Rim Lae Restaurant, Koh Tao - the restaurant whose design we fell in love with
The restaurant whose design we fell in love with
Tucked away at the northern end of Sairee Beach on Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful restaurants we saw in Thailand. We came for a cocktail and left enchanted by the place.
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Tucked away at the northern end of Sairee Beach on Koh Tao is one of the most beautiful restaurants we saw in Thailand. Rim Lae Restaurant is built on wooden steps and terraces that weave between huge granite boulders, palm trees and tropical greenery, right above the sea. The high roofs are thatched, the furniture is natural wood and the view opens onto almost the whole length of Sairee Beach. We came for a cocktail and left enchanted by the place.
Thailand has countless beachfront restaurants. Some have tables on the sand, others are built on terraces facing the sea, and plenty of them enjoy a beautiful view.
But every now and then you come across a place where the design is an experience in itself.
That is how we felt when we arrived at Rim Lae.
It was not just that the restaurant overlooks the sea. What really impressed us was the way it is built: different levels of wooden terraces, bridges and steps, enormous thatched roofs, natural wood furniture, thick straw ropes and boulders that the structure literally fits in between.
This restaurant has a character that is hard to find elsewhere.
It feels like part of the landscape, not like a building that has been set down on the beach.
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01Where is Rim Lae Restaurant?
Rim Lae is at the northern end of Sairee Beach, one of the main and best-loved areas of Koh Tao.
The restaurant belongs to Koh Tao Cabana Resort, a tropical resort spread across the northern part of the beach, among dense greenery, trees and granite boulders.
It is worth telling the two apart: Rim Lae is the restaurant, while Koh Tao Cabana Resort is the hotel around it.
The restaurant is not just for resort guests, and you can also drop in while visiting Sairee Beach.
Its location is especially striking because it sits exactly where the strip of sand meets the rocks and greenery at the end of the beach.
From here there is a panoramic view along Sairee, out to sea and towards the green hills surrounding the bay.
02The design - tropical architecture at one with nature
This was what impressed us most about the restaurant.
Rim Lae is not built like an ordinary restaurant with one main room and an outdoor terrace. It is made up of several seating areas linked by wooden floors, bridges, steps and walkways.
Some of the structures are covered with high, sloping thatched roofs resting on massive wooden beams.
The roofs give the place a traditional Thai look, but on a particularly large and impressive scale.
Inside the covered spaces you can see exposed timber frames, thick pillars, woven light fittings and furniture that looks as though it was made especially for the place.
The railings are made from natural branches tied together with thick ropes, and the floors are built from dark wooden planks.
Nothing here looks too polished or industrial.
It is the roughness of the materials, the irregular shapes and the connection with the greenery that give the place its character.
Wooden terraces above granite boulders
One of the most beautiful features of the restaurant is the way the wooden terraces combine with the natural rocks.
Instead of clearing the boulders to create a flat building site, parts of the restaurant were built around and over them.
This creates different seating levels, each with a slightly different angle on the sea.
In some areas you can sit right above the rocks, with big granite boulders beneath the terrace and the beach beyond them.
You move between the levels on wooden steps and small bridges, which makes wandering around the restaurant part of the experience.
It is not just a place to sit and eat. It feels like a small architectural complex that is fun to explore.
Tropical greenery on every side
The restaurant is surrounded by tall palm trees, flowering shrubs and dense vegetation.
Some of the trees grow right between the terraces, and their branches create natural shade over the seating areas.
The greenery is not just scenery.
It is an integral part of the design and shapes the whole feel of the place.
The combination of the dark wood, the thatched roofs, the reddish tones of the buildings and the deep green of the vegetation creates a rich, warm look.
And among all of this, the blue sea appears.
For us, it was one of the most beautiful architectural combinations we saw on the whole trip.
03Two different atmospheres in the same restaurant
One of the interesting things about Rim Lae is the difference between the seating areas.
In the inner part there are dark wooden tables and chairs under the high thatched roofs.
The atmosphere there is more intimate, with fairly soft lighting, big wooden beams and the feel of an open tropical hut.
Outside, by contrast, there are wide terraces with white tables and chairs, facing straight out to sea.
