Tonsai Village Restaurants & Dining

Amico’s

A waterfront eatery with views out over the sands of Tonsai Bay and right up close and personal by the working boats, Amico’s is not necessarily the most romantic place to dine but it’s the genuine, in-your-face Phi Phi. A converted shophouse, there are plenty of sea breezes here to keep you cool over breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Beach Bar (The Pier)

The very first bar you hit when getting off the ferry and the very last when you leave, this is predictably a scintillating people-watching spot from the moment to first ferry comes in until the last at 17:00. Snacks, burgers, beers, cocktails, babies, stray cats and quite possibly the worst music on the island all add up to make an interesting place. If only they could do something about that music, though.

Italiano

Once the famous Mama’s restaurant, Italiano has been fitted out to look more like a ‘normal’ restaurant than its predecessor. With the usual raft of pizzas, pastas, spaghetti and ice cream, this is little Italy by the sea.

Le Grand Bleu

Enjoying its reputation as the best stand-alone restaurant on the island, Le Grand Bleu is a French class act with a tiny slice of Thai and has been catering to fine-dining tastes since 1992 – an eternity by Phi Phi standards. A 15-label wine list complements the wooden interior and with prices set far lower than several pretentious local resorts but slightly higher than surrounding restaurants, you’ll come out a winner here if you’re looking for a great meal in pleasant surroundings.

Pee Pee Bakery

This cult-status Phi Phi old-timer has a quaintly rickety touch to it. With an upstairs and a downstairs fan-cooled part, here’s where you can score homemade buns, croissants, pizzas, muffins, and even steaks and salads. Popular with the diving set, Pee Pee Bakery’s windows are lined with delicious goodies.

Tonsai Seafood

Tonsai Bay is a bustling and colourful place at most times of day. But when the sun sinks into the Andaman Sea and the lights go up along the coastline there is a tangible sense of magic in the air.

Tonsai Seafood is right in the heart of all this fairylike seaside sorcery and, like a fairy’s magic wand, the restaurant glistens and glitters with bright lights. Read Tonsai Seafood Restaurant Review...

Anna’s

Right next to Moskito Diving stands Anna’s. New, and with a pleasantly personal feel, Anna’s could be described as a family-run restaurant. Featuring English breakfasts but also doing a line in German and Italian dishes along with Thai, Anna’s is nothing if not versatile. Cooled by ceiling fans and with friendly English-speaking staff, it’s one of the better places to eat on Phi Phi. Try the ratatouille.

Cosmic

In a relatively new location, Cosmic is one of the island’s old timers and has the usual suspects on its menu from late breakfast to night dining although pizza seems to be its speciality. There’s quite a bit of wooden furniture and accessories here, giving the place an extra personality boost.

D’s Books

A little slice of European café society, smack bang in the middle of Phi Phi, D’s Books is the best café by far on the island and also has the largest stock of secondhand and new books. For a great cappuccino, smoothie, fruit shake or tea along with nibbles and a newspaper you cannot beat this place, a location where the staff genuinely seem to love their work. The wooden terrace is superb for people watching.

Esan Food and Le Trocadero

Here’s an unusual arrangement: an out-and-out Isan (Northeastern Thailand) food restaurant that’s joined at the hip with an out-and-out burger stand. Don’t ask how that works except to say that if you want fermented fish sauce with your hamburger this is the place to go to. Free Wifi.

La Piazzetta

One of the few restaurants on the island that actually takes its food seriously, La Piazzetta is a small eatery with high bamboo stools and tables, 13 different types of pizzas, pastas and an all-Italian wine list. It’s fan cooled with a small outside eating area. Tastefully fitted out and with a German/Italian owner, this place is worth a try.

Matt’s Joint

Matt’s is busy because of the popularity of its grilled food. Steaks and Australian burgers are the big draws here but you can also score fresh fish. There’s a modest but good quality selection of Aussie wines. Open sided and at a crossroads (traffic-free, naturally) Matt’s is a good place to take in all the street goings on.

Paed Thai

Paed Thai is a noodle shop that has got to be one of the most unusual-looking eateries in Thailand. The owner of this modest-sized shop encourages diners to write comments on the food, the island and on life in general on pieces of paper “Jimmy, I’ve waited too long for you. Anne X” and then glues them to the walls. As a result the walls are plastered with them. It’s all a bit of a fire risk but a great idea in terms of image. Oh, and it’s cheap, too. 

Pum

If you’re looking for a professionally cooked Thai meal in charming surroundings you have to try Pum. Easy to find because of its orange colour theme, Pum is part of a three-branch cooking school business (the other branches are in Ao Nang and Patong) that makes cooking fun, it’s logical that their Thai food is top range. Phone ahead to book classes.

Sports Bar

Another one of the original bars on Phi Phi, the Sports Bar has been rebuilt and refitted. The Sports Bar lives up to its name in that it has an actual bar to sit at (a relative rarity) and shows you-know-what on several screens. Specialising in English-style meat pies, sandwiches, jacket potatoes and breakfasts, it also boasts Singha Beer on tap – a lot more delicious than the bottled version.

Unni’s Restaurant

A Scandinavian restaurant, Unni’s can get pretty busy in the evening and for a good reason: it’s professional, well set up and not expensive. Serving Mexican food, good salads, both western and Thai food along with breakfast until 14:00, this is a cool place.

Valentine Resto

An all-day restaurant, Valentino sits diagonally opposite La Piazzetta and offers Thai and Italian food in a spacious setting. Essentially a converted shop-house, Valentine does a pretty good job of keeping clean and presentable. A good place for a quiet breakfast.