Lazy Afternoons
Enjoy the calm, quiet ambience at Siam Residence.
Tucked away amongst the trees, on a quiet, peaceful and pristine stretch of the west coast beach at Lipa Noi, lies Siam Residence. With its organised Austrian owners and friendly Swiss management, everything here, including the gardens, bungalows, pool and idyllic beachside restaurant, is spotlessly clean, tidy and exceptionally well maintained.
Khun Lamyai, the native Samuian Thai House Chef, has worked here for the last 25 years, and staunchly maintains her passion for creating, preparing and cooking every dish to perfection. She insists on personally going shopping every morning to source only the best and freshest ingredients she can find. If anything is unavailable or second rate, she absolutely will not substitute for a lower quality or frozen alternative. You can be assured that all the mouth-watering authentic Thai and international dishes that they pride themselves on, are created using only the highest quality, ingredients. Due to these consistently high standards, some dishes may occasionally or seasonally become unavailable.
The other kitchen staff are also loyal, native Samuians and live close by. Most have been at Siam Residence for many years, and have formed an exceptional team. Genuine Thai dishes are created with traditional ingredients and recipes, but Khun Lamyai is flexible with the level of spiciness - choose from zero to crazy hot! Any fish or shellfish can be chosen from the range on the menu as long as available; red or white snapper, barracuda, mackerel, squid, king prawns or lobster. Crab, rock lobster, tiger prawns and other seafood are on pre-request only. Next, choose your preferred method of cooking and side orders. Barbequed, deep-fried, stir-fried, braised in Penang curry or the healthy way - steamed. Add vegetables and a sauce from the wide choice available. All dishes are served with a choice of steamed rice, French fries, fried potatoes, baked potato, or noodles. Meat dishes include; Mixed Grill, Beef Tenderloin, Crispy Pork Ribs or Tender Grilled Chicken and come with a choice of sauce; herb butter, peppercorn, mushroom or red wine and the same side dishes.
There is an assortment of appetisers, salads, pasta dishes, burgers (try the Siam Burger with extra bacon, egg and cheese), sandwiches, baguettes and of course desserts. Have fun with the kids’ menu, everything is named after cartoon characters. I’ll leave you to guess what Captain Sharkey, Speedy Gonzales and Super Mario’s favourite are! Everything that comes out of the kitchen is home-made and prepared freshly every time. And the great prices mean it’s all really good value.
For that ‘lazy afternoon’ feeling, why not order the Tasty Lunch Platter for two persons. It comes with golden bags, firecracker shrimps, fresh spring roll, tuna, ham and cheese toasties, fresh fruit salad and fruit. Served with any non-alcoholic drink, the price is only 520 baht. Sounds intriguing. And from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm, enjoy a gloriously long happy hour, with discounts on beer, wine, shakes, smoothies cocktails and snacks. As the afternoon rolls into evening, you are in the perfect west coast position to witness the glorious colours of nature’s magnificent sunset. If you plan to stay on for dinner, be sure to book ahead, evening dining here is very popular.
The Siam Residence offers a calm and tranquil atmosphere for breakfast, lunch, lazy afternoons or dinner. Tables are set up right by the beach, or you can enjoy air-conditioned comfort. Come early, stay late and take the opportunity to explore the beautiful bay. Stroll along the white sandy beach alongside the shimmering ocean, borrow the resort kayak, go snorkelling or swing beneath the trees. Alternatively, just simply relax on the beach or by the pool (which is also great for lap swimming) or enjoy a traditional Thai massage under the palm trees. If you are a visitor and not staying here, just buy a drink and then you can use all the facilities.
From Nathon, head south and turn right at the large roundabout signposted towards Samui Hospital. Follow the road until you reach a 7/11 on the left-hand side, and turn left immediately after it. Follow the road for approximately 600 metres. The entrance is signposted on the right-hand side, before you get to the temple. Opening times are daily from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm, with breakfast served until 10.30 am.
Karan Ladd