For many Western expats (but specifically for a New Yorker, such as myself), brunch is a coveted meal that’s not so easy to find in Thailand. More than just what you eat between breakfast and lunch, “brunching” is also a leisure event that combines all the best elements of a weekend with the best foods and drinks from each meal of the day.
Think conversations recapping the events of the week while delighting in pancakes and filet mignon; or bacon and poached eggs with a side of sashimi; smoked salmon and roasted veggies. Wash it all down with a foamy cappuccino and a Bloody Mary or two over a period of several hours and you’ve just brunched your way through the day.
Again, it’s not everywhere in Thailand that you can easily find an authentic, quality, Western-style brunch. But on the country’s “boutique” island of Koh Samui, which tends to attract a more luxury-seeking, vacationing crowd is providing its expatriate community and in-the-know travelers with exactly that.
Brunching on Samui: Sundays
The editor’s choice for brunch in Koh Samui has to be the Sunday buffet at Kanda Residence’s restaurant, RockPool. It is a classically curated selection of foods in an idyllic peaceful setting overlooking the blue waters of the Gulf. While it may not be the setting you’re used to back home, it’s practically guaranteed that it’s even better. Kanda may actually spoil you, so brunch here with caution!
When and How to Brunch:
Starting at noon on Sundays the brunch lasts for four hours, which is spot-on timing for a brunching experience. You can sit and enjoy the long, leisurely meal however you feel like pacing yourself; perhaps feasting at noontime then placing a few of hours of digestion time before going for seconds, or a slow and steady nibbling throughout the four hours are equally possible ways to enjoy the best meal of the week.
At RockPool there are two levels of buffet tables featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner foods, Thai and Western specialties as well as new chef creations to try. The oysters here are famous, and rightfully so, but personally I found that the chocolate mousse was the standout dish. For drinks, the mango mimosa is highly recommended by the attentive waiters and bar staff, which is prepared to concoct special cocktails, brew espresso drinks, and serve fresh squeezed juices or chilled wines all day.
The beautiful Samui setting of the venue is as much of a highlight as is the actual meal. Guests have a variety of seating options, all in open air. The covered restaurant at the highest elevation is one of the island’s most perfect settings for a rainy day where you can watch the storms roll in over the sea. On the lower decks, you can sit in the shade or sun, completely surrounded by blue waters and sky, with accents of bright white waving flags and tents around you.
You Do Have Options:
Depending on where you’re staying on the island, you may want to completely embody the idea of a leisurely Sunday Samui brunch that’s suited to your needs and of course location. RockPool in the Choeng Mon area completes the perfect brunch vibe with a live acoustic guitar player entertaining guests amid the sounds of crashing waves and clinking glasses and silverware. Other brunch places on Samui offer different settings, notably Nikki Beach in Lipa Noi, which offers a very lively party atmosphere. Beach Republic in Lamai is also famous and a bit more down to earth where you can enjoy fantastic foods right on the beach in your bikini.
