Baan Rim Pa restaurant: Royal Thai cuisine

The Baan Rim Pa restaurant is one of those little hidden gems that can be found (if you are in the know) in Patong, Phuket. Baan Rim Pa is luxury dining – something that is hard to come by in Patong – and specialises in Royal Thai Cuisine. What is Royal Thai cuisine I hear you ask? Well it is food that was only ever created and served in the Grand Palace of Thailand for the royal family.

I was recommended this restaurant by a couple of older ladies who were on my island tour the previous day. They had dined there the night before and had assured me that the food was excellent, the view stunning and the surrounds were charmingly old world. I actually got a blow by blow description from these ladies – from the style of furniture to what they both ate and all critiqued down to the last bite. So they had me convinced from the moment they mentioned it was located on a rocky cliffside with views along Patong beach. It was going to be my dinner destination for the following night and I was going to dine like a royal!

Baan Rim Pa

Baan Rim Pa is located just north of Patong Beach heading up the hill a little. The restaurant is set in a Teak house with a rich timber interior and covered outdoor decks that overhang the sea. From the moment you walk into this restaurant you will be wowed with the view. The tables are spread out over the deck and are beautifully laid out with it’s namesake adorning the dinnerware.

The service is formal and the waiters are non-intrusive. The lighting is dimmed adding a nice ambient atmosphere with candles and side lamps rather than bright overhead lighting. There are lot’s of fans that can be directed over your table to ensure a pleasant breeze if you feel it’s a little warm.

The Food

The ever so polite waiter gave us our menus and due to the dim lighting we were also given a little reading light to see the menu. This is a necessity as the lighting is kept low. The dinner menu offers some great choices and we even found something for my fussy eater son that he enjoyed. The food is presented beautifully – something that the Thai people do so well. I ordered the duck curry and it was one of the hottest curry’s I have ever had but the taste was exquisite. My son went for the safe option of prawns, to which he then got a little bit adventurous by trying the hot dipping sauces. It got the thumbs up!

It’s actually quite a tranquil experience dining whilst hearing the waves crashing around you, along with the background music by the chap tinkling the ivories on the grand piano – it just makes for a lovely atmosphere.

The Bar

Baan Rim Pa also has an extensive wine list and their wall cellar is well stocked at the back of the restaurant. There is a little bar area where you can go and sit and have a drink if you haven’t got a dinner reservation.

The important things

This restaurant is very popular and if you are going in high season then you must book ahead for a table. When I went I didn’t have a table booked as it was a last minute decision at the end of my trip. I got there early to secure a table and it was the only one left not reserved and this was in the low season (October).

Like all restaurants in Thailand there will be a VAT charge added onto the bill at the end.

To take advantage of the views at night, make sure you go just prior to sunset (great for photos) as the view at sunset is spectacular.

Pricing is a little more expensive than the average Thai restaurant but still value for money for what you are experiencing.

I found the whole experience excellent from the service, the atmosphere, the view and of course the amazing food. If you want to impress or you want to be impressed then this is the place to be – book a table online to ensure you don’t miss out.