Baobab, Lamai Beach: Koh Samui's French Bistro on the Sand

Overview

Baobab is a French-run beach bistro on the southern stretch of Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, serving steak frites, coq au vin and crème brûlée alongside Thai standards like pad thai and spring rolls. Tables sit directly on the sand near the boundary with Hua Thanon, and the kitchen operates as a daytime spot only: open every day from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, with no evening or dinner service.

The restaurant takes its name and Madagascar-tinged touches from the French owner-chef behind it, and it has built a strong local reputation on generous portions and a genuinely relaxed beach-day setup: free sun loungers and towels, plus paddleboards and inflatables guests can use in the water. It holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating from roughly 1,670 reviews on Tripadvisor, ranking #8 of 165 restaurants in Lamai Beach as of September 2026.

Key takeaways

• Beachfront French bistro on south Lamai Beach, near the Hua Thanon boundary.
• Open daily 8:30 AM-6:00 PM only: lunch and afternoon, not dinner.
• Mains run roughly 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head.
• Free sun loungers, towels, paddleboards and inflatables for guests.
• Rated 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor from about 1,670 reviews (September 2026).

Key Facts

Baobab has no confirmed dedicated website: a Facebook page is the closest thing to an official channel, alongside third-party listings on Tripadvisor, Trip.com and local Samui directories.

Fact	Detail
Location	South Lamai Beach, near the Hua Thanon boundary, southeast coast
Address	127/64 Lamai Pearl, Had Lamai Road, Tambon Maret, Surat Thani 84310
Hours	Daily, 8:30 AM-6:00 PM (no dinner service)
Cuisine	French bistro with Thai and Western dishes
Price range	฿฿: roughly 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head
Phone	+66 89 281 8598
Facebook	facebook.com/Baobab-Restaurant
Coordinates	9.4585, 100.0424
Map	Baobab on Google Maps

The Beach Setting and Sun Loungers

Baobab’s main draw beyond the food is the beach setup that comes with a table. The restaurant provides free sun loungers and towels to diners, plus paddleboards and inflatables for use in the sea, a combination that keeps it popular with families and anyone spending a full day on this quieter, southern part of Lamai rather than the busier central strip. Seating is casual and open-air, right on the sand, with the kind of unhurried service reviewers describe as a genuine draw rather than an afterthought to the beach amenities.

Because the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM, Baobab functions as a lunch-and-afternoon stop rather than a sunset dinner venue: plan a visit for late morning through mid-afternoon, and treat it as one stop on a beach day rather than an evening destination. There is no reservation system, so the best sunbeds and shaded tables go to whoever arrives first, particularly around midday.

Food, Drinks and Prices

The menu blends French bistro staples with Thai and international dishes, built around fresh seafood and simple, hearty cooking rather than fine-dining plating.

Item	Typical Price
Salads and starters	~150-250 THB (~4.50-7 USD)
Pad thai and Thai mains	~150-300 THB (~4.50-8.50 USD)
Steak frites	~350-450 THB (~10-13 USD)
Fresh tuna steak	~300-450 THB (~8.50-13 USD)
Crème brûlée	~100-150 THB (~3-4.50 USD)

Signature dishes according to reviewers and third-party listings include steak frites, a fresh tuna steak, coq au vin and crème brûlée on the French side, and seafood rice, pad thai and spring rolls on the Thai side. Portions are consistently described as generous, and the overall price band, around 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head, sits closer to a casual beach kitchen than a resort restaurant, even with the French-trained cooking behind it. Prices above are compiled from third-party reviews and directories rather than a single official menu, so treat them as a planning guide and confirm current figures on arrival.

Getting There

Baobab sits on Lamai Beach’s southern section, just off Route 4169, close to the same stretch of coast as Hin Ta Hin Yai. From Samui Airport or Chaweng, expect roughly 25-35 minutes by taxi, the same drive time this site’s Lamai beach guide quotes for the wider south Lamai area. From central Lamai’s main strip, it is a shorter 5-10 minute drive or a walkable stretch along the sand at low tide. Parking is limited to roadside space on Route 4169 near the restaurant; most visitors arrive by taxi, scooter, or on foot from a nearby south Lamai hotel.

Route 4169 through this stretch has no dedicated shoulder in places, so exercise normal caution on a rented scooter, especially during the monsoon season (September-November) when sudden downpours reduce visibility on the ring road.

Nearby

Hin Ta Hin Yai (the Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, Samui’s most photographed natural landmark) sits at the southern tip of Lamai Beach, a short walk or drive from Baobab. Wat Sila Ngu, a vividly colored red Hindu-Buddhist temple, is under 1 km away. Hua Thanon Beach and its Muslim fishing village border Baobab’s stretch of coast to the south, and Lamai Beach’s central strip, with its restaurants, Muay Thai camps and Sunday night market, is a few minutes north. For a wider comparison of where else to eat on this side of the island, see this site’s best restaurants guide.

Pros and Cons

Baobab’s free sun loungers, towels, and paddleboards turn a meal into a full beach-day stop, and reviewers consistently praise the generous portions, friendly service and quieter, south-Lamai setting away from the busiest part of the beach. Set against that: the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM, so it never works as a dinner or sunset venue, there is no reservation system, and a minority of reviewers describe it as more tourist-friendly than an authentically Thai kitchen despite the Thai dishes on the menu. Information about the restaurant online is inconsistent in places (it has no confirmed official website, only third-party listings and a Facebook page), so confirming hours by phone before a special trip is worthwhile.

FAQ

What are Baobab’s opening hours?

Baobab operates daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. It has no evening service, so it works as a lunch or afternoon stop rather than a dinner venue. Confirm the hours by phone before a special trip, since they are not published on an official restaurant website.

Is Baobab authentic Thai food?

Baobab is a French bistro with Thai dishes on the menu rather than a traditional Thai kitchen. The cooking blends French classics like steak frites and coq au vin with pad thai, spring rolls and seafood rice. A minority of reviewers describe it as more geared toward tourists than an authentically local eatery, though most reviews are positive.

How much does a meal cost at Baobab?

Expect roughly 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head for a main course, with starters and desserts at the lower end of that range. Portions are consistently described as generous. Prices are compiled from third-party listings rather than an official menu, so confirm on arrival.

Do I need a reservation at Baobab?

No reservation system is in place. Seating and the free sun loungers are first-come, first-served, so arriving before the midday rush gives the best chance at a shaded table close to the water.

Is Baobab good for families with kids?

Yes. The free sun loungers, towels, paddleboards and inflatables make it a popular full beach-day stop for families, and the relaxed, open-air setting suits children well through the daytime hours the restaurant operates.

How do I get to Baobab from Chaweng or the airport?

Baobab sits on south Lamai Beach off Route 4169. From Samui Airport or Chaweng, budget roughly 25-35 minutes by taxi. From central Lamai, it is a shorter 5-10 minute drive, or a walk along the sand at low tide.