Whilst it could not stake any claim to being a gourmet paradise there are many pleasant eating options in Krabi Town. Where it really wins out is with the street food and night markets. There are also a number of restaurants along Chao Fah Road selling a mixture of international and Thai food aimed solidly at the tourist market.
Chalita
This restaurant is both Italian and Thai in equal measure and it does justice to both culinary traditions. This is not surprising since the owners are married, the husband hailing from Genoa in Italy and the lady of the house is from southern Thailand.
It is a single shop-front affair all in wood with soft lighting and a tastefully warm atmosphere with a terrace out front with comfortable rattan furniture. The pizzas are superb, the caprese and the vegetarian being particularly standout. The salads are fresh and the dressing is homemade.
The Thai food is all good and wonderfully presented. The chicken fried rice is served in a pineapple which is a nice touch. The place is often busy and infused with an air of friendly family chaos.
Floating Restaurant
If you have a tendency to seasickness this might not be the place for you since when the long tail boats go by it does have a habit of bobbing about a bit. It’s a really fun place since you are on a giant platform right out on the Krabi River. The seafood is fantastic and it is very popular with Thai families and visiting tour groups. The staff are very friendly indeed and will move heaven and earth to prevent you getting bitten by mosquitoes which appear in some numbers at dusk, surrounding you with mosquito coils the smoke rising around you as if you are part of some arcane Aztec ritual.
Khong Kha Pier Night Market
Spread out along the water front this busy night market is a popular place to eat for tourists and locals alike and at times it is a hive of frantic and quite smoky activity. It is situated next to where the ferry boats are docked although this is no longer the main pier for departures. They have menus in English and the food is cheap and tasty. Every town in Thailand has a night market like this and they are often the best places to sample local variations on Thai cuisine. The southern curries here are fantastic. There is also a fruit shake vendor who makes some of the best fruit shakes in Asia. His stall is near the water and he usually wears a hat and is often listening to music on headphones. Seek him out. It’s worth it. He is an artist.
Walking Street
On weekends the busy walking street night market near the City Hotel is stuffed with stalls selling some real delicacies. Grilled shellfish, crab, chicken curry… Pick up a range of different things from different stalls and then find yourself a table and enjoy.
Pu Darn
Situated across the road from the river front the Pu Darn specialises in fresh food. You can pick your own fish from the iced trays at the front. The Pu Darn is very popular with an almost party like atmosphere. The area around it is like a little neon lit entertainment complex with cafes and pubs.
