Where to go in the beach resort south of Bangkok as a fine dining lover:

Hua Hin, the beach side town south of Bangkok, is known for its night markets. However, if you look for great fine dining restaurants, you are not really spoiled for choice. So, when spending some leisure time here after a Bhutan trip (my posts), I had to look hard for gourmet spots for the three nights my husband and I had here. Finally, I did make some finds that live up to my idea of fine fining in a sophisticated ambiance. Thus, I am able to propose three of the best restaurants in Hua Hin to you.

Before going into the three dining outlets, a few remarks to the town of  Hua Hin in general and about the reason we came here.

Hua Hin as popular beach destination from Bangkok

In case you are in Bangkok and looking for a nearby beach destination, you actually have two options, Pattaya and Hua Hin. While the former is closer to Bangkok (two hours by car), it is predominantly known as party destination. Think in this context of blaring beer bars and neon dance shows. If you are more into laid-back, quiet places, then I definitely would go to Hua Hin. This takes you a bit longer (three to four hours by car), yet it is probably your best choice for beach activities, night markets, spa treatments or golfing near Bangkok.

Hua Hin has become quite fashionable as weekend getaway place for Bangkok residents. Yet also ex-pats like to have a vacation home or to retire here. It actually it is Thailand’s oldest coastal resort. The Royal family made it popular in the 1920s, and they still continue to vacation here nowadays.

Hut Hin as last stop after a Bhutan trip

Hua Hin made the perfect spot for my husband and me when it came to a few leisure days after a Bhutan trip (here you find all my posts about it). Before doing this journey, we also spent a couple of days in Bangkok. In this context, I already went into great fine dining in the capital’s Sathorn District. In case you are wondering about upscale lodging in Bangkok and Hua Hin, here is my post about this topic.

But now to some of the best resaurants in Hua Hin.

3 of Hua Hin’s top fine dining restaurants

I mentioned it already, there is no abundance of excellent fine dining options in Hua Hin. Yet you are not totally at a loss if you are a gourmet stranding here. Sadly, there is no Michelin Guide for this beach resort south of Bangkok. So, I had to dig deep on the internet to find upscale dining spots in another way.

Here is what I came across when doing my research. I start with my absolute highlight here, an upscale Thai restaurant, continue with an high-end Italian dining spot and end with a casual modern Thai eatery.

1. Restaurant Jaras at Hotel Intercontinental Hua Hin

Back story of Jaras, one of the best restaurants in Hua Hin

Restaurant Jaras was originally conceived for the Intercontinental Hotel in Phuket where the dining spot it made into the Michelin Guide. In April 2021, the concept was also introduced at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hua Hin.

Jaras is named after the owners’ grandma, Jaraspim Liptapanlop, who seemed to be a very good cook. As to the family Liptapanlop, everyone knows them in Thailand. The Liptapanlops own the Prayoonwitt Group and made their fortune in the construction industry. Lately, they have been gearing to the property development. Also the Hotels Intercontinental Phuket and Hua Hin are part of their portfolio.

Dining experience at Jaras

Design

Jaras is an intimate restaurant with only a fews tables. There is also a covered alfresco dining available overlooking the beach and pool. As to its interiors, the walls are nicely decorated with hand-painted murals depicting rural Thai scenes.

Food concept

On offer at Jaras is a creative contemporary Thai cuisine. Some of the recipes are inspired by the namesake, the already mentioned owners’ grandma, Jaraspim Liptapanlop. The ingredients come from regional suppliers, including fine caviar from a local farm. Also wine from the nearby Monsoon Valley Vineyard, developing a local wine culture since 2001, is available.

When it comes to what to order, you can choose between a multi-course menu or à la carte. As to the former, there is a 10-course Chef’s Table Menu, which costs 3,488 Baht (88 SFR/US$) including a glass of champagne. If this should be too much for you, go for the 8-course one (2,188 Baht / 55 SFR/US$) or the 5-course one (1,688 Baht / 43 SFR/US$).

In terms of à la carte, starters are from 270 to 680 Baht (7-17 SFR), mains from 350 to 750 Baht (9-19 SFR) and desserts from 230 to 280 Baht (6-7 SFR).

How was it at Jaras?

This was definitely my favorite dinner in Hua Hin as everything was right, from the design of the place to its ambiance to the food. As it was my husband’s birthday, we splurged on the 10-course Chef’s Table Menu.  We were not only allocated the best table at Jaras, but were well cared for throughout the evening by amiable and helpful staff.

All the ten courses, which took inspiration from Hua Hin community traditions, were very good. Among other things, we could also taste the local caviar, which could convince. There was lots of seafood – scallops, sand fish or King Mackerel – , prepared in all possible ways. Yet we were also served meat, above all Thai Wagyu beef with Panang curry. And everything was well prepared and nicely arranged.

We also had the paired beverages, which was an interesting experience as it included different spirits aside from wine – locally grown one too. The one thing that did not go well was the first glass of champagne we got. We had to reject it because it was flat. But that was the only downside. Bottom line, if you look for a restaurant for a special occasion, do not look any further – Jaras is it!

2. Restaurant Zafferano’94 Hua Hin

UPDATE: chef Luca Gavassa left end of March 2024

Back story of Zafferano’94

Chef and owner Luca Gavassa together with sommelier and restaurant manager Davide Lucatello opened their fine dining restaurant in April 2020, precisely when the first Covid lockdown happened. Bad luck for the two Italian restaurateurs! But they did not let things get them down. Both, the chef from the Turin area and the host from the Venetian one, were able to struggle through the difficult times and came out stronger.

Before coming here to Hua Hin’s eat street, Soi 94, both had been working in Koh Samui’s restaurant industry for 20 years, the last ten to them together. After such a long time at one place, they needed a change of scenery and headed to Hua Hin to open their upscale Italian dining spot.

