Southern Thailand Dining Destinations: L’Arome by the Sea, Aulis Phuket, and more

With its bounty of seafood, local produce, and no shortage of fiery herbs and spices, the fine dining scene in Southern Thailand – spearheaded by an ever-growing number of prestigious chefs and restaurateurs – is set to rival that of its Northern neighbours.

(Hero image: Black Cod with bouillabaisse and fennel at L’Arome by the Sea; Featured image: Truffle pudding made with croissants and banana molasses at Aulis Phuket)

L’AROME BY THE SEA
L’Arome by the Sea, one of Phuket’s leading fine dining destinations, recently welcomed Chef Adrien Delcourt to their team. His impressive Michelin-starred resume includes stints at Le Pré Catelan (three stars) in Paris, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (two stars), Le Jules Verne (one star) atop the Eiffel Tower, and L’Orangerie at Four Seasons George V (one star). Those eager to try his recently unveiled ‘Vue Sur La Mer’ multi-course tasting menu can look forward to a sensory celebration of seafood – including the wonderful scallop with lemongrass and caviar – but also such terrestrial treats as his Thailand-sourced roasted pigeon, paired on the plate with eggplant and watercress. One dish, Chef Adrien’s signature creation , combines the best of both worlds, with poached Atlantic langoustine and foie gras served inside of a roti shell. In addition, a 4- or 6- glass wine pairing is also available.
en.laromegroup.com/laromebythesea

AULIS PHUKET
For those interested in gourmet tasting menus showcasing native ingredients, Aulis Phuket, which opened in December 2023, is a 15 seat chef ’s table housed within the beautiful Iniala Beach House Hotel (which is technically in Phang Nga province). It’s superstar chef Simon Rogan’s first restaurant in Thailand and, as with the other Aulis chef ’s tables around the world, it explores and experiments with hyper local produce. Head Chef Charlie Wilson helms the kitchen on a day-to-day basis, presenting a multi-course tasting menu that sources from local farmers and growers from across Thailand and Asia. Get set for such delicacies as: Phang- Nga squid with garlic shoot, lemon thyme, roasted onion and anise infused broth; Signature truffle pudding made with croissants and banana molasses; and 42-day aged Khon Kaen Wagyu striploin with smoked red okra, itsuba, and mulberry vinegar sauce.
aulis.co.uk/aulis-phuket

JAHN
The Conrad Koh Samui is a lush tropical seaside paradise, and Jahn restaurant is the resort’s crown jewel. Perched on top of a hill, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, this 24-seat contemporary steak restaurant – whose name means “moon” in Thai – serves prime cuts grilled to perfection, with plenty of hints of Thai flavouring. Working with small, handpicked beef producers in Australia and Japan, among others, the steaks here are intricately marbled, tender, melt-in-themouth sensations. Of course, the menu also features lamb chops, veal cutlets, grilled rock lobster, wild halibut, house-smoked Tasmanian salmon, poached mud crab in yellow curry, and more. Additionally, many of the starters and sides incorporate organic herbs and vegetables from the Conrad’s on-site farm. In short, it’s an ideal choice for enjoying steak, seafood, and dazzling moonlit ocean views.
conradkohsamui.info/jahn-menu

TOH-DAENG BY BA AN AR-JOR  
Some say there’s no better place to get deliciously authentic Southern Thai cuisine than Toh-Daeng by Baan Ar-Jor, which is located in Phuket’s northern Mai Khao area. The term toh-daeng translates as “red dining table”, and sure enough you’ll find a huge one in the main dining room of this beautifully renovated Chinese-colonial manor house. The grounds of the restaurant are surrounded by verdant farmland, and it’s here that key ingredients such as mulberry and coconut are grown. A definite menu highlight is the signature rambutan red curry with grilled pork neck, but don’t miss such specialties as Massaman chicken curry, mole crab, Phuket lobster, and Phuket sausage and fish ball. Also, be sure to check out the non-restaurant portion of this almost century old, 3-storey, 8-room-mansion, which has been turned into an expansive heritage museum.
baanarjor.com

LAI THAI
Napasai, A Belmond Hotel, Koh Samui, recently announced the appointment of Mauricio Reyes Corti as the new Executive Chef of the hotel’s Lai Thai restaurant. Descending from Uruguayan-Italian heritage, Chef Mauricio’s culinary journey has encompassed many distinguished roles, including: Junior Sous Chef at the Michelin-starred Borgo Santo Pietro (Italy); Sous Chef at El Sur (Dubai); and Executive Chef at Six Senses Koh Samui. Diners at Lai Thai can look forward to dishes crafted with precision and passion, utilising locally sourced ingredients – from wok-fried Pad Thai kung hin, to Thai crab curry with kanom jeen. In additon, Chef Mauricio will also be overseeing the resort’s aptly named Beach Restaurant, where he’ll present delicacies such as octopus anticuchos with sweet potato chips, grilled seabass, and a decadent coco puff tiramisu.
belmond.com/hotels/asia/thailand/koh-samui/belmond-napasai