Casual, local, and built around fresh seafood. Most kitchens cluster along the Ao Kao back road and around Ao Nid — no chains, no fast food, just long Thai dinners under the palms. Made & operated by locals for your enjoyment.
White Sand Beach Rooftop Lounge
The two essentials
Featured tables
If you only book two meals on Koh Mak, make them these — one for lunch over the water, one for dinner above the sunset.
Koh Mak seafood
Featured
Koh Mak Seafood
Ao Nid pier
The island's most famous restaurant. A long-running over-water spot with tanks of live crabs, oysters and fish — order from the tank and it arrives grilled or steamed minutes later. The house jungle curry is excellent, and the Koh Mak museum next door makes for a perfect post-lunch wander. Well known for the coconut ice cream dessert. Homemade, of course.
Best for
Fresh seafood, groups, special dinners
Tip
Book ahead for weekends and peak weeks — it fills up fast in high season. Enjoy in the evening.
Featured
White Sand Beach Restaurant
AO KAO
Hidden on the south coast in a secluded sea-terrace setting. Thai food & Western Dishes — a long-running Koh Mak institution that's worth the scooter ride for sundowners and sunset views. White Sand Resort, Koh Mak, also offers healthy food options, vegetarian food (the chef also knows the difference between vegan and vegetarian), and Western snacks.
Family kitchens, beach cafés and farm-to-table Thai cooking — clustered along Ao Kao's informal Walking Street.
Kon Gin Sen
Ao Kao back road ("Walking Street")
One of the island's best and longest-running kitchens. Big Isan flavours — laab, whole fried fish, som tam — alongside a full Thai/Western menu. Popular with locals and long-stay regulars.
Best for · Thai food lovers, hearty meals
Maybe the best phad Thai in the world
Panthera Protein Kiosk & Café
ISLAND CENTER SUDHIDHANAKUL ROAD
The island's daytime social hub. Active sports membership café for coffee, protein shakes, and fresh coconuts. Also the base for the guided bike tours (9:00 & 16:00). Located next to the Muay Thai Gym. Opening in November 2026. Wifi café.
Best for · Sporty & active people. Recommended before and after Muay Thai Training or tennis sessions and healthy focused travelers.
Panthera Protein Kiosk & Café. Black Coffee and Protein before & after sports.
Food Garden
Ao Kao back road
Right next door to Kon Gin Sen. BBQ and kra ta (Thai hot pot cook-at-table sets) — a fun, communal way to spend a long dinner. Famous for it's seafood BBQ.
Ball Café
BEHIND AO KAO
The classic breakfast destination & coffee shop. Located by the Koh Mak Walking street. Good Coffee and cakes. Cosy outdoor area.
Best for · Oatmeal with granola and sandwiches
Ball Café — breakfast, coffee and homemade cakes in a tropical garden setting
Mam's Kitchen
Ao Kao back road
Small family-run Thai kitchen with a loyal following. Honest home-style cooking — curries, stir-fries and fresh fish at local prices.
Best for · Everyday Thai food, friendly service, low budget. Located next to Good Time Sports Resort.
Qbar
Ao Kao
Relaxed bar-restaurant with cocktails, cold beers and a short menu of Thai and Western dishes. A good spot to settle in for the evening. Very popular amongst locals for a reason. The owner Mr. Q is behind the kitchen bar.
Best for · Drinks with dinner, massaman curries with roti and krapao.
Qbar is famous for Massaman Roti & Charming Owner Q
Mong Kitchen
Ao Kao
Mong Kitchen offers fantastic Thai food, the infamous Thai Tea, noodle soup and Roti. Budget friendly and always very good.
Best for · Authentic Thai food, Thai Tea and Roti, budget-friendly meals
A creative bistro-style spot best known for its smash burger, plus a menu of European and Western comfort food. A solid choice when you want something familiar and hearty. Check out their European desert Crème Brûlée or Panna cotta.
