Tung Ka Cafe (ทุ่งคา-กาแฟ) - coffee

The beauty of reaching the top of Rang Hill is the iced coffee that they serve you when you reach the very top.

Tunka Cafe is also a restaurant but today I only needed a coffee.

Lovely it was too - strong and very cold. 

Coupled with the addition of a beautiful view.

  

Website: 

Email: 

Phone Number: 076 211 500

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: Top of Rang Hill, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000

Hours: 10:30 - 22:30

View Khao Rang Hill in a larger map

Two Chefs @ Kata Center

We chose to visit here because it was close to where my friend Gavin was staying and it was also close to Dino Golf so I have to admit Two Chefs@Kata Center was seriously convenient.

My first thoughts were that it was very popular  so that it must be good.  Chuen started with a cocktail and I think that I had a beer. I chose to have a dish which I don't normally have and it was from the Tex Mex menu - the Chicken Fajitas and they were very nice.

We would go again if this is the sort of dish we wanted OR Jemma just wanted to go to Dino Golf again.

Website:  http://twochefs-phuket.com/en/restaurants/twochefs-kata-center

Email:   katacenter@twochefs.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwoChefsThailand

Phone Number: 076 - 330 065

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: 32 Karon Road, Karon Sub-District, Muang District 83100

Hours:   

Chaiyo Seafood

If the truth be known we visited here because another restaurant was closed and this was only across the road. We had not been here previously because there were a number of stray dogs at the front and we were unable to enter.

The seating is adjacent to the Klong Mu Dong and there are wooden steps to lead you into the klong but I do not think that wandering onto this floating platform is a good idea - just look. The restaurant is not immediately seen from the side of the road or even when you get closer. There is a place to park out side which made it very convenient.

There is the choice to sit in an air-conditioned room, a traditional hut where you sit on the floor or simply on a table next to the klong - we chose the latter.

The environment was lovely - the moon was almost full and the wine was cold - Jemma was at a party so it was just the two of us and the food was not a priority but as I write this a month later I would have to be honest that we have not returned....

Website: http://www.chaiyoseafood.com/phuket.php (did not work)

Email:  Chaiyo_thee@yahoo.co.th

Phone Number: 076 393 142 

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: Adjacent to Klong Mu Dong, Ban Borae

Hours:  10:30 - 10:30 

   

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map 

Chern Cha Tea Room

After taking Jemma to school I like to be dropped off on the outskirts of Phuket Town and then I i like to wander down the street.

Okay I do have some favourite places to drop into for their specific drinks - cappuccino, coffee, bubble tea, cafe latte and more. Here is the best Cafe Latte that I have found so far.

The Chern Cha Tea room is part of the Sino Inn Hotel (as mentioned in the previous post) and is managed by them - which means that you can pop into the toilet next door.

The staff are very friendly, as usual in Thailand, but I like to remind the reader and it is nice to be recognised when I enter. The tea room is more than this but it is also a shop selling a variety of different items, all linked to Asia - paintings, paint brushes, kimono, bags and more.

Then there is the coffee - the cafe latte is superb - the flavour, balance and view is immaculate - at the moment (25 Nov) the best in Phuket which I have tasted.

Then you have the opportunity to sit outside and watch the traffic speed pass - sometimes this can be very entertaining. My favourite was of the man on the motorbike whilst it was raining - he had an umbrella up but he was driving into the rain?

Always a pleasure to drink coffee here - not tried the accommodation next door (Sino Inn) or the food, maybe on another day?

Joob Joob - Central Festival

After a shop which involved lots of bits and pieces Chuen and I retired to have lunch at Zen in Central Festival. As we wandered through the building we noticed that there was a new outlet - Joob Joob.

This seemed to be wonderful - the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the plethora of little cakes was wonderful.

Approaching the counter made me even more demanding - not one cake but two cakes, the choice was almost impossible.

I chose my two cakes and asked for a cappuccino to go with the two cakes.

It was immediately clear that the cakes were cooked freshly (later I noticed that there was an oven on the premises). The coffee was smooth with only a slight bitter taste (with no sugar added). Chuen went shopping whilst I sat here - lovely.

So why Joob Joob? Apparently Joob Joob is Thai for a small kiss - a 'peck on the cheek' I am led to believe but whatever it is it does make a name that you remember.

I do wonder why people sit in chairs provided by a Cafe but purchase nothing? (if you need Internet I was able to pick up Wine Connection - ssshhh.)

  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoobJoobDesignerCupcakesAndMore?fref=ts  

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: Central Festival, outside Phuket Town

Hours:  10:30 - 22:00

View tim in phuket - shopping in a larger map

The Mangrove - Panwa

As we stepped slowly down the steps the sea the small lodgings were carefully lit up and the gardens looked well look after - I say 'looked' because it was dark.

