10 Best Local Restaurants in Phi Phi

Authentic Thai cooking is combined with Indian flavours at Papaya Restaurant, which serves a mix of Thai and Indian classics. Choose between creamy green curry, mild chicken korma, or spicy lamb vindaloo. The menu also features Thai and Indian favourites like pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), glass noodle soup, aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower), and vegetable samosas.

Mop up your curry with garlic naan, or order a portion of fried rice served in a hollowed-out pineapple. There's a good range of delicious lassi flavours, along with fresh coconut water served in its shell. The décor is simple but colourful, with a big mural on 1 wall and menus pinned up everywhere.

Jasmin Restaurant is so close to the beach that you can sit with your feet in the sand. The menu focuses on tasty Thai staples like panang (sweet red curry), massaman (mild curry), tom yum (spicy sour soup), and chicken satay. It's an especially good choice for seafood – try the garlic and pepper shrimp or lemon steamed fish.

Linger over your meal with an iced coffee, latte or cappuccino. Italian gelato is available in various flavours. The interior is all highly polished wood, with greenery growing everywhere and open sides to make the most of the Thai weather. Grab a table on the covered terrace upstairs for the best views of the ocean.

Dow Restaurant's unique setup features 2 separate kitchens, with 1 solely dedicated to vegetarian and vegan food and the other serving meat and fish. The sizeable menu is basically a trip around the world, from Thai curries, fried tofu with Chinese cabbage, and tortillas to schnitzel with mashed potato and spaghetti in tomato sauce. There's also a great selection of Middle Eastern dishes like shakshouka (eggs poached in spiced tomato sauce), falafels, and stuffed pita bread.

The fruit shakes include great flavour combinations like lychee with strawberry or Oreos with milk. You can buy something to read on the beach from its shelves of second-hand books or play a board game while waiting for your meal.

Mama Ping Phi Phi is one of the most idyllic local restaurants in Phi Phi. Situated right next to the beach, it’s shaded by leafy trees and has outstanding views of old wooden boats bobbing in the sea. The restaurant attracts locals and tourists in the know with its first-rate fresh squid, either served steamed in chilli-lime sauce or stir-fried with garlic. You can also opt for noodle seafood salad, spicy papaya salad, and several great curries.

Try the signature 'Pad Mama', a stir-fried noodle dish served with seafood, chicken, or pork. The coconut ice cream is also excellent – it’s served in a fresh coconut and topped with cashew nuts.

Unni's Restaurant's cool cream-and-grey interior is a peaceful break from the hubbub of Phi Phi. It’s a local favourite for breakfast, with omelettes, homemade bagels and avocado toast among its most popular options. Brunch lovers can tuck into a Scandinavian breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or set themselves up for the day with a plate of bacon, beans and fried eggs.

The rest of the menu covers Thai classics like chicken panang (red curry) and sweet and sour vegetables, as well as international staples like burritos and nacho bowls, Swedish meatballs, spicy bean burgers, and carbonara. At night, breakfast is replaced with colourful cocktails, local beers, and glasses of prosecco. A must-try is the Irish coffee with whiskey and whipped cream.

Only Noodles is true to its name, in that it does nothing but delicious noodle dishes. The restaurant is hidden down a side street, and it's easy to walk past the simple covered seating area. Instead, go in, pull up a chair, and experience some of the best noodles in Phi Phi.

The simple menu gives you a choice of rice noodles, yellow noodles, glass noodles or udon (thick wheat noodles). Once you've decided, take your pick of chicken, prawn, seafood, squid or vegetables. All dishes are served with egg, chilli pepper, lime and bean sprouts. There's also an egg-free option for vegans. Everything is freshly made and served to you straight out of the wok.

ACQUA Restaurant is a smart and stylish joint offering superb Thai and European food in Phi Phi. Splash out on duck à l'orange, pan-seared steak salmon, black pasta with seafood, or juicy grilled pork tenderloin. Its tom yum goong (Thai sour soup) comes with fresh prawns, cilantro and kaffir lime.

You won't be able to resist some Instagram snaps of your dishes, which are artistically arranged and beautifully presented. Go at happy hour to indulge in a few extra margaritas, Mai Tais, or whiskey sours. Unlike most local venues on the island, ACQUA Restaurant has a wine list featuring sauvignon blanc, chianti, and a couple of rosés.

You'll be spoiled for choice with Garlic 1992 Restaurant's broad range of aromatic Thai dishes. Try its panang (red curry) with prawns, chicken satay with peanut sauce, steamed fish with ginger, or Thai pancakes. The restaurant’s red and green curries are made with fresh coconut milk straight from the fruit. Fresh seafood is laid out on ice, so you can easily choose your favourite fish or shellfish.

Keep cool with a strawberry daiquiri, piña colada, or sweet potato shake. Copies of the restaurant's Thai cheat sheet are available if you want to practise your language skills with the friendly staff.

Basil Bistro is a bright, lively restaurant situated on a busy street in the middle of Tonsai Village. The small handful of tables fills up quickly at dinnertime, so get here early to bag a spot. The interior is basic but cheerful, with strings of coloured lights hanging from the ceiling.

The menu is veggie and vegan friendly, but you can also order meat dishes prepared with tofu instead. Try Basil Bistro’s tangy fried ginger shrimp, cashew nut chicken, or vegetable noodle soup. The green curry is beautifully fragrant, flavoured with lemon leaf and coconut milk. Try the sweet frozen cocktails – all are made with fresh fruits.

Chili And Pepper Restaurant sits in a peaceful spot away from the hustle and bustle of Phi Phi. Follow the beach road towards the tip of the island to get there. It has an endearingly ramshackle look, reached by a set of old wooden steps surrounded by trees. Take a seat under the traditional thatched roof and admire the magnificent ocean views.

Chili And Pepper Restaurant is a family-owned place that sticks to familiar Thai staples like pineapple fried rice and papaya salad. Order the chicken red curry with sweet basil for something mild and creamy, or try the spicy grilled beef salad for a bit of a kick. The banana fritters or bananas in coconut milk make for a great family-friendly dessert.