The fishing village is the old beachfront promenade of Bophut on Koh Samui's north coast. Here, Chinese-Thai wooden houses line the promenade, now housing restaurants, boutique hotels, bars, and shops. Behind them stretches Bophut Beach, and across the water lies Koh Phangan. It's the best place for an evening out on the island, and the day of the week is crucial. On Fridays, the beach road is closed to traffic because Walking Street, the island's largest night market, takes place there from about 5:00 PM to 10:00 or 11:00 PM.

The smaller market takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays at the quay in the west of the village. There is no market on Thursdays and Saturdays, only dinner. Come in the late afternoon, enjoy the sunset from the beach, have a meal, and then stay for the fire show at Coco Tam's beach.

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Key facts

The pedestrian zone is open from 5:00 pm on Fridays.

The beach road will be closed to traffic from approximately 4:30 pm. The market stall will be in full swing from 6:00 pm and will quiet down again between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm. The busiest time is between 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm.

The Wharf market is open for five evenings.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:00 PM to midnight, Tuesday and Sunday from 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM. Closed on Thursday and Saturday.

Coco Tam's fire show takes place at 7:15 pm and 9:00 pm.

Located on the beach in the heart of the village, open from noon until midnight. Arrive around 5:30 pm to reserve a beanbag chair on the sand.

20 to 25 minutes from Chaweng

The distance is approximately 8 km, too far to walk. Therefore, it's best to take a Grab or a taxi. The airport is 10 to 15 minutes away. Parking is not permitted after 6:00 PM on Fridays.

Bring cash.

Only Baht is accepted at the market stalls, so you should bring small bills. Most restaurants accept card payments.

A beach for sunset, not for swimming

Bophut beach is calm but narrow, and reviewers report a current near the eastern village entrance. It's better to swim in Chaweng or Choeng Mon and come here in the evening.

A little history and the White Lotus

Long before the resorts, Bophut was a fishing village and trading port, and the wooden Chinese-Thai shophouses along the beachfront are remnants of that era. Most now house restaurants, boutique hotels, and shops. It's the best-preserved old town street on the island and the reason the village feels different from Chaweng.

In 2025, the series returned to the screen. The third season of "The White Lotus" was filmed on Samui, with the Songkran street scenes shot in the village, while the scenes with the guard and the jewelry store were filmed at the Anantara Bophut Resort in the west of the island.

Which night should one go?

Fridays, if possible. Walking Street stretches along the entire beachfront promenade and is lined with food stalls, freshly grilled seafood, clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs. Live music and restaurants spilling out onto the street provide entertainment. Admission is free. After 7:00 PM, the narrow sections become very crowded, so it's recommended to arrive before 6:00 PM, explore the street from one end to the other while there's still space, and then have dinner.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, the stalls are located on Wharf Walking Street, a smaller market at the western end of town. The food stalls are at the back, towards the main street, and the shops are at the front. Prices aren't marked, so haggle! If you take a taxi, ask for Taco Bell or Pizza Hut, and they'll drop you off at the right end.

The street food is inexpensive by village standards. Pad Thai costs around 60–80 baht, mango sticky rice 50–80 baht, grilled coconut shrimp 80–120 baht, and satay skewers 10 baht each. With 300–500 baht per person, you can enjoy a good dinner with various small dishes. Cocktails are available at the small bars for about 99 baht.

Those who prefer to shop away from the market stalls will find island clothing and jewelry in the boutiques along the street, including the handcrafted resort fashion from Saona Collection. Souvenirs are available at the market stalls, and polite haggling is customary there, but not in the shops.

There is no market on Thursdays and Saturdays, and the village is characterized by restaurants and bars. It's a wonderful place to enjoy a quiet dinner by the water. Of the market days, Friday is the busiest, while Monday and Wednesday are the quietest.

Where to eat in the fishing village

According to our records, all the restaurants have a Google rating of 4.5 or higher. The first four are located directly in the village, the last two a little further inland, where the Thai food is cheaper and, according to most reports, also better.

