The many best places to eat, drink and chill in Hua Hin

A single weekend at the beach town isn’t enough to experience it all.

Time Out Bangkok in association with Rental for the HolidaysTuesday July 31 2018

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Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, boasting crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches. You get these at famous resort town Hua Hin—and more.

Unlike other coastal towns, Hua Hin is where beach meets a lively city-like ambiance. Here you find everything from historical attractions, to diverse shopping options, to amazing gastronomic delights. Clearly, a few days is not enough to enjoy everything this resort town has to offer.

Food is one of the things that lure weekenders to Hua Hin again and again. The vibrant beachside destination offers a unique mix of dining choices, from restaurants serving royal court-inspired recipes, to street stalls grilling fresh-off-the-boat seafood and authentic local cuisine, to hip hangouts and cool cafés. Here’s the Time Out guide to scooping up the very best eats of the city.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s the Time Out guide to scooping up the very best eats of the city.

1. Hunt down savory street bites at the night market

When talking casual dining in Hua Hin, the one place that pops up in most minds is Hua Hin Night Market (https://goo.gl/maps/4n5uTqH8feC2). This lively, long-standing market remains a top spot for both locals and tourists, thanks to a variety of extremely appetizing street eats that range from freshly grilled seafood to Thai-style ice cream.

Queues will lead you to the most popular eats: pad Thai by Mae Yhai, Hua Hin pork balls, shrimp paste by Pa Salee, mango sticky rice by Tarn Khun, and ice cream by Pa Ni. Our ultimate vote goes to Pa Ni, which has flavors such as vanilla, coffee, Thai tea, green tea, chocolate, rum raisin and coconut ice cream (B30/serving). Top your scoops with sticky rice, sweet banana or syrupy palm seed.

The Hua Hin night market is where you can get some of the freshest seafood in the city. The options are endless, so you can eat fish and seafood every day for a week without having to repeat an order. The market opens daily around 17:00, gets crowded from around 19:00 and closes at midnight.

2. Go for a less chaotic food trip at serene art space Cicada

If you’re not a fan of digging up munchies in a crowded area, Cicada Market (https://goo.gl/maps/FQDC7by2Y5z) is your answer. The space is best known for its art, craft and handmade products, but it also has a restaurant called Cuisine where you can feast on grilled meats and seafood amidst an artsy setting. And unlike the market, there’s abundant seating and clean toilets! Come at the right time to witness entertaining street performances. Cicada Market is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00 to 23:00, and Sundays from 16:00 to 22:00. Shops usually open around 18:00.

3. Breathe fresh air, admire inspiring architecture, chill by the beach and eat great food all at the same time at Seenspace Huahin

The cool kids go from beach sea to styling at unarguably hip complex Seenspace Huahin (https://goo.gl/maps/CDooS48E8862). Purveying the latest fashion and lifestyle trends, Seenspace houses a number of uber-stylish shops and restaurants in an Insta-worthy building that also showcases live tunes and cool vibes. The real draw, however, is Oasis, a beachfront bar with a stunningly beautiful swimming pool that will have you wishing you had a Gigi Hadid body that you can flaunt in a cute bikini, a glass of cocktail in hand. Seenspace Huahin is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 22:00; Friday to Sunday 10:00-22:00.

4. Hua Hin now has a sky bar—and it’s OMG amazing

If you want to see Hua Hin from a bird’s eye view, you can do so from Vana Nava Sky (https://goo.gl/maps/5c9Z12yvkjA2), the city’s newest, highest sky bar on the 27th floor of the Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin hotel. Outside offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand on one side and the mountains of Hua Hin on another. The inside, however, boasts exquisite decor courtesy of renowned bar designer Ashley Sutton, who’s behind some of Bangkok’s coolest watering holes, including Sing Sing Theater, Maggie Choo’s and Iron Fairies. If you love getting your thrills, check out the Vana Nava Sky Deck, a massive glass-bottom platform that offers views of Hua Hin’s stunning topography beneath your feet. The drinks list features creations of cocktail magician Joseph Boroski, which you can pair with tasty tapas and scrumptious plates.

