If you are looking for a place that personifies the classic ‘beach bar’ then look no further. This place has earned its reputation as a Samui institution. This place….is Coco Tam’s.
Sandwiched between the stretch of sand known as Bophut Beach and the main street of Fisherman’s Village is a property of epic proportions. Whether you are looking for a place to take the family for a peaceful lunch or dinner, or in the mood to party with your friends, Coco Tam’s effortlessly satisfies all desires.
Grab a big group dining table. Saddle up in a swing chair at the bar. Flop on a bean bag on the beach. Groove on the dance floor. Like I said….it’s got something for everyone.
First off, the food. On this day I went in for a late lunch. We parked ourselves at my personal favorite seat in almost every Samui beach restaurant….the last table on the hard floor directly overlooking the beach. I’m a working man don’t ya know (blogging about tropical paradise can be a tough job!) so at lunch time I love to keep my feet dry while still listening to the waves gently brushing into the shoreline. No need to drag sand back to ‘the office’……;-)
Any of you who have spent any time in Bangkok may already have enjoyed Peppina, one of the finest Italian joints in the city, and purveyor of perfect pizza pies. Well, you’re in luck….Peppina is a sister of Coco Tam’s so the pizza and Italian food at this joint will rock your socks.
We ordered one of my personal favs, a truffle pizza and after stuffing a few slices I honestly can’t decide which I like better, this one or the one at Pecore Nere’s. And that’s saying something. You’d be making a mistake if you didn’t order one of these to throw in the center of your table.
I was also in the mood for some pasta, and went for the AOC Bacon. I’ve had this before, and I’ll have it again….it’s sooooo good. It’s a perfectly al dente spaghetti sprinkled with tasty bacon (or dare I say pancetta), and it’s got a helluva kick to it. It’s that addictive kind of spicy that keeps getting better and better with each bite.
I’m no doctor but if I were I’d prescribe one bite of this pasta followed immediately by a sip of cold beer. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
On the side, a nice green salad made with arugula, or ‘rocket’ as it’s known in Thailand. Mixed with a nice balsamic vinaigrette and some delectable slices of some sort of sausage. Yum. And the perfect side-car for the spicy pasta and salty pizza. So that was lunch on this sunny Samui day…..enjoyed with a friend while watching the funny water sport where they strap water jets on your legs and you fly around like Iron Man. I’ve never tried it but if you have, please comment below and tell me if it’s actually fun.
This place is equally enjoyable for a group dinner. Here’s 3 generations of some of my finest Canadian, American and British friends enjoying some family time at one of Coco Tam’s many cool seating areas. This place can get busy so try and make a reservation if coming at prime time.
And if you want to eat here any Friday, remember that Friday night is Fisherman’s Village Night Market (aka Walking Street). This is a great event that I’ll post all about in the future and well worth checking out, but it also means places like Coco Tam’s are that much harder to get a table at. As always, we’re looking out for you here at Samui Unmasked!
Like a caterpillar, Coco Tam’s metamorphs from a lazy beach-bar in the day to a cool beach-club at night. Expect a live DJ spinning cool island tunes, a bit of a younger crowd (but still friendly to those of all ages), and a hip, social vibe. At 9:30pm each night, the fire dancers will come out and dazzle your eyes with a show, but find yourself too close to them and they’ll annoy your nose buds with the smell of burning kerosene!
So there you have it. That, in a nutshell, is Coco Tam’s. Well worth a visit, day or night. In fact, any guest we have at Moonstone Samui that arrives before the check-in time and needs a place to go and kill a couple of hours is pointed in the direction of this place.
Great location. Great food. Great drinks. Great times. Beach Bar Bliss.
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