Where unshoed charm meets Andaman allure: Surin and Bang Tao set the tone for Phuket’s chicest shores, from designer beach clubs to some of the best sunsets the world has to offer
By: Alessia Kerr
A CHIC DAY OUT
Start with a late-morning swim and local breakfast on Surin beach, a languorous lunch at Carpe Diem, drift into golden hour at Catch for a round of something sparkling, then amble along the tide line for a toes-in-the-sand Thai feast at Beach Cuisine. Round off with a nightcap and a perfectly cooked something-from-the-grill at Benny’s – or swap the order and surrender to Nora’s laid-back beats to close the evening under the stars.
SURIN BEACH
Once synonymous with barefoot glamour, Surin Beach in the early 2000s was Phuket’s catwalk: teak-decked beach clubs, champagne sunsets, and a hillside of discreet villas earning the coast its “Millionaires’ Row” moniker. The 2004 tsunami prompted renewal, but the decisive shift came with Thailand’s beach-clean-ups between 2014–16, which removed all commercial structures from the sand. The result is a rare, unmanicured crescent of pale sand shaded by casuarinas, with the high-end hospitality now set just back: The Surin on neighbouring Pansea Beach, Twinpalms and the Outrigger in the village, and Amanpuri over the headland. Day beachside hospitality has migrated to nearby Bang Tao; Surin itself exudes quiet sophistication.
Today the scene is less bottle service, more barefoot ritual. You’ll find volleyball nets at dusk, pop-up vendors behind the treeline, and families picnicking while the sky turns tangerine. From November to April the bay is glassy for swimming and snorkelling around the headlands; from May to October it draws surfers to playful monsoon swells. Pandemic-era stillness has given way to a considered revival, with Cherngtalay’s dining and retail (Boat Avenue & Porto de Phuket) five minutes away, and Laguna’s golf a short drive.
In short, Surin today has matured: less ostentation, more provenance — an elegant, naturalistic beach with luxury in its orbit rather than on its sand.
BANG TAO BEACH
Along the southern sweep of Phuket’s largest beach, where long-tail boats bob and the Andaman laps lazily, a polished food scene hums from late brunch to moonlit supper. From the Surin end to the Amora Resort, it’s the island’s most delectable stretch for coastal indulgence: chilled rosé, market-fresh seafood and kitchens that value provenance as much as presentation.
Slip just oFF the sand to Benny’s, a suave, softly lit dining room where craftsmanship rules. The bar mixes immaculate classics – martinis with frosted stems, old fashioneds with proper heft – alongside seasonal, tropical signatures.
Carpe Diem channels Mediterranean spirit with Thai-island ease: bleached woods, low-slung loungers and lanterns ready for dusk. Expect bright, clean flavours; vibrant salads, sharing plates that let the day’s catch shine, plus just-so pastas and risottos. There’s ample parking for its infamous Sunday La Dolce Vita brunch.
For supper literally on the sand, Beach Cuisine is Phuket at its most uncomplicated and delicious: tom yum that sings, wok-tossed morning glory, whole fish grilled to pearly perfection, and crab or prawns dressed simply with lime, chilli and herbs. Tables over the sand, lantern light and sea breeze set the mood; order icy beers or a citrus-forward mojito and let the waves talk between courses.
Bang Tao’s bellwether for beachside glamour, Catch Beach Club – once Surin’s star, now reborn here – glides from languid days to DJ-scored nights. Claim a poolside daybed or a polished deck table for pristine sashimi and crudo, blistered wood-fired pizzas, and Andaman lobster and prawns. Sundays mean feasting; Fridays, a crackling beach BBQ.
Before the bustle of central Bang Tao’s party scene, Nora Beach Club brings boho-chic ease: daybeds, bamboo accents and Thai-meets- Med sharing plates for lazy afternoons that melt into candlelit evenings.
Surin Beach is HERE
Bang Tao Beach is HERE
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