Phuket is a food lover’s paradise. From street stalls to hip bistros, here are a few worth going out of your way for. 

La Bastogne Belgian Bakery (26/6-7 Chaofa Rd., Ao Chalong, 076-381-461) offers breads, croissants, sandwiches, tarts, pies, cakes, chocolate, coffee and more. B100-150. Get their brownie (B35); it’s so good one is never enough.  

Flavors (Banthai Beach Resort, Beach Rd., Patong. 076-292-576), which moved from the hills into Patong a few years ago, then got destroyed by the tsunami, is still serving refined and creative cuisine with Thai and French influences—Chef Arkom is Siamese, his wife Cathy is Francaise.

Ka Jok See (26 Takuapa Rd., Phuket Town, 076-217-903) serves ridiculously overpriced Thai food that isn’t all that great. But their entertainment—overweight, aging divas lip-synching to Marylin Monroe and Shirley Bassey—has a lot more style than Simon Cabaret’s. The place, and adjoining antique shop, is also full of retro charm.
 
Kan Eng 2 (9/3 Chaofah Rd., Muang, 076-381-323), like its recently remodelled sister restaurant, is tourist-friendly but still good—and cheap—enough that it’s still packed with locals, who come for the food as well as the open-air, ocean-front atmosphere. Don’t miss the haw moke and beur toht.

Lim’s Restaurant & Bar (28 Prabaramee Soi 7, Kalim Beach, Patong, 076-344-834. www.lim-thailand.com), a funky fusion restaurant combines contemporary art with creative dishes. Aside from its signature offerings like Vietnamese spring rolls and the pomelo salad, it’s also famous for cocktails. Must try: mango daiquiri.

Maeporn Seafood (Pang-Nga Rd., Muang, 076-212-106) is famous for Southern food. Our favorite is their poh taek haeng (stir-fried, sweet and sour seafood with homemade curry paste and basil leaves), though.

Mee Pah Tiew (Deebuk Rd., 076-213-278) is located near Plukpanya School; look for a big red Coca-Cola awning and you are there. Famous for its yentafo and yummy fish balls.

Phuket Abalone Farm & Restaurant (35/4 Moo 1, Theppratharn Rd., Rassade, Muang, 076-252-799. www.phuketabalone.com) is the first in the province to offer seafood dishes, a visit to an abalone farm and a video presentation on the abalones life cycle—all in one. Here, it seems like they can prepare this sea creature any way you like. Not a fan of the little gastropod? Other seafood creations from crab, prawn and lobster are also available.

Enjoy the sound of breaking waves while you indulge at Rockfish (33/6 Kamala Beach, 076-279-732. www.rockfishrestaurant.com). The restaurant serves up Thai, Western and East meets West menus. Groovy tunes and hip crowds.