We covered Bangkok's Spanish restaurants in Spanish food in Bangkok. The beach towns have their own, several of them run by the owner or chef who does the cooking. This guide covers the ones in our directory in Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui, using what each venue's own listing says.
Phuket: La Cava and La Salada
La Cava Phuket is chef-owner David Aldea's indoor-outdoor Spanish eatery. The cooking is ingredient-led and kept simple. Aldea makes his own charcuterie and grows his own vegetables, and the place is known for paella cook-outs. The signature is gambas al ajillo, prawns cooked in olive oil with garlic and chilli. Aldea also cooks with other Spanish chefs in Phuket at special beach brunches.
La Salada, at 12/43 Moo 1 in Ban Rawai, is a Spanish and Mediterranean kitchen in the style of a seaside tavern. Owner Elena Batista cooks paella live in front of diners, and the listing advises booking the black paella ahead. The menu also has tapas, seafood, Spanish wines and cocktails.
Hua Hin: Little Spain
Little Spain brings Menorcan home cooking to Hua Hin. Owner Vanessa Humbert, whose family runs a restaurant on the Balearic island, cooks from her mother's recipes with ingredients imported from Spain. The restaurant moved to a beachside spot in 2024, with seating inside or by the pool.
The tapas list covers croquetas, Padrón peppers, garlic prawns and Ibérico cold cuts, and the signature is huevos rotos with jamón ibérico de bellota. On Tuesdays, paella night brings two tapas, a shared paella and a litre of sangria; Thursdays have live jazz, and there is a daily happy hour.
Pattaya and Koh Samui
In Pattaya, Don Pepe cooks traditional Spanish food with produce imported from Spain and the Mediterranean every week, and also works with local artisan products. Our directory flags it as open late.
On Koh Samui, The Breeza is the beach restaurant and bar at the Meliá Koh Samui on Choeng Mon beach. Its own description talks about à la carte dishes on handmade local crockery and a fusion of flavours, so expect a hotel beach restaurant rather than a traditional Spanish tavern.
Tips for Thai diners
- Paella is usually cooked to order in a wide pan, so it can take a while. Order it early, or book ahead where the restaurant asks, as La Salada does for black paella.
- Paella is usually shared, and restaurants often price it for two or more people.
- Tapas are small plates, commonly ordered several at a time and shared, which will feel familiar to anyone used to sharing dishes at a Thai meal.
- Beach-town restaurants change hours with the season. Check with the venue before making the trip.