As we reached the bottom there was a faint blue glow from a swimming pool stretching parallel to the shore line - thought that it may well be a nice place to stay. 

As we walked towards the 'sea wall' Jemma discovered a big chess set. So we moved them about a bit and then we retired to the restaurant for dinner.

The restaurant was well set up and the designer had set up a set of Campbell Soup tins on a shelf - a fan of somebody?

The floor was covered in sand - which we felt was a nice touch and the furniture was very complimentary to the buildings and the concept.

The quality of the food was not as good as the quality of this though - maybe my expectations were now too high?

The food was reasonable and not expensive - but we had 4 dishes and 3 were ordinary - the fresh squid on garlic and pepper was superb though! My daughter did not enthuse to come back but it has only just opened so we will certainly visit again - maybe for a swim?

Note: the details on the website are not complete yet (Dec 2012).

Website: http://www.themangrovephuket.com/ 

Email:  info@themangrovephuket.com

Phone Number: 076 351 351 

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: 39/6 Moo 6, Ao-Yon Khaokhad Rd, Tambon, Wichit

Hours:  8:30 - 10:30 

     

View tim in Phuket in a larger map

Baan Saan Rak

This is a very convenient restaurant for us as we live 5 minutes away in the local village. This small restaurant is near to Klong Mu Dong in the South of Phuket.

The service is intimate and they seem to genuinely care about their guests.

The grilled fish is always superb, the beef strips succulent and then beer cold.

The restaurant seems to be placed in someone's front garden? There are a couple of singing chairs in the garden and there is a cascading pool system with fish swimming. There is a sometimes activity (Valentines Day 2012) and sometimes we have the restaurant to ourselves.

 

Website:

Email:  

Phone Number:  083 507 8333

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: Ao Yon - Khaokhad Road

Hours: 17:00 - 24:00

Cafelicious

After dealing with bank I wanted that much needed coffee - there was a new one across the road - looked new and nicely organised.

Sorry but on the day that we visited (2 Nov 2012) it was not - I read in the Phuket News that it is now popular 

(27 Nov 2012), I might visit again?

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

Pim's bistro & cafe (closed)

This was a welcome addition to our visits to Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World - the small cafe was now bigger and had a real menu.

We were not hungry but the coffee was great and the ice-cream was wonderful.

 

Website: http://phuketbutterfly.com/

Email:  info@phuketbutterfly.com

Phone Number: 076 210 861 

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: 71/6, Moo 5, Soi Paneung Yaowarat Rd, Rassada, A.Muang

Hours:  9:00 - 17:00

Phuket Coffee

Well this certainly does have a great view for the voyeurs amongst us who like to sip a cappuccino and watch the world go round - Perfect placement.


Phuket Coffee is situated at the end of Rasada Road where it intersects with Thepkrasattri Road. The coffee is freshly ground coffee and is good, even the iced coffee, but I forgot to ask for not too much squirty cream on mine.

But not the cakes - too heavy for me - unless you are hungry of course.


View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

Sino Inn Coffee Shop

This is a Coffee Shop which is immaculately laid out and is attached to a small boutiques hotel next door Sino Inn and the company also manage Sino House (another property in Phuket Town).

There are a number of Chinese Cultural Items to purchase - from painting material to bags - a vey pleasant atmosphere and the coffee is good.

Can't find all the photographs so I guess I will have to go again.

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

Krua Kanom

After wandering around Phuket I turned down another road searching for a long lost fresh fruit desert shop that I had decided to find and I stumbled upon this quaint little bakery - a very nice find and certainly worthy of further investigation.

I have to admit to know nothing about this little bakery - but the coffee was made in a Thai style but was not made of cheap Instant Coffee - I heard her grind the beans and tap the machine.

Their Iced coffee was very nice - next time I might try something to eat. I was not really interested in what was for sale but it certainly was a nice little find and would pop in again - Cheun (my wife) and Jemma (my daughter) would certainly enjoy it.

Maybe you would?

  

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map

The Beach Bar

It is wonderful (sometimes) that you can have the time to sort out photographs on your camera - I found these on a memory stick that I was preparing for the Vegetarian Festival.

These are photographs of my family visiting The Beach Bar again...
It is one of Jamie's favourite restaurants.

The food was freshly prepared - very good for our visitors - but I think that when we go by ourselves we get more Traditional Thai food - ask for it  'Thai style'.



Despite this the food was very good and a pleasure to eat - what made it even better (apart from the company) was the beautiful location - we arrived in the late afternoon and watched as the sunset over Big Buddha.

A wonderful dinner coupled with a fabulous location.

Website:

Email:  

Phone Number:  (M) 087 893 5337

Approximate price: $$$$$ 

Address: Ao Yon - Khaokhad Road

Hours:  10 a.m - 11 p.m.

    

View timinphuket - restaurants and coffee shops in a larger map