The white tables against the dark wooden floors make a lovely contrast and brighten up the seating area.
So you can choose between a shaded, fairly sheltered spot and an open table facing the view.
We especially loved the seating areas built on the rocks, where you can feel how close the sea is and appreciate the restaurant's unusual structure.
04The view - the whole of Sairee Beach laid out in front of you
The view from Rim Lae is one of the main reasons to come.
From the outdoor terraces you can see Sairee's long shoreline, the palm trees stretching along it and the green hills behind.
In front of the restaurant the sea stretches out, with longtail boats and bigger boats anchored in the bay.
Between the terraces and the water there are huge granite boulders, and in some spots small strips of sand too.
The view is not limited to a sliver of sea glimpsed between two buildings.
It is wide and open, and lets you take in a large part of the bay.
In daylight you can make out the changing shades of the water, the shallow sandy areas and the boats scattered off the beach.
The restaurant sits on the northern side of a west-facing bay, so it is also a particularly good place to watch the sunset.
05Our experience at Rim Lae - a cocktail facing the sea
We came across Rim Lae while wandering around the north of Sairee Beach.
The place caught our attention right from the entrance.
The path leading to the restaurant, the wooden bridges over the shallow water, the thatched buildings and the greenery around them make for a beautiful first impression.
But it was only when we went inside and started to see the terraces and the view that we realised how special the place is.
We sat down in one of the seating nooks and ordered a cocktail.
The drink was served in a short glass with ice, lime and fresh mint leaves. It looked colourful and refreshing, and suited the tropical atmosphere around us perfectly.
But what made us fall in love with the place was not the cocktail itself.
It was the design.
We sat at a wooden table, surrounded by natural railings and greenery, with the view of Sairee spread out in front of us.
We loved the fact that wherever we looked, we saw a different detail: a huge thatched roof, a woven light fitting, wooden steps, a palm tree growing between the terraces or a granite boulder built into the structure.
It is the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer, wander between the levels and discover another beautiful corner.
For us, Rim Lae was one of the most impressive restaurants, design-wise, that we came across in Thailand.
06The food and the menu - what does Rim Lae serve?
Rim Lae is the restaurant of Koh Tao Cabana Resort and serves meals throughout the day.
The menu combines Thai cuisine with Western dishes, fish and seafood.
The resort's official website features Thai dishes, European food and seafood, along with the option of a romantic meal facing the sea.
Among the types of dishes mentioned in various sources are fish, seafood, meat dishes, rice, pasta and traditional Thai dishes.
The restaurant also serves soft drinks, cocktails and alcoholic drinks.
Reviews of the restaurant speak particularly well of the seafood and the grilled dishes, but opinions on the quality of the food are not consistent across all reviews.
The price level is closer to a beachfront resort restaurant than to a simple local Thai food stall. So it is worth looking at the current menu before you order, especially if you are coming for a full meal.
On our visit we only ordered a cocktail, so our personal recommendation of Rim Lae focuses on the design, the location and the atmosphere.
07Breakfast facing the sea
Rim Lae is also the breakfast restaurant for Koh Tao Cabana Resort.
According to the hotel's website, breakfast is served à la carte, not just as a standard buffet.
This is one of the restaurant's advantages for resort guests: the chance to start the day facing the sea, in a spot that looks especially beautiful in the morning.
Check in advance whether breakfast is also open to visitors who are not staying at the hotel, and on what terms.
08Should you go during the day or at sunset?
Rim Lae offers two different experiences.
During the day - to see the design and the view
During the day you can take in all the architectural details.
The natural light brings out the tones of the wood, the thatched roofs, the greenery and the rocks.
The view of Sairee Beach is also open and clear.
If you love well-designed places and want to photograph the restaurant, daytime lets you see the different spaces properly.
That is how we experienced the place too.
Towards sunset - a more romantic experience
In the late afternoon you can enjoy the changing light over the sea.
The restaurant faces the bay, and the westerly view makes it especially good for sitting out towards sunset.
It can be a very beautiful setting for a dinner for two or a cocktail.
If you want a particular table on the outdoor terrace, check whether you can book in advance.
Not every table has the same view, and at popular times the sea-facing seating areas can fill up.
09Is Rim Lae good for a romantic holiday?