  • 1. Salt & Oak, Bophut – Seafood by Weight. Choose your whole fish, lobster, crab, or king prawn. It's weighed and cooked to order, often on the grill, seasoned only with salt and pepper. The tom yum stew and garlic pepper prawns are the dishes recommended by reviewers. Open daily from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Best time: dinner. Reservations are recommended during peak season. Salt & Oak, 4.9 (1,369 reviews). Daily 1 p.m.–11 p.m. Directions.
  • 2. The Thai Tapas, Fisherman's Village: Thai tapas for sharing. The menu offers a selection of Thai and fusion dishes, from fish tacos and chili prawns to Massaman beef. The kitchen recommends three to four dishes per person. Ideal for two people or groups. Open from 12:30 pm (1:30 pm on Tuesdays) to 10:00 pm. Recommended time to visit: early evening to avoid waiting. The Thai Tapas: 4.8 (1,290) Mon 12:30–10:00 pm, Tue 1:30–10:00 pm, Wed 12:30–10:00 pm, Fri–Sun 12:30–10:00 pm. Directions
  • 3. Rice x De Pier, Fisherman's Village Pier: Pizza with an ocean view. Italian cuisine right on the pier with a wood-fired oven you can watch from your table and unobstructed water views through a discreet street entrance. The pasta and cocktails are especially praised. Open 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Best time to visit: Sunset. Rice x De Pier, 4.5 (1,329), $$$$, daily 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Directions.
  • 4. Charm Samui, eastern end of the village: A personal fusion dinner. This small fusion restaurant in the quieter eastern part of the village is known for its owner, Renata, who personally attends to her guests. Guests often describe it as the best meal of their Samui stay. Since it's very cozy, reservations via WhatsApp are recommended. Best time to visit: Dinner on a day when the market isn't open. Charm Samui Restaurant, 4.9 (519), Mon 2:00 PM–11:00 PM, Wed–Sun 2:00 PM–11:00 PM. Directions
  • 5. Chez François, Fisherman's Village: French cuisine – a welcome change from Thai food. Here you can enjoy authentic French dishes at moderate prices on the village street and have a leisurely, relaxed dinner. Open only in the evenings from 6:30 pm. Closed on some evenings, so check before your visit, especially during the off-season. Chez François, 4,8 (393), $$$$, Tue.–Sat. 6:30 pm–11:00 pm, Directions
  • 6. Ban Thai, Bophut, inland on Laan Tong Road. Homemade Thai food at local prices. A family-run restaurant a little inland with a simple interior and delicious food that keeps guests coming back. Pad Kra Pao is especially popular. Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, walk-in only. Best time: lunch or early dinner before the market. Ban Thai 4.9 (1,672) $$$$ Daily 9:00 AM–9:00 PM. Directions
  • 7. Ran Khang Non, Bophut, Inland – Affordable Thai food, Khao Soi and Laab. An unassuming neighborhood restaurant known for its classic Thai dishes at affordable prices. The Khao Soi and Laab are especially recommended. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM. There may be a wait during peak hours. Best time to visit: Lunch. Closed Mondays. Ran Khang Non, 4.9 (1,050), $$$$, Tue–Sun 11:00 AM–8:30 PM. Directions.

    • After nightfall

    Coco Tam's is the place to be, with beanbag chairs and loungers on the sand, pizza that's better than you'd expect, and a fire show at 7:15 pm and 9:00 pm. Arrive around 5:30 pm to secure a good spot and enjoy the sunset. Sit a row or two back for a great view of the whole show without the smell of kerosene. Upstairs is Easy on Tam's, a speakeasy-style bar, perfect for a post-show drink.

    After dinner, the bars along the street are quieter than Chaweng itself. The Garnish cocktail bar, located upstairs in the neighborhood, has a Google rating of 4.9. Karma Sutra offers live music and cocktails, Frog & Gecko hosts a quiz on Wednesdays, and Happy Elephant Square features live music almost every night.

    For a pre-bed massage, the Cyan Spa on the beach is open until 11:00 PM and only accepts cash, and the small massage shops along the road charge about 300–600 Baht.

    During the day

    The village sleeps until late afternoon, so it's best to use the day for an excursion. Wat Bo Phuttharam, on the edge of the village, is an active temple where you can buy a bucket of food for the carp, catfish, and turtles in the moat for 10 baht. Visit the temple during the day, cover your shoulders and knees, and avoid the dogs that gather there after dark.

    The Big Buddha is just a short drive east, and boats to Koh Phangan depart from the pier behind it. For swimming, a trip to Chaweng or Choeng Mon is recommended before returning to the village in the evening.

    Practical tips

    The shops open around 11:00 am and the village comes to life after 5:00 pm, so a visit in the early afternoon is quiet and the evening is the main event.

    If you are arriving by car, park at the western end by the quay. Parking fees are approximately 20 baht for a scooter and from 40 baht for a car. Scooters are not allowed in the pedestrian zone during the Friday market (approximately 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM). Illegally parked bicycles will be towed; the release fee is at least 500 baht.

