Where to Eat & Drink

Cool places to chill on Ko Lanta include Red Snapper (www.fb.com/RedSnapperLantaThailand; tel. 07885-6965), which specializes in fusion food and Drunken Sailors (www.fb.com/drunkensailors; tel]. 07566-5076) which has stir-fries and curries, and some pretty tasty Western food. El Greco (tel. 083521-6613) sells gyros the size of your head and Kwan’s Cookery (tel. 088446-2167) has fresh Thai food and offers a fun cooking class. Another great spot for a cooking class is the beloved Time for Lime (www.timeforlime.net; tel. 07568-4590). Patty’s Secret Garden (tel. 098978-8909) does great breakfast in a pleasant setting.

Ko Lanta can’t compare with Ko Phi Phi for nightlife, but there are a few beachfront bars on Ao Phra-Ae (aka Long Beach) that advertise weekly parties. Of those nightly specials, Irie (tel. 084170-6673) is among the best for Monday night reggae jam sessions.