Day 1: Old Phuket Town
Breakfast: Mu Krob Ji Hong
Start your morning with a delicious, filling meal at Mu Krob Ji Hong while getting a feel of how Phuket residents start their day. Their roasted pork over rice is spot-on and has been beloved by locals for decades. The crispy bite-sized pork belly is lean and flavorful, and comes with a soothing cup of soup and fresh vegetables. You can also opt for their charcoal oven-roasted chicken or braised pork—these dishes are also perfect if you want to charge up for a whole day in Phuket Old Town.
66/6 Vichitsongkram Rd
091-825-6868
Open Sat-Thu 06:00-14:00
Coffee: The Shelter Coffee Phuket
Tucked on the fringes of Phuket Old Town, The Shelter Coffee is a warm and homey space with a lovely green backyard. A wide selection of coffee beans from around Thailand and all over the world are on offer. We recommend taking a seat at the bar and ordering one of their specialty coffees. Owner/barista Co is particularly proud of their AeroPress-made brews.
97 Dibuk Rd.
099-302-4097
Open Thu-Tue 07:30-16:00
Museum: Thai Hua Museum
Take a trip back in time and discover the history of Phuket’s first Chinese immigrants. Located in an old Sino-Portugese building that was once the first Chinese-language school in Phuket, the museum highlights how the Hokkien Chinese came, lived and flourished in the province, and how their culture and heritage have been preserved today.
28 Krabi Rd.
076-211-22
Open Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00
Lunch: The Charm
Dine like a local at this beautifully refurbished, traditional Phuket-style house in Old Town. Savor hard-to-find Southern Thai, Hainanese and Peranakan dishes that use locally sourced ingredients. Do try sour curry with fish, pineapple kian tord (a traditional sticky rice stuffed with seafood and roots) or Chinese-style pork steak.
93 Dibuk Rd.
076-530-199
Open Thu-Tue 11:00-21:00
Dessert: Torry’s Ice Cream
Treat yourself to some ice cream after a long day of wandering through Phuket Old Town. One of Soi Romanee’s many converted Sino-Portugese shophouses is home to this rosy pink store that sells premium ice cream made with local ingredients and variations of traditional Phuket desserts. A favorite is the Black Sesame Ice Cream with Keemun (a Chinese black tea) or Bi-Co-Moi, where Phuket black sticky rice is topped with ice cream.
16 Soi Rommani
076-510-888
Open Mon-Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-21:30
Dinner: La Gaetana
This charming Italian spot in Old Town is popular with both locals and tourists, so make sure to book a reservation before going. Although the daily specials are worth a look, you can never go wrong with ordering classics such as homemade pasta with Phuket lobster, rocket salad with Italian sausage, sea bass fillet, and tiramisu.
352 Phuket Rd.
076-250-523
Open Mon-Wed 12:00-14:00, 18:00-22:00, Thu 18:00-22:00, Fri 12:00-14:00, 18:00-22:00, Sat-Sun 18:00-22:00
Drinks: Dibuk House
One of the finest cocktail bars in Phuket Old Town showcases a fusion between the West and Thailand’s southern region. The sleek and modern lounge is a great place for sipping both classic and crafted cocktails made with local and seasonal ingredients.
37 Dibuk Rd.
082-733-0442
Open Mon-Sun 19:00-00:00
Late Night: Go Benz
This long-standing hotspot is frequented by Phuket locals and visitors who queue up, day or night, for the eatery’s dry rice porridge. Each bowl comes with lots of toppings and a warm peppery broth that soothes both the soul and stomach after a long day.
Krabi Rd.
084-060-7799
Open Tue-Sun 18:30-03:00
Day 2: Outside Phuket Town
Breakfast: Roti Taew Nahm
At this Old Town eatery, early birds can get roti that’s hot off the pan and Muslim breakfast staples made fresh before venturing out for more sightseeing. Pick a curry to go with the crispy and flaky rotis, which also comes topped with fried egg. Sweet rotis are available, too.
150 Thalang Rd.
Open Mon-Sun 07:00-12:00
Coffee or tea?: Campus Coffee Roaster and Ryn
Can’t decide whether to have coffee or tea? Why not have both to start your day? Campus Coffee Roaster is a welcoming sun-drenched space that offers specialty local beans roasted in-house and various beans to take home, while Ryn is a slow bar specializing in tea (especially matcha) and Japanese-inspired desserts.
Campus Coffee Roaster
6 Krabi Rd.
092-218-9292
Open Mon-Sun 08:00-18:00
Ryn
8 Krabi Rd.
089-472-2495
Open Mon-Wed 09:00-19:00, Fri-Sun 09:00-20:00
Lunch: Mor Mu Dong
A sumptuous lunch in a rustic wooden hut set within a mangrove forest is worth the trek out of Phuket City. The menu at this renowned restaurant changes according to what’s in season and what’s available at the market on that day. The food (mostly Phuket specialties) may look simple, but each dish is packed with flavor and meticulously made. Signature dishes include stuffed mackerel and spicy salad with sea grapes.
9/4 Mu 3, Soi Pa Lai
088-766-1634
Open Mon-Sun 10:00-21:30
Afternoon: Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Tour
There are many noteworthy products made in Phuket, including award-winning Thai spirit Chalong Bay Rum. The brand has its own distillery, which offers guided tours for those who’d like to learn how they sustainably make their rum out of locally harvested sugarcane. The basic tour lasts half an hour, but you can also opt for a two-hour session, which includes a cocktail-making lesson and rum tasting.
Sunset Dinner Cruise on a catamaran
A holiday in Phuket won’t be complete without witnessing the sun set over the Andaman Sea. Experience this natural splendor while cruising along the cape in a luxurious catamaran. Go for a dip and snorkel in crystal-clear waters before dining with the sunset right before your eyes. It’s the perfect epilogue to an amazing Phuket trip.