    Bring cash. Only Baht is accepted at the stalls, pop-up bars, and on Coco Tam beach. ATMs charge fees of approximately 250 Baht per withdrawal for foreign cards, so it's best to withdraw a larger amount. Popular restaurants fill up quickly during peak season, so make reservations three to five days in advance via their Facebook or Instagram pages.

    Stay in the fishing village

    Bophut is the ideal starting point for a successful holiday on Koh Samui. Mid-range rooms are available here for around 2,500–5,000 baht per night. From here, you have the island's best restaurant strip right on your doorstep, the airport is a 10-15 minute drive away, and the Bangrak ferry piers are about 10 minutes away. However, you'll have to forgo a beach for swimming, and the market takes place right outside your door on Friday evenings. If you prefer a quieter stay, you can find accommodations at the quieter ends of Bophut Beach, from where you can easily walk to the town center.

    Hotels in and around the village

    According to our records, all properties are located on Bophut Beach and are accessible on foot from the road.

  • 1. Anantara Bophut, western end of the village – luxury right on the beach. This beachfront resort is just a short walk from the village where the film "The White Lotus" was filmed. Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars based on over 1,500 Google reviews. Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, 4.7 (1,562 reviews), open 24 hours a day. Directions.
  • 2. Hansar Samui, In the Village: Designer rooms with views of Koh Phangan. Beach rooms with a bathtub in the center of the room and an infinity pool overlooking Koh Phangan, located directly on the village road. Hansar Samui Resort & Spa, 4.6 (1,567), open 24 hours daily. Directions.
  • 3. Bo Phut Resort, Bo Phut Beach: Smaller and more intimate beach access. This smaller resort with beach access is known for its service and has a Google rating of 4.8. Bo Phut Resort: 4.8 (795) Directions
  • 4. NH Collection Samui Peace, Bophut Beach – Tranquil Villas. A quiet beachfront villa resort, ideal for relaxation and just a short walk from the market. NH Collection Samui Peace Resort, 4.6 (1,476 reviews). Directions.

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently asked questions about Fisherman's Village, Koh Samui.

    The large market, Walking Street along the beach promenade, takes place on Fridays from approximately 5:00 PM to 10:00 or 11:00 PM. The smaller market at the harbor in the west of town is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:00 PM to midnight, and Tuesdays and Sundays from 4:30 PM to 11:30 PM. There is no market on Thursdays and Saturdays.

    Not exactly comfortable. It's about 8 km along the main road. By Grab or taxi, the journey takes 20 to 25 minutes, and on Fridays it's worth booking the return trip early as demand peaks between 9 and 10 pm.

    The old Bophut waterfront promenade on Samui's north coast consists of a street lined with wooden Chinese-Thai shophouses, now housing restaurants, boutique hotels, bars, and shops right on Bophut Beach. It is particularly known for its Friday market in the pedestrian zone.

    The beach restaurants are good. The market stalls and Thai restaurants a little further inland are not. Ban Thai and Ran Khang Non cook at local prices, and the street food on Walking Street is cheap. Bring cash for the stalls.

    7:15 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., on the beach. Coco Tam's opens at 12:00 p.m., and anyone arriving around 5:30 p.m. can grab a beanbag and be the first to enjoy the sunset.

    You can go there, but I wouldn't recommend it. The beach is narrow, the water is calm but not the clearest on the island, and there are reports of a current near the eastern village entrance. It's better to swim in Chaweng or Choeng Mon and come here in the evening.

    Parking is limited and will be full by around 6:00 PM on Friday when the beach road is closed. Arrive early or take a Grab or taxi to avoid the hassle of finding a parking space.

    Fly with Bangkok Airways to Samui (approx. 1 hour 10 minutes), from there it's a 10-15 minute drive to Bophut. A cheaper alternative is to fly or take the train to Surat Thani, then buy a bus and ferry ticket to the island, and finally a taxi for the crossing.

    From February to September, Samui experiences its driest period, with February to April being the best time to visit. October to December is the rainy season. Regardless of the month, a visit in the late afternoon and a stay until evening are recommended.

    Yes. It's quieter than Chaweng; the market street is closed to traffic on Friday evenings, and the fire show and street food are popular with children. It's best to arrive early on Friday before the narrow streets get crowded, or choose a quieter Monday or Wednesday.

    Partly. The Songkran street scenes in the third season were filmed in the village, while the scenes with the guard and the jewelry store were filmed at the Anantara Bophut Resort in the west of the island. Most of the hotel scenes were filmed at the Four Seasons on the other side of the island.

    10 to 15 minutes by car. Bophut, along with Choeng Mon and Chaweng, is one of the places closest to Samui Airport.

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