Where to stay in Samui : Chaweng Beach
Chaweng is the longest, most beautiful and most celebrated beach on Koh Samui. Around 7km long, the beach also offers a pristine fringing reef at its north end (near Chaweng Garden Restaurant), which it is possible to swim to from the beach, as it is very close to the shore. Just swim for around 5 minutes, and you’ll reach a 5m deep diving spot. May to October is the most suitable period for diving as the sea is calm and tranquil.
As tourists have spread the beauty of the white beach, indigo sky and clear waters by word of mouth, Chaweng beach has experienced rapid growth and become the centre of tourism in Koh Samui. Northern and central Chaweng beach have a very lively atmosphere, and the beach is lined with diving shops, restaurants, boutiques and jewelry stores.
In the evening, the road running parallel to central Chaweng beach dazzles with neon from bars and nightclubs. If you enjoy nightlife, you won’t be lonely, especially on the way to the Reggae Pub in Soi Reggae, which is dense on both sides with pubs and bars. Chaweng beach also offers a plethora of international restaurants to choose from, including Indian, Japanese, German, Italian, Mexican, French eateries. Shops selling imitation products also abound, offering clothes, bags and CDs to browse through on an evening stroll.
Accommodation and Facilities
The beach is dense with resorts and hotels, and there is a wide range of accommodation to choose
from at a variety of prices for all types of traveler. If you don’t want to go in the sea,
each hotel has a swimming pool for a change of scenery. North and Central Chaweng beach accommodation
is very popular with tourists, but hotels at the northern end are quieter, as the bars and nightclubs
are located in Central Chaweng.
Chaweng Noi beach, the next beach to the south, is quiet and offers less expensive accommodation.
It is also a beautiful sand beach, especially at low tide when the whole beach is exposed and great
for walking and playing sport. Renowned hotels at Chaweng beach include
Briza Beach Resort & Spa,
Amari Palm Reef Resort,
Nora Beach Resort & Spa,
Centara Grand Beach Resort
and many others.
Recommended Restaurants
Bellini Restaurant and Bar
A pub and restaurant offering Italian cuisine. A recommended dish is Ossobuco, pasta with stewed leg of
beef in port wine.
Address: Chaweng Boulevard, Bophut, Koh Samui 84320 Tel: 0-7741-3831
Website : www.bellini-samui.com
Betelnut Restaurant
The distinctive aspect of the Betelnut Restaurant is its unique cuisine, which blends Californian and
Thai fare to create a taste that keeps customers coming back for more. Recommended dishes include salmon
katsu, roast snow fish and Argentine beef fillet.
Address: 43/4 Moo 3 Chaweng, Bophut, Koh Samui Suratthani, Thailand 84320 Tel
(66)77 413370
website: www.betelnutsamui.net
/contact.html
Poppies Samui
Serves Thai, international and seafood fare. The chef selects fresh seafood from celebrated sources, such
as Live Phuket Lobster, simmered with kaffir lime, ginger and lemon grass.
Address :Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui 84320, Suratthani, Thailand Tel. (66 77)
422 419
Website :
www.poppiessamui.com/uk/uk-samui-restaurant.html
Sibelius
A restaurant well-known to Scandinavians and Asians, offering many notable international dishes. The creamy salmon and shrimp soup comes recommended.
Address :15/2 Moo 2, Soi Malibu, Chaweng Centre, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320 Tel (66)7 883-0527
Website :www.sibelius-samui.com/ravintola_en.php
Spice Island
A seaside restaurant with a romantic atmosphere in the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui Hotel. Thai and seafood fare are served from 6pm-11pm, and recommended dishes include the spice island appetizer and prawns in dry red curry.
Address : Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui TEL: 0-7723-0500
Website :www.thailandsbestrestaurants.com/2007/restaurants/spiceisland.html
Entertainment Spots
Green Mango
A disco and nightclub, Green Mango is a nightlife tourist spot where you can listen to DJs from leading clubs around the world.
Address : 9/34 Chaweng Beach Rd., Bo-phut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 THAILAND
Reggae Pub
The Reggae Pub was the first and oldest disco on Koh Samui. The Reggae Pub offers live pop and rock music and leading DJs, interspersed with the thick haze of reggae music. This pub has cultivated a dedicated regular customer base.
Address : 3/3 Moo 2 Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand 84320
Website :www.reggae-pub.com/cms/