5. Eat like a local

The food lover’s Hua Hin holiday won’t be complete without trying the city’s many street eats! The beach town offers a plentiful selection of sidewalk bites, and some of the best out there include:

Mooping Lungtae (https://goo.gl/maps/6ECish8Yp6T2), which has been serving juicy pork skewers for more than 35 years.
Nai Hoy Noodle (https://goo.gl/maps/Xe3Vh1SEuhE2), a stall that’s famous for al dente noodles that’s simmered in broth for hours, and served with different condiments.
Jek Pea (https://goo.gl/maps/dDpSvwFtRT22), which has been around for more than six decades and is regarded as one of the oldest coffee shops in Hua Hin. Fork out for local comfort dishes such as red barbeque pork with rice, chicken rice, pork satay and rice porridge.

6. Seafood, seafood, seafood

Hua Hin has long been praised for its fresh seafood. The best dishes can be found at these local favorites:

Nong May (https://goo.gl/maps/z6A5iVQVSSG2) is a famous local seafood restaurant offering the fruits of the sea, such as stir-fried scallops with garlic, crab meat with green onions, and mixed seafood with salted egg. But the house favorite is the spicy goong chao wang (prawn steamed with milk and curry paste, B250).

Baan Itsara (https://goo.gl/maps/rTm9gYx724H2) is a respected beachside seafood eatery that offers sea views with delicious meals. Set in a refurbished wooden house, which was popular when Hua Hin was better known as a summer retreat for Thai nobles, Baan Itsara serves a wide selection of traditional seafood dishes along with fusion recipes (we’re talking dishes like mussels with basil sauce and sour squid ink soup).

7. Don’t miss out on the sweet treats

Ending a meal with desserts is always a good idea, and Hua Hin has no shortage of sweets on offer:

Benjapong Shop (https://goo.gl/maps/rTm9gYx724H2)is advertised at a souvenir shop, but those in the know come here for their aromatic and tender Thai coconut and pandan pudding.
Lod Chong Lung Dam (https://goo.gl/maps/u36Vp9kmLkF2) soothes your palate with lod chong, an iced sweet dessert with worm-like green rice flour jelly (it tastes better than it sounds), coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.
Kao Nieo Ma Maung Pa Jue (https://goo.gl/maps/65TbiEgxQoE2) is the go-to place for mango sticky rice. Bonus: the vendor’s knife skills when peeling mangoes is worth an Instagram story.
Not a fan of Thai sweets? Head over to Eighteen Below (https://goo.gl/maps/pwMRoiU8AK32), a homemade ice cream café that scoops out low-fat, low-sugar, and low-calorie ice cream and sorbet made wholly of natural products, and without artificial flavoring and food coloring.
Skoop Beach Cafe (https://goo.gl/maps/UkezCmKb5cp) is another ice cream place in the Kao Takiab beach area that’s also worth a try. It’s also a chance to stroll along a lesser-known beach.

8. Bunk down in affordable and comfortable long-stay accommodations to better enjoy your culinary journey through Hua Hin

It’s not enough to look for just any place to stay in Hua Hin. Why not book a place that’s ideal for longer stays so you can spend more days—or even weeks—exploring the beach town? Rental for the Holidays is your answer. Launched in 2013 by one of the largest property developers in Thailand, the award-winning real estate management agency provides an abundant arrange of refined holiday accommodations for every preference at affordable prices. Choices range from multi-bedroom apartments with a swimming pool for a family of six or a romantic beachfront hideaway for two. There’s a place for anyone who wishes for a longer stay at friendlier prices than hotel rooms. With Hua Hin only a few hours away from Bangkok, it’s also ideal to rent a unit that you can go back to every weekend.

Rental for the Holidays is not just exclusive to Hua Hin. The company also has properties in Phuket and Pattaya for rent. Book your home-away-from-home experience now.

Note: The minimum rental period is 30 days.