Eats

If You Only Had Time for 24 Hours in Kata or Karon...

Only have 24 hours in Kata or Karon, Phuket? Discover 5 standout places to eat and drink—from sky-high dinners and Thai-fusion brunches to bakery gems and bold borscht. Real food, real vibes, no fluff—just the best picks from locals.

Dining with a view: Dinner in the Sky Phuket takes fine dining to new heights

Ever rocked up in Kata or Karon and felt utterly paralysed by the sheer number of places promising "the best burger" or "authentic Thai"? Yeah, me too.

Phuket is a lot. Kata and Karon? Double that.

So if you only had time for 24 hours in Kata or Karon, let me save you the mental gymnastics.

We’re not doing a Top 100 list. Not pretending to be Michelin. Just 5 solid places that do things right. They’re from owners who live it, breathe it, and sometimes bake it.

1. Dinner In The Sky Phuket

Sky Dining at Dinner in the Sky Phuket – Unique Phuket Restaurant View

This isn’t dinner. It’s theatre.

At Dinner In The Sky Phuket, you begin grounded, strapped in by staff who are more like crew members of a very elegant spaceship. And then up, up, up — you're hoisted 50 metres above the Phuket coastline.

It’s smooth and quiet, and suddenly Kata and Karon beaches are laid out like a postcard. There’s a hush from the diners that turns into delighted gasps when plates start arriving. This isn’t fusion as a gimmick; it’s multi-course modern Thai and Western elegance with real culinary finesse.

The dramatic Volcano Dessert, a signature finale at Dinner in the Sky Phuket.

The must-try? The Volcano Dessert — a showpiece of mascarpone cream and meringue over mango and passion fruit, animated with a cold mist from liquid nitrogen. Half sweet finale, half magic trick.

You go for:

The drama. The views. The novelty of dangling mid-air in a harness with a wine glass in hand.
The precision of each plate, and how you barely notice the altitude when the food starts arriving.
A date night or proposal setting no other place in Phuket can rival.
Killer sunsets. I mean, you're 50 metres up. The panoramic view of Kata and Karon Beach is outrageous.
Fireworks? You’ve got front-row seats.

Romantic sunset views while suspended above Kata and Karon at Dinner in the Sky Phuket.

Insider note:

Book for sunset. Trust me.
If it rains, they cancel. It’s not a risk, it’s an adventure.
Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

You’re not coming here just to eat. You’re coming for a story.

📍 Dinner In The Sky Phuket

📸 @dinnerinthesky.phuket

🕙 Open daily, 10.00am – 10.00pm

2. Lost in Phuket (Kata)

Inside Lost in Phuket – Eclectic Café, Bar, and Bistro in Kata

Don’t be fooled by the name. You’ll want to stay found in this one.

Lost in Phuket is one of those places where the menu reads like they couldn’t pick a lane — and yet, everything still works.

Breakfast at 8am? Done. A slab of cake at 3pm? Absolutely. Nightcap with a whisky cocktail and one last burger? They’re open until 2am. From flaky croissants to red wine, they’ve managed to make bistro-bar-bakery-cafe not only possible, but somehow chill.

Lost in Phuket’s signature burger: beefy, balanced, and always served hot with crispy fries and fresh salad.

Standouts on the menu?

The burger — beefy, balanced, and always served hot.
Cocktail list — surprisingly extensive for a place where someone might also be ordering pancakes.
Cake counter — yes, the carrot cake lives up to the hype.

You’ll like it here if:

You want flexible food that fits any mood.
You appreciate service that’s sharp but relaxed.
You’re the kind of traveller who needs good Wi-Fi and good vibes.

Lost in Phuket Upstairs Café – Peaceful Second-Floor Seating in Kata

What makes it work:

Open 16 hours a day. That’s basically 24 in Phuket time.
Super clean, chill vibes, and friendly staff who aren’t trying too hard.
It’s got that "I could chill here on my gadget but also get a slice of cake and a mojito" feel.

