Marvelous location. Fabulous style. Terrific food. With these attractions, you’d think that The Cliff Bar & Grill would be extremely popular. And you’d be right!

But before I go any further, I’d better say that dinner reservations here are definitely advisable. Tables do get snapped up very quickly – for very good reasons ...

The setting, as the name suggests, is breathtaking. It’s high up on the mountainous section of the ring-road between Chaweng and Lamai, and looks down upon huge natural boulders next to the water’s edge and across a picturesque bay to a tropical headland. And being open from midday makes The Cliff an ideal spot for stopping for lunch too when you can really appreciate the surrounding natural beauty. Since its opening, back in 2004, it’s become a favourite meeting place for local business people looking for suitable ‘mutual’ territory to discuss their latest projects over a good meal.

There’re acres of space outside for parking and this roominess carries on into the restaurant itself. Choose between the 50-seat marble-floored interior section with its abundant ‘birds of paradise’ plants, hand-painted ceramics and its designer décor, or the 28-seat terrace area outside under the stars. Both spots are equally spacious with heavy wooden tables and chairs giving a very solid feel to the place.

And next – the food. It’s Mediterranean, with the accent on Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. And although the menu isn’t large, there’re plenty of choices in many categories. But most importantly, and this is where the magic ingredient comes in, it’s all prepared and presented by owner and master chef – Bradley Munns.

Brad’s a dynamic 38 year-old South African who’s no stranger to Thailand. Far from it! He already has four super-successful restaurants in Bangkok, in both the world-famous Emporium and the fashionable Siam Paragon shopping complexes. And he felt it was time to bring his sought-after recipes to Samui.

Especially recommended dishes are: Mediterranean Salad – mature cheddar cheese tossed with cashew nuts and apple; Metillones Con Salsa Vino Blanco – New Zealand mussels in a white wine sauce; Gamberoni al Limone E Aglio – lemon and herbs prawns; Fettuccini all’ Gambetti all’ Conjac – prawns served in a cognac and cream sauce; and the house speciality – Portuguese Piri Piri Chicken.

Marinated in a spicy ‘piri piri’ sauce, then cooked on a charcoal grill, this dish is truly magnificent. It incorporates the unique 15th century preparation of chilies marinated in oil which was accidentally discovered by Portuguese traders. They used oil as a preservation method bringing chilies back from Africa to Europe – then realised it tasted great. Thank goodness they did!

“...and the wine list includes 5 different champagnes alone,
and that’s definitely worth celebrating!”

And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, you’re well taken care of too. Try the Cream Caramel or maybe the Chocolate Soufflé served with Italian ice-cream. Desserts don’t come much better.

 Every imaginable drink is on offer here, too. The 80-bottle wine list includes 6 different champagnes alone, and that’s definitely worth celebrating! Chile, Italy, South Africa and Australia are all well represented in the well-stocked wine cellar, and the cocktail and spirits list is endless. Which I suppose makes sense seeing as The Cliff is a bar as well as a grill.

The bar, although adjoining, is a separate entity in itself. It’s air-conditioned, extremely comfortable with various seating areas, and interestingly lit by the latest Japanese slow-strobe lights that are constantly changing colour. Non-diners are also welcome to use the bar, and if you’ve arrived to dine without a reservation, then I can’t think of a better place to wait for a table! Plus there’s a DJ playing every weekend.

Brad’s fellow South African – Lionel Helena – is the perfect host, which is just as well seeing as he’s the restaurant manager. And if you have any special requirements, he’s sure to make all the necessary arrangements.

And with all these good things going for it, it’s not surprising that The Cliff won Thailand Tatler’s ‘Best Restaurant’ award in 2005, 2006, 2007, and again for 2009.

The Cliff Bar & Grill is open from midday – 1.00 am, with the kitchen closing at 9.45 pm.
For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7741 4266.