Shojin Cuisine, the Contrasting Flavors of 10 Michelin Restaurants
Food

Tokyo's Star Map: From a Bowl of Ramen to Shojin Cuisine, the Contrasting Flavors of 10 Michelin Restaurants

From a kaiseki institution with eight consecutive years of one-star status and shojin cuisine born from monks' dietary discipline, to a rarely-starred ramen shop and a French restaurant on the 45th floor, these 10 Tokyo establishments showcase the many faces of a Michelin star—and all offer online reservations in Chinese.

Water Bamboo Shoots with Mayo Make It Onto the Tasting Menu—28-Year-Old Chef Opens mirei in Dadaocheng
Food

Water Bamboo Shoots with Mayo Make It Onto the Tasting Menu—28-Year-Old Chef Opens mirei in Dadaocheng

Kenta Iizuka, who trained in a two-Michelin-star kitchen in Tokyo, is opening his first solo restaurant, mirei, in Dadaocheng. He deconstructs everyday Taiwanese flavors like water bamboo shoots and sesame-sauce cold noodles, with tasting menus priced at NT$3,680 per person.

Thai Milk Tea Brand Karun Thai Tea to Open First Overseas Branch in October at AIRSIDE, Kai Tak, Kowloon City
Food

Thai Milk Tea Brand Karun Thai Tea to Open First Overseas Branch in October at AIRSIDE, Kai Tak, Kowloon City

Bangkok-founded Karun Thai Tea will open its first overseas branch this October at Kai Tak's AIRSIDE, coinciding with the brand's 7th anniversary, known for its handcrafted Thai milk tea with adjustable sweetness levels.

Paris' New Spot Mannie: Beetroot Burgers That Don't Pretend to Be Meat, Letting Plant Technique Take the Lead
Food

Paris' New Spot Mannie: Beetroot Burgers That Don't Pretend to Be Meat, Letting Plant Technique Take the Lead

Opened in August 2024, Parisian street food burger joint Mannie skips meat, fish, and even soy-based meat substitutes. Its signature Double Cheese burger, priced at €12.90, brings together beetroot, legumes, and mushrooms—applying meat-cooking techniques to vegetables instead.

Kai Tak Dining Guide: 13 Must-Eat Restaurants Before & After Games and Concerts
Food

Kai Tak Dining Guide: 13 Must-Eat Restaurants Before & After Games and Concerts

With AIRSIDE, The Twins, Cullinan Sky Mall, and Kai Tak Sports Park all opening one after another, a whole new dining cluster has sprung up in Kai Tak—everything from French bistros to standing sushi bars, all gearing up for that pre- or post-event meal.

Lai Lai Lai Opens Second Outpost on Jiashan Road, Turns Sauce Recipes Into Signature Dishes—One Dish Named After the Date Its Formula Was Born
Food

Lai Lai Lai Opens Second Outpost on Jiashan Road, Turns Sauce Recipes Into Signature Dishes—One Dish Named After the Date Its Formula Was Born

Thai restaurant Lai Lai Lai has opened its second location on Shanghai's Jiashan Road, where chef Guo Li serves up Thai-style pork ribs braised in 24 spices and salted fish shrimp paste clams—with sauce recipes so personal, their birth dates make it onto the menu.