It is possible. You might come across a more beautiful restaurant. But you’d have to go a long way. And it wouldn’t be on this island. Because although Samui’s fine-dining restaurants offer pretty much everything, Rocky’s is leading the field aesthetically – and it’s right up there in the other departments too.

Sounds like a bold claim doesn’t it? But it’s true. And it’s not just the restaurant that’s so pleasing to the eye, the resort (of the same name) as a whole has been given the same attention to detail as the restaurant. In fact, I’d even recommend visitors to go to the family-owned Rocky’s Resort just to have a look around. But when the food and service, and just about everything is as good as it is here, I highly recommend coming for an evening of culinary pleasure, and a perfect Samui dining-out experience.

It might be a little further afield than some would like to travel (it’s a few hundred metres beyond the turning for Hin Ta Hin Yai – the grandfather and grandmother rocks – just south of Lamai), especially at night. But it’s certainly worth the extra effort, for which you’ll be well rewarded!

And now the hard part. How to explain what’s at Rocky’s, because there’s simply so much? But it’s the subtle lighting within the interior part of the open-sided restaurant that’ll first take your eye. Somehow the designer has managed to illuminate the whole area uniformly, from many small individual sources such as silk hanging lanterns, discreet spotlights and many candles. The whole effect, combined with a splashing waterfall and superb décor, creates a magical atmosphere. One which immediately entices and pleases. But there’s more …

You can choose between sitting in the 60-seater restaurant, or outside on the deck area with the free-form swimming pool on one side and the long stretch of private beach on the other. But the most popular dining spot of all is at one of the tables perched up on the huge rocks, again overlooking the sandy beach and small bay beyond. There’s also a totally private sala on the beach itself, but you’ll have to book for this one. And every Sunday there’s a barbecue, also the beach (tide and weather permitting). Locations like this are what tropical holiday dreams are made of.

And before I run out of space, I’d better talk about the food too. Because it’s equally outstanding. And I suppose it should be, seeing as it’s all prepared under the watchful eye of Executive Chef – Azizskandar Awang. Trained in classical French cuisine, he has an impressive résumé having worked in both the Marriott and Hilton hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before coming to the island and running the kitchen at the prestigious Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa and then at Karma Samui.

“…and locations like this are what tropical
holiday dreams are made of.”

But now he’s at Rocky’s, and with him is Food & Beverage Manager, Florian Winkler, who has an equally interesting pedigree. Amongst a colourful food and beverage background, Florian achieved an ‘International Sommelier’ degree and has practiced this fine art in many places, including the famed Michelin-starred Spondi Restaurant in Athens, Greece. So, with these two masters at the helm, the cuisine at Rocky’s should be excellent – and it is!

There’s a full Thai cuisine menu available, but my recommendations come from the sensational International menu, starting (appropriately) with starters. And both the Hokkaido Scallops with asparagus and garlic confit, carrots/ginger essence, micro-greens, orange supreme and red radish, and the Japanese Sardine ‘Escabeche’ with coriander seed, lemon confit and vinegar de xerez, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and bread crouton, will blow you away! And leave you curious as to how the main courses could possibly compare.

But they do! And if you try the Roasted Black Angus Tenderloin with horseradish-truffle puree, glazed baby carrots and baby turnips, yellow beetroot and Madeira sauce, or the Pan-seared Snow-fish with caramelized endives, wilted baby spinach, sauce béarnaise and grilled ἀngerling potato, you’ll agree.

Follow that with a dessert of Callebaut Dark Chocolate Fondant with candied orange, berry coulis and white chocolate ice-cream, or the Classic Belgian Crêpes with passion-fruit sauce, Canadian maple syrup, mints and vanilla ice-cream and you’ll see that they offer the ‘complete culinary dining experience’ here – with an excellent range of wines paired to match by Florian.

And as for entertainment, there’s a sensational cabaret show every Sunday, and a Thai buffet with a Thai show every Tuesday, whilst most other nights there’s a talented Filipino singer. But, in a setting like this, you hardly need anything more!

Rocky’s is relaxed and casual, ideal for couples and families alike. And although it offers 5-star dining, it does so without the pomp and snobbery that’s often evident in 5-star establishments. It’s therefore extremely recommendable!

The restaurant is open from 7:00 amuntil late, with the kitchenclosing at 10:30 pm.
For reservations andfurther information,telephone 0 7723 3020-4.