After spending two weeks in Koh Lanta this July, these are some of our tried and tested recommendations.

To eat

Yawee – For classic Thai food in an ordinary restaurant sans bells and whistles, we loved this Halal certified establishment. It was close to Long Beach, set off the main road that runs through the island and had a rich menu overflowing with local delights such as pad thai noodles, som tam salad, tom yam soup, spicy seafood salad with glass noodles, and fried rice. Word has clearly gotten around about its classic offerings as in all the four times we dined there, it was always packed with diners. We were also enchanted by the many plump resident cats confidently lounging about the restaurant.

Jeab’s Dining, – For a hefty continental breakfast by the beach, we frequented this restaurant which was off Khlong Kong beach (and a stone’s throw from our Manao Villa). We feasted on eggs, toast, fresh fruits, coffee and fruit smoothies in substantial portions to get us through most of the day. On Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays there is also live music. We enjoyed our chats with the owner who had an interesting background of running a Thai restaurant in Egypt, then Chiang Mai and currently here in this laid back island where they have set up both home and restaurant by the beach with their family.

Seven Seas at Pimalai Resort – we wanted to try something a little upmarket one night and booked a table at what seemed to be the boujiest restaurant on the island. The location was everything – perched on a hilltop with a stunning panoramic view of the sea. Food was mainly continental, and quite decent too, but not quite the place for seafood pad thai. It had the usual spiel of a posh dining establishment – nice plating, competent seafood dishes, soup of the day, well presented-deserts. We enjoyed dinner for what it was – a pricier meal, doting service, respectable though unremarkable menu and mainly a place to catch a romantic sunset.

To shop

Kiki Koh Lanta – I was a big fan of this boho boutique filled with delicate pearls, floral scents, pastel and crochet dresses, bags and slippers. There are two outlets – a smaller version at the north of the island on Saladan, and the bigger HQ store at the south of the island at Kantiang Bay. I visited both stores and it’s a great place to pick up souvenirs for loved ones in the shape of nautical themed jewellery, crochet phone pouches that you can sling around your neck, and pocket sized fragrances of tea and rose.

To do –

Lanta Old Town – we spent a few hours here at the east of the island and it was an interesting walk through shops and restaurants on stilts over the seas, with a pier for boats taking you to nearby smaller islands. The vibe is rustic, quaint and strangely gives off an old ‘western-cowboy’ energy. The old town in fact was previously the nucleus of the island with an interesting history, described as a major port where ‘Arabic and Chinese trading vessels sailing between the larger ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore.’

National Reserve Park – We enjoyed our day trip here and it was recommended to us by many locals. It’s a safe space to swim in coves, hike and observe the area from a height. While parts of the coastline was rugged (where the lighthouse is) the other parts had soft velvety sand and an easy place to spread a blanket, read and sunbathe in between long dips into the water.

To stay

Pimalai Resort and Spa near Kantiang Bay would be the ultimate place to stay for the type of Thai luxury that we have grown to admire the past decade or so – eco-friendly, traditional architecture fused with contemporary structure, a property that is built around the natural structure of the hills and forest with good dining offerings. While we only had dinner here, we made a mental note that it’s a resort worth staying for a special anniversary or birthday. The entry price would be about 170USD per night (in low season) and a hillside private pool bedroom could go up to 1000USD per night (during peak season).

We were also comfortable with our simpler villas at Manao Villa, which we described further here.

Last words

Koh Lanta is often described as sleepy, un-exciting and more conservative than its sexier neighbouring beach towns such as Krabi, Phuket and the well known island of Koh Phi Phi. For us that was part of her appeal – a throwback into a more innocent time, where people could park and leave their vehicle in a public place with keys in the ignition and with no concerns of petty crime, where life retires after sunset and what accompanies you throughout the day is mainly the raw and unpolished beauty of nature.