Asia
Thai kitchens, beach tables and plant-based food in Koh Lipe
Ten restaurants and cafes balance Walking Street's Thai counters with Indian cooking, a dedicated plant-based kitchen and resort dining above Sunrise Beach. The island is walkable, but a beachfront meal and a busy inland grill offer very different evenings.
Elephant
Elephant serves homemade bread, brunch plates, burgers, falafel and Thai-inspired dishes on Walking Street, with substantial vegan and gluten-free choices. Its longtail-boat bar also pours Thai-flavoured cocktails and craft beer, and live music gives the room a second life after dinner.
Papaya Mom Restaurant
Papaya Mom serves Thai salads, curries and seafood from a large open-fronted Walking Street restaurant. Grilled fish and sharing dishes suit a table of mixed appetites; the busy dining room favours an informal meal over an intimate reservation dinner.
Nee Papaya Thai Food & BBQ
Nee Papaya cooks Thai dishes and barbecue on the lane behind Sunrise Beach. Grilled fish served with fresh leaves and herbs is a stronger reason to visit than the broad tourist menus nearby, with the roadside room keeping the setting simple.
Benny's On The Beach Koh Lipe
Benny's cooks exclusively vegetarian and vegan food, including Thai curries without fish sauce or shrimp paste, breakfast bowls and tacos. The owners source vegetables from mainland farms and use reusable shipping containers; this is a deliberate plant-based kitchen beside Sunrise Beach.
On The Rocks
On The Rocks serves Thai dishes, seafood and international cooking on Serendipity's hillside above the southern end of Sunrise Beach. The elevated deck and drinks menu make it a comfortable splurge, with stairs separating the restaurant from the sand below.
Castaway Restaurant Koh Lipe
Castaway serves Thai and European food from a wooden deck facing Sunrise Beach, with low tables and cushions beside the sand. Cocktails have a daily buy-one-get-one offer; the kitchen takes its last orders at 21:00 even though the bar stays open later.
Bombay Indian Restaurant Koh Lipe
Bombay cooks Indian curries, tandoori dishes and breads on the lane towards Sunrise Beach. Vegetarian dishes and freshly cooked flatbreads offer a substantial meal beyond the seafood grills on Walking Street, in an informal open-fronted room.
Thai Lady Pancake Shop
Thai Lady folds sweet roti with banana, chocolate and other fillings at a Walking Street counter, alongside simple Thai food. The visible griddle and quick service make the pancake the clearest reason to stop, rather than treating it as a full restaurant reservation.
Café Lipe
Café Lipe serves breakfast, sandwiches, fresh bread and Thai dishes under trees on Pattaya Beach. The Swiss-Thai cafe has a shaded timber setting that feels smaller than the neighbouring resorts; it finishes in the early evening rather than serving as a late bar.
The Cove Bistro Restaurant
The Cove Bistro serves Thai and Western dishes at Idyllic Concept Resort on the southern part of Sunrise Beach. Seafood and a broad resort menu come with an open sea-facing dining area; this is a more polished meal than the Walking Street counters.