Phuket has up its game with innovative restaurant concepts that focus on local ingredients sourced from nearby farms and waters.
By: Amy Van
Images: Anantara Layan Phuket
Fans of the White Lotus HBO show (Season 3 is out on 16 Feb) may soon flock to Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, one of the filming locations in Thailand. But if you want a more peaceful holiday away from the crowds, head to Anantara Layan Phuket Resort located in Cherngtalay area, about 40 minutes drive away from Mai Khao and 20 minutes from the airport.
In mid 2024, the resort unveiled a new dining concept that combines modern Thai cuisine with breathtaking views of the night sky. The restaurant is named Dara Cuisine — derived from the Thai word for “star”. Nestled beside a lagoon, the restaurant’s unique design features a striking glass house that serves as the perfect setting for unique feast and stargazing in Phuket.
Guests can choose from two degustation menus and a comprehensive a la carte selection. The dishes present bold, contemporary interpretations of traditional Thai flavours, with a focus on southern Thai cuisine and seasonal, sustainable ingredients.
Highlights include the vibrant rice salad with crispy fish, featuring two types of rice—blackberry and organic brown rice—tossed with coconut, dried shrimp, four-angled beans, red onion, mango, pomegranate, pomelo, and lemongrass. The result is a textural dish complete with layers and freshness.
Other standout options include charcoal-grilled Phuket lobster with a rich tom yum butter, smoky grilled Thai eggplant with fermented soybeans and sweet basil, and the Layan organic mushrooms with seaweed and lime-chilli dressing.
For heartier fare, the slow-cooked pork belly with soy, star anise, and cinnamon, as well as the sous-vide duck breast with housemade curry and figs, are perfect for sharing. Grilled wagyu beef with garden herbs and pickled onion rounds out the selection.
Dara Cuisine’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its sourcing practices. Ingredients are carefully selected from local, organic farms and fisheries, with seasonal produce playing a prominent role. Special highlights may include Dara’s own rice, grown according to the lunar phases, and fresh seafood such as Bang Tao squid from the surrounding waters.
Aside from smoky flavours from the grill, the dishes’ complexity of flavours are also created in the fermentation kitchen and cellar for making barrel-aged fish sauce. There’s an on-site herb and vegetable garden, mushroom hut and coconut grove ensuring a steady supply of fresh ingredients year-round.
After dinner, the Observatory Deck hosts rooftop stargazing sessions (courtesy of Phuket’s largest, state-of-the-art telescope). Here, guests can explore constellations and distant galaxies under the guidance of expert astronomers. For those looking to relax under the night sky, the open-air cocktail lounge with daybeds provides the perfect setting to enjoy a craft cocktail inspired by the stars.
Besides Dara Cuisine, the resort boasts several other dining concepts. Currently, the world-renowned Zuma brings contemporary Japanese izakaya-inspired cuisine to Phuket. This “seasonal restaurant” nestled in The Beach House is rolling out its signatures dishes including sushi and robata grill favourites from now till April 2026.
For more information, visit: www.anantara.com/en/layan-phuket