Ma Doo Bua Phuket (มาดูบัวภูเก็ต)

We had a really good time here, and the staff were incredibly kind. The food and drinks were great, too. For 30 usd, the photos and videos felt worth it: the photographers took their time, gave us directions, and later helped us take pictures with our own camera, still giving us good guidance. We had panang curry, green curry, sticky rice, and other food, plus a flavored green tea. Everything tasted good and arrived quickly. We came 20 minutes before opening, which I’d suggest if you don’t want to spend all day in line. It can be a long wait, so if you’re impatient, this probably isn’t for you. I thought the pictures and videos were worth waiting for. The long tail boat gets hot in the sun, so bring a water bottle to the photo area when it’s nearly your turn.

The Thai food we ordered was really well made and not expensive. We got a table right away, even though I’d been skeptical after reading complaints about the food and photo waits. You can take your own lake pictures for free, and the wait for the bridge photos was only around 10 minutes, though there are plenty of people wanting pictures. Professional photos may mean a longer wait, but the photographers seemed to put in effort, so 500 baht was probably worth it for those who chose them. I guess dining lets you take pictures. Some tourists came in wanting photos without buying anything to eat or drink and were kicked out, which seemed fair. If you dine and are friendly to the staff, they treat you well. The place is popular, so the restaurant being stricter makes sense. I’d give it around four stars, but all the negativity from spoiled and rude tourists makes me give it five.

The view at Ma Doo Bua is stunning, and it’s a lovely setting for photos. It’s a restaurant and café with lots of tasty dishes and drinks. I especially liked the pizza and burger, and the food is halal. They offer drone photography, with different prices for photos and video. If you’re mainly coming for pictures, don’t go on a rainy day, even with light rain, since the drone won’t fly. It’s a popular place and gets crowded, so try to arrive early to avoid a long wait.

We were lucky enough to get a table and spent about two hours enjoying the atmosphere with drinks. The place is known for its beautiful view, and you can take your own photos. If you want a professional photographer, reserve ahead. Even if it’s crowded and there are no tables, you can still walk in, take pictures, and enjoy the view.