BANGKOK FIVE STAR HOTELS

The area is packed with restaurants serving quality foreign food in restaurants owned and managed by foreigners who have decided to make Hua Hin home. Particularly impressive are some of the Japanese restaurants that take advantage of local and imported seafood.

Italian food fanciers can dine on pizza, pasta and occasionally more elaborate fare. There are also several outstanding French restaurants, some German places, and a goodly supply of Indian places specializing in food from northern India. There are also several bakeries that serve sandwiches and coffee, in addition to excellent baked goods.

Brasserie de Paris
3 Naresdamri Road
Hua Hin,
Tel: 01-826 6814
Charmingly French place adjacent to the pier in Hua Hin town

Hagi Japanese Restaurant
1 Damnernkasem Road
(Adjacent to Sofitel)
Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3251-2021-38
Outstanding Japanese food; restaurant operated by Sofitel

Let’s Sea, Hua Hin Beach Restaurant
83/155 Soi Talay 12,
Khao Takiab-Hua Hin Rd., Hua Hin
Tel 0-3253-6022
A well known place to chill and soak in the atmosphere with fine wine and beach cuisine featuring Thai favourites and fresh international flavours with plenty of seafood

Maharaja
25 Naresdamri Rd.,
Hua-Hin
TEL: 0-3253-1122
Good northern Indian food served from 11.00AM-11.00PM

Monsoon Restaurant & Bar
62 Naresdamri Rd
Hua Hin,
Tel: 0-6877-7808
Charming and chic with a menu of Thai and continental dishes

Orchids French & Thai Restaurant
110/1 Naresdamri Rd.
Hua Hin
Tel: 032-513670
Serves a mix of French and Thai dishes from 6:00PM-10:00PM

Sasi’s ba Bar
83/159 Nhongkae
Near the Hyatt Hotel
Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3251-2488
Features a mix of Western and Thai food, lots of drinks and live music from 8.30PM onwards

Taj Mahal
31/1 Naresdamri Road
Hua Hin,
Tel: 0-3251-6615
Nice selection of northern Indian favourites, sister restaurant at 112 Chom Sin Road

Chao Lay Seafood
15 Naresdamri Rd. Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3251-3436
Popular outdoor restaurant on pylons over the water by the pier in Hua Hin.

Chom View Seafood
Cha-am Beach Front Road
Cha Am
0-3243-0350
Smashing seafood served right on the beach in a rustic, open air setting.

La Mer
Khao Takiab Beach
Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3253- 6205
Popular seafood restaurant located on a hill overlooking the beach that gets high marks for both its food and view.

Ketsarin Restaurant
17/1 Naresdamri Road
(at Sea Front near Fishing Pier) Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3251-1339
Big outdoor place right on Hua Hin’s sea front near the pier

Madame Green Seafood
Khao Takiab Village Beach
(at Takiab Road)
Hua Hin,
Tel: 0-3251-2233
Outstanding beachfront seafood in a restaurant popular with locals as well as tourists.

PLE Seafood Restaurant
Takiab Bay Beach
Hua Hin
Unpretentious open-air dining right on the beach; this restaurant gets rave reviews.

Rua Rimtarn
12 / 203 Khao Tikiab
Hua Hin
Tel: 0-3251-6277
Seafood served on a ‘boat’ sitting on land. Large menu of traditional Thai favourites.

Supratra by the Sea
122/63 Soi Mu Baan Takiab
(at the Supatara Beach Resort)
Hua Hin
Tel 0-3253-6512-2
Romantic dining featuring outstanding seafood in a lovely setting.

For many visitors to the Hua Hin area, golf is what’s on their minds - and they are never disappointed. There are seven courses within a thirty minute drive of Hua Hin and for those willing to travel a little further there are an additional 10 courses available. It all started in 1924 with the creation of the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course adjacent to the town’s snazzy little railway station. Designed by a Scottish railway engineer named O.A. Robbins, Thailand’s first golf course is reminiscent of links courses found in Robbins’ native Scotland. The other courses in the region are of international standard, equally challenging and designed by luminaries like Jack Nicklaus.

If you are without private transportation, all of the courses, except for the Royal Hua Hin, provide transportation to and from the courses. Green fees vary, depending upon the course and time, but average around 1800 baht. All courses have caddies, restaurants, rental equipment, and most have provisions for online booking of tee times.

Hua Hin Seoul Country Club
174 Moo 1, Pranburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan 77120
Tel. +66 (0) 3257-2441
Located adjacent to the sea, this is a links-style course found on the way from Hua Hin to Pranburi. Inexpensive and fun to play.