Absolutely.
The restaurant brings together several elements that are hard to find in one place: a location on the sea, buildings made from natural wood, dense greenery, soft lighting and terraces that feel a little secluded from one another.
It is nothing like a simple beach restaurant with plastic tables lined up on the sand.
Here, the design is a big part of the experience.
The tiered terraces and open spaces give the place an intimate feel, even though it has several seating areas.
For a couple looking for a restaurant with character, a beautiful view and a special atmosphere, Rim Lae is a very appealing option.
It can also suit a celebratory meal or a special occasion for two, arranged in advance.
10And what about Koh Tao Cabana Resort?
Rim Lae is part of Koh Tao Cabana Resort, a resort set among the greenery and granite boulders of northern Sairee.
The restaurant's design reflects the overall character of the resort: wood, thatched roofs, natural materials and buildings that blend into the tropical surroundings.
But it is important to separate the experience of a night out at the restaurant from choosing a room at the hotel.
The resort has different categories of villas and cottages, so check the room type, the view, the access and the facilities before you book.
You can come to the restaurant and enjoy its atmosphere without turning the visit into a resort holiday.
If you are looking for a romantic place to stay in northern Sairee, the hotel is certainly worth a look in its own right.
11Who is Rim Lae Restaurant especially good for?
Couples looking for somewhere romantic: the structure, the terraces and the view give the restaurant a special atmosphere.
Lovers of design and architecture: this is one of those places where the design is a central part of the experience.
Anyone looking for a restaurant with an open sea view: its position at the northern end of Sairee lets you see a large part of the bay.
Anyone who wants to stop for a cocktail: you can enjoy the atmosphere without coming for a full meal.
Anyone walking along Sairee Beach: the restaurant is an interesting place to stop while exploring the north of the beach.
12What to know before you go
Rim Lae is inside the Koh Tao Cabana Resort grounds, so check how to get in and whether visitors who are not hotel guests can enter.
The restaurant is built on several levels, with wooden steps and walkways. If you have difficulty with stairs, check access to the seating areas in advance.
If you plan to come towards sunset or for a romantic dinner, it is a good idea to ask about booking a table in advance.
The opening hours listed online usually run from morning until evening, but they may change. The menu we photographed on our visit, in March 2025, listed the hours as 10:00-21:30.
13The bottom line - is Rim Lae worth visiting?
Rim Lae Restaurant is one of the restaurants whose design impressed us most on our trip to Thailand.
It brings together traditional Thai architecture, natural wood furniture, huge thatched roofs, granite boulders and tropical greenery in a remarkable way.
But what makes it truly special is how all of this comes together in its location, right above the sea, with an open view of Sairee Beach.
This is a restaurant worth knowing not only for the food, but for the place itself.
We came for a cocktail, and what stayed with us from the visit was above all the beauty of the restaurant and its atmosphere.
If you love places with character, careful design that blends into nature and a beautiful sea view, Rim Lae is definitely one of the stops we would recommend fitting into a visit to Koh Tao.
14Rim Lae Restaurant FAQ
Where is Rim Lae Restaurant?
The restaurant is at the northern end of Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, inside the Koh Tao Cabana Resort grounds.
Is Rim Lae a restaurant or a hotel?
Rim Lae is a restaurant. The hotel it belongs to is called Koh Tao Cabana Resort.
Can you eat at the restaurant without staying at the hotel?
The restaurant is also open to outside visitors, subject to opening hours and the venue's policy. It is best to check in advance.
Is the restaurant good for watching the sunset?
Yes. Its position at the northern end of Sairee Beach gives a fairly open view to the west, so it is especially good for an evening towards sunset.
What food does Rim Lae serve?
The menu combines Thai food, Western dishes, fish and seafood, along with cocktails and other drinks.
Do you need to book in advance?
Not necessarily for every visit, but if a sea-facing table matters to you, especially towards sunset, check whether you can book ahead.
Is Rim Lae good for couples?
Yes. The architecture, the tiered seating areas, the greenery and the view create a particularly romantic atmosphere.
What is special about the restaurant's design?
The combination of high thatched roofs, natural wooden beams, terraces built among granite boulders, tropical greenery and a view of the sea.