Dining experience at Zafferano’94, one of the best restaurants in Hua Hin

Design

The restaurant is a dream in purple, inspired by the saffron crocus, Zafferano in Italian. The flower’s color, from which the most expensive spice is derived, is present all over the place. Purple is reflected in the table runners, the water glasses, the pictures on the walls, on diners’ plates etcetera.

Zafferano’94 features a bright, elegant dining room where you can watch the action in the kitchen through a glass separating panel. In addition, there is an undercover alfresco dining terrace plus a bar/lounge for drinks.

Food concept

On the menu you find refined Italian food. They reinvent traditional centuries-old recipes using modern cooking techniques and preparations.

The food journey started with tomato bruschetta on the house. For starters (from 280 to 380 Baht / 7 to 10 SFR/US$), my husband and I had Burrata Caprese (burrata cheese with tomato) and Carpaccio di Vitello alla Piemontese (veal carpaccio with parmesan). We continued with Risotto ai Porcini and Ravioli al Tartufo, Gorgonzola, Porcini e Noci (truffle ravioli with blue cheese, porcini and nuts). Those were from the entrées section (from 390 to 490 Baht / 10 to 12 SFR/US$).

 

Alternatively – or in addition if you are very hungry – , you can choose from the mains (490 to 980 Baht / 12 to 25 SFR/US). This is about meat and fish only. A favorite here seems to be the Ossobuco alla Milanese. It is a classic of Lombardy, veal shanks slowly cooked and served atop saffron risotto. Or you can build your own pizza (starting from 260 Baht / 7 SFR/US$).

As to desserts, you find here the usual ones plus a lesser known one (Bonet Piemontese, a hot chocolate cake with amaretto). Prices range from 60 (one scoop of ice cream) to 220 Baht (2 to 6 SFR/US$). While some dishes are always on the menu, other parts of the menu change regularly.

How was it at Zafferano’94?

While we were the only guests on a hot evening during Songkran Festival (Thai new year) until shortly before we left, there was no shortage of staff. Host Davide ran the front of the house in the most excellent manner together with an apprentice. And chef Luca skillfully delivered his fine Italian fare with the assistance of another cook.

My husband and I liked not only the immaculately prepared and nicely presented Italian classics with a twist but also the upscale ambiance at this chic place – from which you cannot find many in Hua Hin outside of high-end hotels. And the host is such a nice person, yet discreet enough not to be too talkative – in light of us being the only guests most of time.

3. Restaurant Braça at Hotel The Standard Hua Hin

Back story of Braça

Set in the buzzy surrounds of the newish (opened December 2021), super-cool Hotel The Standard, the Thai Izakaya Praça Restaurant suits just right. Praça – opened at the beginning of 2022 – is Portuguese for plaza, a local meeting place, and you actually see here all sorts of people. There is young trendy folk but also well-heeled couples and families.

Chef Prasertchai “Jacky” Trongvanichnam, a former Iron Chef champion who has worked at top hotels and restaurants in Thailand and the USA, is at the helm at Praça.

Dining experience at Braça, one of the best restaurants in Hua Hin

Design

Inspired by beach clubs of the Mediterranean, Praça is set in a restored heritage beach house equipped with an expansive verandah and breezy oceanfront.

As to seating areas, you have everything from an expansive veranda to a shady terrace for alfresco by the beach and indoor dining spaces. Although the latter is rather on the small side. The atmosphere here is relaxing, sharing style and lively.

Food concept

As I already hinted, it is about Izakaya, in Japan a casual drinking establishment also serving small dishes. It actuals means “stay-drink-place”. And food is thought to be shared.

Chef Jacky, trained in classic French cooking, showcases a unification of his western foundation, artisan local ingredients and favorite Thai street food flavors. He has composed an innovative menu with a fresh and playful feel. It includes tapas (160 to 290 Baht / 4 to 7 SFR/US$), flame-grilled food (160 to 360 Baht /4 to 9 SFR/US$), bowls, (260 to 360 Baht /7 to 9 SFR/US$) rice as side dish (80 to 90 Baht / 2 SFR/US$) and desserts (160 to 170 Baht / 4 SFR/US$).

How was it at Braça?

My husband and I had a seat on the verandah, which we considered as the ideal space for the not–so–young anymore. There are fans to make it more pleasant in case it is hot. And that was the case in April when we went.

Service was young, friendly and helpful, we felt well at ease. While Praça definitely has a nonchalant dining vibe, it was always attended to professionally.

Foodwise, we shared two Tapas (Miang Kham, Esan Tuna), Yum Som-O From the Fire, a Bowl (Khao Pad Nuea Yang), two Spoons (rice) and two Sweets (Waffel I-tim cha Thai and Hua Loy). Every dish followed the kitchen’s concept of traditional Thai recipes with a twist. Everything we had was well made and tasty. Only the grilled black tiger prawns were a bit mushy.

Overall, Braça is the perfect spot to go for modern interpretations of Thai food in a casual Izakaya style. And its front sea setting in a heritage beach house is hard to beat!

Looking back to my Thailand/Bhutan posts

This post about the best restaurants in Hua Hin is the last one of my Thailand and Bhutan reporting. As to the former, I started with possible pre-/post Bhutan travel plans, and that was in our case Thailand, i.e. Bangkok before and Hua Hin afterwards. Then I also looked into some of the best upscale Thai restaurants in Bangkok’s central business district of Sathorn.

Should you be show any interest in Bhutan, I wrote about the following topics: travel guide, 9-day itinerary, touring Bhutan by arrangements of luxury hotels operating here, Bhutan travel with COMO.

Date of visit: April 2023

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