🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Before the restaurants, a quick map of the areas. Chaweng has the most options and is the easiest to reach, from beachfront hotel restaurants to small streetside spots. Bophut and Fisherman's Village is the prettiest area for dinner — you can walk the Friday walking street, and several of the better French and Italian places are around here. Maenam, further north, has an Italian-owned Italian spot tucked away too. We've grouped these by cuisine to give you the full picture, not because the top of the list is best for everyone — each place has its own strengths, so check the tags and price range alongside.
Our 12 picks for international food
Prego (Italian · Amari Chaweng)
An Italian restaurant inside the Amari on Chaweng beach that's been on the island since 2003. The draw is the wood-fired pizza and fresh-made pasta, with an Italian chef running the kitchen and a lot of ingredients imported from Italy. There's an outdoor section and an air-conditioned room, plus gluten-free and lactose-free options and their own house-made vegan cheese. Good for a nice dinner when you want a beachfront hotel setting.
Chez François (French · Fisherman's Village)
A tiny French place right at the entrance to Fisherman's Village. The chef-owner, François, has been on Samui for over a decade and cooks everything himself in a room with just a handful of tables. It's a set menu that changes with what's available — warm and easygoing in atmosphere, but the French cooking is the real thing and carefully done. There are very few seats and a lot of regulars, so you need to book several days ahead, especially in the December–March high season.
Gusto Italiano (Italian · Fisherman's Village)
An Italian spot in the middle of Fisherman's Village, best known for its fresh and filled pasta, all made in-house. The wood-fired pizza is good too. It's a comfortable place to sit and an easy walk from the Bophut walking street. People praise the fresh pasta often — a good pick for a couples' dinner or a small group.
Noori India (Indian · Chaweng)
An Indian restaurant on Chaweng Beach Road run for years by two brothers, covering both North and South Indian cooking. The standout is the range of vegetarian dishes — over twenty of them — cooked with the kind of bold spicing that wins over visiting Indian diners. Rich curries, fresh roti and naan. Good for anyone after authentic Indian, or vegetarians who struggle to find options on the island.
Pepenero (Italian · Maenam–Bophut)
An Italian-owned Italian restaurant between Maenam beach and Bophut. The mood is warm and friendly, with the owner coming out to say hello himself. It's known for its lasagna and burrata bruschetta, and both the ingredients and methods are genuinely Italian. There are vegetarian options and dishes can be made vegan. Diners often say the food is more substantial than at many places around Fisherman's Village.
Fi Greek Restaurant & Deli (Greek-Mediterranean · Bophut)
A Greek and Mediterranean place in the Bophut area, with starters like hummus and tzatziki and mains like moussaka and souvlaki. It's also a deli, so there are Mediterranean dry goods and cheeses for sale. A good change of pace if you want lighter, Mediterranean-style plates after a run of heavier meals.
Curry Hut (Indian · Chaweng)
An Indian restaurant in Chaweng strong on North Indian and tandoori cooking — tandoori chicken, clay-oven grilled meats, fragrant butter naan and rich curries. It's a place that Indian diners and fans of bold spicing recommend often, with friendly prices. Good for a dinner with friends where you want to share several dishes.
Olivio (Italian · Chaweng Bay)
An Italian restaurant on Chaweng bay, mixing traditional Italian cooking with an understanding of Thai ingredients, done by a skilled Thai chef who leans on fresh produce. The setting by the beach is relaxed. Good if you want Italian in the Chaweng area that's easy to get to, without driving all the way to Bophut.
Zorba Greek Restaurant (Greek · Chaweng)
A Greek taverna on Chaweng Road making its own souvlaki, with fresh Mediterranean flavors and a warm, family-run feel. Good if you want Greek food in the easy-to-reach Chaweng area — order a spread of sharing plates, and prices aren't steep.
Tandoori Palace (Indian · Bophut)
An Indian restaurant in the Bophut area that positions itself as slightly fine-dining, with a nicer fit-out than the average Indian spot. It does North Indian cooking with full-flavored curries and tandoori. Good for a dinner where you want Indian food in a slightly smarter setting — it's near Fisherman's Village so you can carry on with a walk.
Royal Turkish Cuisine (Turkish-Mediterranean · Chaweng/Lamai)
A Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant with two branches, in Chaweng and Lamai — kebabs, skewers, meze plates to share, and Turkish sweets like baklava. Good if you want to try Turkish flavors, which aren't easy to find on the island. The setting is relaxed and friendly.
Red Snapper Restaurant & Bar (Mediterranean-Thai · Chaweng)
A place mixing Thai and Mediterranean food on Chaweng Beach, with a bar and live music and an atmosphere that holds up through the evening. Good for a group where people want different things — some after Western food, some after Thai — since you can order both at one place. There's wine and cocktails to choose from.
What to know about booking a table
Small, very popular places like Chez François need booking several days to a week ahead, especially in the late-year-to-March high season. The better French and Italian spots in Fisherman's Village also fill up fast on Friday evenings when the walking street is on. If you've set your heart on a nice dinner, calling or messaging the page to book first will save you the worry.
Want to taste deeper? Try a Koh Samui food tour or cooking class
Half a day with a local who knows the lanes — or cooking a dish yourself — teaches you more than just eating. Book ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide.
How to pick an area for the meal you want
Chaweng
Lots of restaurants and easy to reach, with Italian, Indian, Greek and Turkish — the widest range of options. Good if you're staying around Chaweng and want to walk out and find somewhere on the spot.
Fisherman's Village–Bophut
The prettiest setting for dinner, with the Friday walking street to stroll. The French and Italian chef-owner places are around here. Good for a couples' dinner or a special meal.
Maenam
Quieter and less busy, with an Italian-owned Italian spot tucked away. Good if you're staying in the north of the island or want to get away from the bustle.
Prices to keep in mind
The prices in this article are rough ranges drawn from reviews and published menus. On the ground, the island's prices swing clearly with the season — late-year into early-year and around Songkran, prices climb and the popular places fill up fast. Hotel restaurants and French fine dining add service charge and tax on top, while the smaller Indian and Greek places are much friendlier on price. Always check the latest at the restaurant or on its page before you go.
- Allow for service charge + tax — hotel and fine-dining restaurants usually add a service charge and VAT on top of menu prices
- Carry cash — some small places take cash only, or cards have a minimum spend
- Book ahead in high season — late year into March and Songkran, the popular places fill up fast, especially the ones with few seats
- Vegetarian–vegan — if you're vegetarian, Indian places like Noori India have the most options, and many Italian restaurants can go vegan; tell the staff before you order
Getting to dinner — things to watch out for
Plenty of people rent a motorbike to get around the island because it's flexible, but a straight warning: some stretches of road on Koh Samui are steep with sharp hairpin bends. At night the lighting is poor and it rains often in the wet season. If you're not used to a motorbike, don't push it — always wear a helmet — and if dinner involves wine or cocktails, don't drive yourself. A taxi or the restaurant's shuttle is worth more than the risk. From Chaweng to Bophut–Fisherman's Village isn't far, just a few minutes by car.
Plan a full eating-and-sightseeing trip to Koh Samui
See the Koh Samui travel guide →