For many visitors to the Hua Hin area, golf is what’s on their minds - and they are never disappointed. There are seven courses within a thirty minute drive of Hua Hin and for those willing to travel a little further there are an additional 10 courses available. It all started in 1924 with the creation of the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course adjacent to the town’s snazzy little railway station. Designed by a Scottish railway engineer named O.A. Robbins, Thailand’s first golf course is reminiscent of links courses found in Robbins’ native Scotland. The other courses in the region are of international standard, equally challenging and designed by luminaries like Jack Nicklaus.

If you are without private transportation, all of the courses, except for the Royal Hua Hin, provide transportation to and from the courses. Green fees vary, depending upon the course and time, but average around 1800 baht. All courses have caddies, restaurants, rental equipment, and most have provisions for online booking of tee times.

Hua Hin Seoul Country Club
174 Moo 1, Pranburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan 77120
Tel. +66 (0) 3257-2441
Located adjacent to the sea, this is a links-style course found on the way from Hua Hin to Pranburi. Inexpensive and fun to play.

Hua Hin has lots of fun activities to offer apart from spending lazy days on the beach resting and recuperating, and visiting its attractions. Shopping is always a winner, and Hua Hin’s markets are the perfect places to shop for souvenirs and the beautifully-made crafts Thai people are so famous for. It also plays host to a number of big events throughout the year, like the Hua Hin Jazz Festival, water sport enthusiasts are spoiled with a wide variety of activities, and it’s also one of the few places in Thailand where you can go horse-riding on the beach.

Hua Hin Day and Night Markets
Virtually all of Thailand’s traditional handicrafts can be found in Hua Hin. There are also numerous opportunities to purchase art, artifacts, antiques, reasonably priced clothing, handbags, sunglasses, costume jewelry, beach gear, DVDs and even prescription glasses. Some of the best places to head to where you can found all of this (plus wonderful food and much, much more!) are the day and night markets, where bartering is the norm. Simply sport a big smile and maintain a friendly approach if you want to achieve the best prices.

In addition to celebrating all of Thailand’s national festivals and holidays, like Loy Krathong and Songkran, the Hua Hin/Cha am region has festivals of its own worth noting.

Thailand International Kite Festival
During March, April and May, steady southerly breezes blow throughout much of Thailand. The Thai’s, never one’s to miss a chance for a good time, have responded to this natural phenomenon by developing a tradition of flying kites. When the winds arrive, arrays of beautiful kites appear to strut their stuff and engage opponents in combat. No where is this more apparent than in the open spaces around Cha-am and at the Thailand International Kite Festival.

Now in its tenth year, the festival, which is scheduled in early March, features kites in all their colourful glory. There are stunt kites, big kites, little kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai kites, and displays of international kites. There are a variety of contests, games, and activities -all involving kites. But the festival is more than an event surrounding kites. Cha-am and its neighbours gussy up for the event and welcome visitors with a variety of opportunities for shopping, sightseeing, and simply having a good time.

King Rama VII built this palace located on the beach just north of central Hua Hin as a summer home for his Queen. Designed in a European-style with a Spanish flare it was completed in 1929 and is still used by the Royal Family as a residence. In addition to extremely attractive buildings and furnishings, there are carefully manicured gardens and a fascinating shell museum When the Palace isn’t being used, it is open to the public each day between 9.00 AM and 4.00 PM.

Located opposite Klai Kangwon Palace, Panee Butterfly farm is home to loads of butterflies and birds. There are also lots of orchids and local plants. This place is a good change of pace from the beach and educational experience for the kids. Open daily from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM.

There are two places in Hua Hin to watch Thai boxing, a sport that involves ‘punching’ with elbows, knees and feet as much as with the hands. Matches are held at the Grand Arena in front of the Grand Hotel on Thursday and Sunday nights and at Mr. Chop Rawee’s Thai Boxing Garden near the City Beach Hotel on Tuesday and Friday. The matches at both venues begin at 9.00 PM and finish up a little before midnight.

Located at the southern end of Hua Hin’s main beach, this 227m rocky hill provides striking views of Hua Hin and nearby Singto (lion) Island. There is a temple and restaurant on the hill, which can now be reached by a newly constructed road. There is a 20m golden Buddha and several excellent restaurants at the base of the hill. Beware of the larcenous monkeys at the shrine near the Buddha; they have been known to run off with people’s cameras.

This hill is found 1.5km to the west of Hua Hin. A trip up the steep road to the top provides a scenic view of the town, beach, Gulf of Thailand and the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course. There is a small park on the hilltop with trails leading to the various viewpoints.

Built during the reign of King Rama VI, and only a short distance from the centre of town, Hua Hin’s railway station and the adjacent Royal Waiting Room are attractive and brightly painted wooden buildings that are Thai in concept and design, but somehow manage to have a ‘Victorian’ feel. Even if you don’t arrive at the resort by train, go and have a look.