Koh Samui can be one of Thailand’s pricier islands to get to. The on-island airstrip is owned by Bangkok Airways, giving them a monopoly on flights, which they price starting at THB9,000 (US$275) roundtrip for the hour’s journey. This means it’s not going to be as budget-friendly as Samet or Phuket (which can be reached quickly and cheaply, so it’s accommodating to a range of budget options).
But even if you’re watching your wallet, you can still treat yourself to small luxuries on Samui and get to enjoy some amenities of the finer resorts in the process.
We recently checked in to the fairly inexpensive COSI in Chaweng Beach, and while there, strolled up the street for lunch at the Centara Grand. It was a nice way to take in a little slice of the luxe life without too high of a price tag.
We chose Palm Grove, the open-air cafe that looks over the pool and beach in this grand colonial-style resort. The restaurant does dishes from Western, Thai, and Indian cuisines — so, there’s a nice blend of options to choose from.
Though a stay at the property itself is pretty pricey — villas start at THB6,000 (US$185) and offer decadent-looking, black-tiled private plunge pools — lunch could be had for under THB900 (US$28), including tax and service charges.
For starters, we tried the Grilled Halloumi Cheese (THB350/US$10). The warm, perfectly grilled squeaky cheese came in two large slabs over a bed of warm bulgur wheat tossed with lemon and mint and topped with arugula, tomato, cucumber, and large cuts of avocado.
Though the Tasmanian Salmon Carpaccio (THB250/US$7.7) and slow-cooked Mackerel in Adobo (THB250/US$7.7) both sounded appetizing, we caught sight of a tandoor in the kitchen.
We love the flavors imparted by traditional clay ovens, and an entire section of the menu was dedicated to dishes made in the tandoor. So, we opted with the Salmon Tikka Kebab (THB380/US$11.7).
The dual crossed skewers of tandoor-cooked smoky salmon glistened in a way that we immediately knew they were not going to be overdone. Served with chili, grilled vegetables, yogurt, and couscous, this tasted great — and the mix of smoky fish, cold and tart yogurt, fiery chili, and comforting couscous hit the spot.
Elsewhere on the menu, there’s also an old-school Chacarero Sirloin Loaf (THB340/US$10.5), as well as a BCN Pizza (THB380/US$11.7), a pie topped with a combination we’d never before considered: glazed carrot, black quinoa, chicken, and red wine juice.
After dining at the restaurant, we also got to roam around and soak in the beauty of the hotel grounds. Like we said — a little slice of the luxe life.
FIND IT:
Palm Grove at Centara Grand Samui
38/2 Moo 3
Koh Samui
Open daily, 12-10:30pm
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