The Cove Phuket

I came across the restaurant on TikTok and called on New Year’s Day to book seats for six adults and two children. I also asked if we could order food ahead. The staff said no, including when I asked whether the children’s meals could be ordered in advance so the little ones could eat straight away. I said I’d bring some bread for my one-year-old to snack on while we waited, but was told outside food wasn’t allowed. I asked again, explaining the child’s age, and got the same answer. So I canceled the reservation. They clearly stick to strict rules, and it’s a shame I didn’t get to visit. Happy New Year 2026 🎇

The manager didn’t seem concerned when we explained that the meal had spoiled a birthday breakfast. The pancakes arrived 25 minutes after the rest, an hour and 15 minutes after we ordered. There wasn’t an apology, just moody faces. They tried to remove the pancake charge while keeping the service charge, and after we complained again, they took 400 baht off a 1300 baht bill. Four of us ordered two eggs Benedict, an omelette, and a pancake breakfast. The first three dishes took 45 minutes and the pancakes still hadn’t come. I can wait for good food, but ours was stale, tasted odd, and came in a very small portion. Prices were way too high too. The beach view makes the setting look appealing, but the service was poor and the food worse. I’ve never eaten anywhere worse, in the UK or any other country I’ve visited. Do not go here for breakfast.

Just a few steps from the sea, this beach bar is peaceful. We had breakfast and lunch and loved it. Definitely recommend it if you’re nearby.

The Cove’s food and drinks are excellent, and it sits right by a clean, lovely beach. We visited five times in three weeks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Prices are high, but they felt fair for the quality and setting. Service, though, left me disappointed and honestly a little hurt. It got worse with each visit. Of about seven staff members we dealt with, only one woman was genuinely friendly. I don’t expect much, just a greeting, a smile, or some acknowledgment. We’d say hello and get silently pointed toward a table. Even with only a few tables occupied, ordering often took around 20 minutes. We usually had to ask more than once for the bill, and twice it was the wrong one. I realize many guests may only visit once, so there might not be much incentive to build rapport with returning customers, but that doesn’t excuse the consistently cold service. If you only care about the food and beautiful view, you may still enjoy it. For us, the lack of warmth got in the way of what could have been a great experience.