Pro tip: Sit near the window, bring your book or a paperback, and stay for longer than you planned.

If you’re hopping between Karon Beach and Kata Night Market, this place is your breather.

📍 Lost in Phuket

📸 @lost_in_phuket_

🕗 Open daily, 8.00am – 2.00am

3. Manow Brunch & Bistro

A glowing welcome from Manow Brunch & Bistro, known for its relaxed Thai-fusion dining and live music in Kata.

You know those fusion places where everything feels like a gimmick? Manow Brunch & Bistro is not one of them.

Here, Thai and International flavours really blend, not collide. Think pad kra pow with soft-poached eggs. Think Western-style pancakes beside rich Thai coffee. Think dishes built by chefs who understand both traditions.

Evening glow at Manow Brunch & Bistro, featuring open-air dining under a rustic bamboo canopy.

The draw?

Location. Smack in the centre between Kata and Karon beach with shady seating and beach breeze.
People. You’ll see Thai locals grabbing lunch beside European digital nomads with iced Americanos.
Happy hour + live music. A late brunch rolls easily into early drinks.

A spread of Manow’s signature dishes, including their creamy Tom Yum Pasta and hearty all-day brunch favourites.

Don’t miss:

The Tom Yum Pasta. Spicy, creamy, weirdly perfect.
The all-day brunch. Legitimately all day.
Local discounts. Ask nicely. Show a smile.

Why you’d go:

The food is fresh, not "Instagrammable and disappointing".
They offer live music, happy hour, and a local discount if you time it right.
You’ll get actual shade (bless) and solid Wi-Fi.

Perfect for a slow morning after a night at Karon Beach or a midday anchor in your Kata-Karon wanderings.

📍 Manow Brunch & Bistro

📸 @manowbrunchbistro

🕘 Open daily, 9.00am – 11.00pm

4. Café Studio (Karon)

Inside Café Studio: a light-filled, beachside café perfect for brunch, cake, or a quiet moment in Karon.

Café Studio is still Phuket-fresh — a beachside bakery-café that’s soft launched but already has regulars.

It’s got that new-cafe smell. A little cinnamon, a little espresso, a whole lot of good intentions.

The cafe has a super chill, beachy vibe. If you work remotely, this is a great place to be, sipping coffee, and enjoying a bite, whether it’s breakfast or dessert.

The vibe?

Tucked just off the noisy footpath of Karon, it’s a calm hideout with beach air but no beach crowd.
You’ll find locals grabbing takeaway pies and tourists lingering over smoothie bowls.

Café Studio’s Big Breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast, and everything else you want on a perfect Phuket morning.

Top picks:

The Big Breakfast — eggs, bacon, toast, the works.
Smoothie Bowls — fruity, cold, and topped to the heavens.
Birthday Cakes — yes, you can pre-order and have it ready for the special occasion.

Why this made the cut:

You can get a smoothie bowl or a fresh ice cream and still sit there for hours.
It’s got a warm, humble feel with seriously good bakes.
They’re mid-range but use premium ingredients.

Café Studio’s made-to-order birthday cake with fresh strawberries and rich chocolate curls, ready for celebration.

Need to know:

No dedicated parking (grab a scooter or walk).
They opened just as high season ended, so expect evolving hours and menu specials.

If you want somewhere breezy to read, recharge, or just eat something buttery and flaky — this is it.

📍 Café Studio Karon Beach

📸 @cafestudiokaronbeach

🕘 Open daily, 9.00am – 6.00pm

5. Chekhoff Restaurant

Inside Chekhoff Village Restaurant: colourful, eclectic, and full of personality — from bookshelf to borscht.

Chekhoff Restaurant is a cosy family-style eatery that surprises you with its range. If you get tired of the Thai food, you can reset your palate by eating Russian comfort food here.

Not content with just one cuisine, this place pulls together with a huge menu for every taste, not just the best of Russian cuisine, they also offer Thai, Japanese, and European dishes into a genuinely welcoming dining experience.