Koh MakGuide
Over-water Thai seafood restaurant on a wooden pier at golden hour
At the table

Eat & Drink

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.\u00a0

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.

Fresh young coconut served at Koh Mak Seafood with the sea in the background
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. 
Fresh fruit breakfast buffet at White Sand Beach Restaurant with sea view through the windows
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.

Best for
Beachfront Seating. Sundowners & sunset views. Healthy options, loaded with proteins.
Section 01

Restaurants & cafés

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

    Plate of pad thai with prawns, bean sprouts, peanuts and lime at Kon Gin Sen, Koh Mak
    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, smoothies, 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 and tennis sessions and healthy focused travelers. 

    Two guests working on laptops at the open-air Panthera Protein Kiosk & Café, surrounded by tropical greenery and woven bamboo walls
    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

  • 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. 

  • MA Bistro

    Ao Kao

    A 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. 

    Best for · Smash burgers, European and Western dishes

  • Pak Pak

    Ao Kao back road

    Fully vegan kitchen — plant-based Thai classics, fresh juices and healthy bowls, falafel, humus and Mediterranean. Rare on the island and worth the detour. 

    Best for · Meditarean Food & Vegan travellers

  • 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

    Cup of homemade Island Gelato ice cream in front of the shop's round sign on Koh Mak
    Island Gelato — homemade on Koh Mak
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 setting
    Day Bed Beach Club at Seavana Beach Resort, Ao Suan Yai, Koh Mak — tropical garden entrance with a thatched-roof hut
    Day 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. 
  • 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. 
Section 02

Bars & nightlife

Golden hour, cold beer, and live music — not clubs or late nights. Most bars close by midnight, or even at 9pm. and that's the charm.

  • The White Sands Rooftop Lounge 

    AO KAO

    Hidden on the south coast in a secluded sea-terrace roof top setting. Thai Snacks and insider hub, a long-running Koh Mak institution that's worth the scooter ride for sundowners and amazing sunset views.

  • Koh Mak Resort Beach Bar

    Ao Suan Yai

    Beachfront bar just off the resort pier. Cold beers, cocktails, fresh coconuts — and in high season, fire shows and low-key beach parties. Home of the Thaibreak festival.

  • The Coral

    AO KAO

    At Ao Daeng, East of White Sand Beach. Use Google Maps to find this place.Live music, cocktails,and a bohemian international-run atmosphere. Open late — the kind of place you end up talking to strangers.

  • 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. 

    Golden sunset over the sea seen from Blue Pearl Bar's wooden pier on Koh Mak, with guests relaxing on loungers
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."

Koh Mak Seafood restaurant — wooden stilt house over the water at golden hour
Koh Mak Seafood and Museum