Best for · Smash burgers, European and Western dishes
MA Bistro — smash burgers and European comfort food
Pak Pak
Ao Kao back road
Fully vegan kitchen — plant-based Thai classics, fresh juices and healthy bowls, falafel, hummus, Thai and Mediterranean. Rare on the island and worth the detour. * Closed in low season. We encourage the owner to open all year.
Best for · Meditarean Food & Vegan travellers
Café Koh Mak Museum
Ao Nid pier
A relaxed café beside the Koh Mak Museum (Sudhidhanakul family), ideal for a quiet coffee with sea-view and a little island history between meals. Pair a visit with a walk around the pier and a look through the museum's local collection.
Best for · Coffee, a quiet break and island history
Café Koh Mak Museum — coffee and island history
Island Gelato
Ao Kao
A small homemade gelato stop on the island. The flavours are rich, creamy and genuinely well-made — the kind of place locals keep coming back to. Don't miss the vanilla and rum raisin.
Best for · Homemade ice cream, vanilla and rum raisin
Island Gelato — homemade vanilla and rum raisin ice cream
Also worth a walk-in
Resort restaurants
Most resort restaurants welcome non-guests. A few that are reliably good:
Seavana Beach ResortUpscale beachfront dining, romantic settingDay Bed Restaurant - Ao Suan Yai Koh Mak
Baan Koh MakCasual, cold beers, Thai food and beachfront. Very chill beach restaurant with sea-breeze and a "classy" on Koh Mak Island. Nice location between beach road and beach. Chill and dine by the beach
Little Moon VillaThai and Western food, fresh coffee, and brownies.
Makathanee ResortPrime Ao Kao location, located in front Koh Rayang and Koh Rayang Nai. Good views and sunset.
Sunset & drinks
Bars & nightlife
Golden hour, cold drinks, and chilled music — not clubs or late nights. Most bars close by midnight, or even at 9pm. and that's the charm. Koh Mak is famous for "not having a real night life". And it is good that way.
White Sands Rooftop Lounge
AO KAO
Hidden on the south coast in a secluded sea-terrace roof top setting at the White Sand Beach Resort. Opens only for sunset between 17.30 to 21.00. Thai Snacks and an insider secrete hub, a long-running Koh Mak institution that's worth the scooter ride for sundowners - amazing cocktails with legendary sunset views across the ocean and toward Koh Rayang and Koh Kood. The best music choice and play list on the island.
Sunset drinks at the White Sands Rooftop Lounge
Koh Mak Resort Beach Bar
Ao Suan Yai
Beachfront bar just off the resort pier. Cold drinks , beers, and fresh coconuts. Beautiful sunsets and a one million dollar view towards Koh Mak. Take the boat or Kayak from here and explore Koh Kham Island.
The Coral
AO KAO
At Ao Daeng, East of White Sand Beach, the home of Coral Gardeners (Global Ocean Conservation organization. Founded 2017 to save coral reefs worldwide. Koh Mak host the second biggest coral reef in Thailand, following Phuket. Use Google Maps to find this place. Occasionaly live music, cocktails,,and a bohemian international-run atmosphere.
Cha Cha Beach Club
Ao Prao
A beach bar club built by the sea, with beautiful vibes. Perfect for sunset cocktails or a pre-snorkel coffee.
Blue Pearl Bar
AO SUAN YAI NEAR GOOD TIME SPORTS RESORT
The icon on Koh Mak. Beautiful sunsets, good natural vibes and views across the northern beach of Koh Mak and neighboring islands Koh Kham and Koh Chang. Enjoy a drink and jump into the ocean from here. The pier is located at the Cococape Resort and by Ao Suan Yai Beach on this charming island. Here you can enjoy the weather of Koh Mak all year.
Fun fact
For all of Thailand: Is Thai food healthy? Yes, it can be — if you tell the chef "no extra sugar, no MSG please."
