The Cliff Bar & Grill, Koh Samui: Clifftop Mediterranean Dining

Overview

The Cliff Bar & Grill is a Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant perched on the headland between Chaweng and Lamai on Koh Samui’s east coast, overlooking Silver Beach. Open since April 2004, it serves Spanish-, Italian- and Portuguese-influenced seafood, steak and pasta from a clifftop terrace, daily from 12:00 to 22:00.

Key takeaways

• Clifftop terrace overlooking Silver Beach, on the headland road between Chaweng and Lamai.
• Mediterranean menu built on organic garden vegetables, daily-caught local seafood and 21-day-aged Australian beef.
• Open daily 12:00-22:00; terrace dinner seatings at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM, reservations recommended.
• Rated 4.1/5 from roughly 2,000 Tripadvisor reviews, with reviews posted as recently as September 2026 confirming it is still trading.
• High-end price band (฿฿฿฿ on Tripadvisor). No menu prices are published online.

Key Facts

The Cliff Bar & Grill takes reservations directly by phone, email or its own online booking form, so the details below come from its official site and current third-party listings.

Fact	Detail
Address	124/2 Moo 4, Tambon Maret, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84330
Hours	Daily, 12:00 PM-10:00 PM
Price range	฿฿฿฿ (Tripadvisor’s highest tier)
Phone	+66 77 448 508
Website	thecliffsamui.com
Coordinates	9.4810, 100.0666
Map	The Cliff Bar & Grill on Google Maps

Terrace tables run two evening seatings, 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM; if the terrace is full, indoor tables are offered at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM instead.

The Setting and Cuisine

The Cliff Bar & Grill built its name on its clifftop terrace, which looks down over Silver Beach’s turquoise cove from the headland separating Chaweng and Lamai: a view the restaurant has been trading on since it opened in 2004 and one it still calls its “landmark” selling point. The kitchen is led by Italian-born chef Sergio Martelli, and the menu leans Mediterranean rather than Thai: Spanish gazpacho with tiger prawns, salmon ceviche and Portuguese peri-peri prawns to start, fresh line-caught fish, imported Atlantic lobster and a seafood platter for two among the mains, and a grill section built around a 200 g Australian fillet steak and a 300 g ribeye cut from 21-day-aged King Island beef. A full pasta list: fettuccine al salmone, spaghetti frutti di mare, tagliatelle bolognese, and desserts like chocolate fondant and tiramisu round out the card.

That consistency has earned it a stack of hospitality awards over two decades: Thailand Tatler named it one of Thailand’s best restaurants nine times since 2005, and it has picked up World Luxury Restaurant Awards’ continent and regional titles repeatedly between 2018 and 2025, alongside a Hospitality Asia Platinum Award and a Wine Spectator mention. On Tripadvisor it holds a 4.1-out-of-5 rating across roughly 2,000 reviews and a Travelers’ Choice award, ranking #27 of 279 restaurants in Maret as of September 2026.

Prices

The Cliff Bar & Grill does not publish a priced menu online, and none of the third-party listings checked for this page list specific dish prices either. Tripadvisor tags it ฿฿฿฿ (its highest price band), putting it well above the casual beachfront seafood shacks covered elsewhere on this site and in line with Koh Samui’s top resort dining rooms. Expect a full-dining-room bill for imported seafood, aged steak and wine rather than a village-restaurant tab; call or email the restaurant directly for current à la carte prices before booking.

Menu section	Examples
Tapas & starters	Spanish gazpacho with tiger prawns, salmon ceviche, Portuguese peri-peri prawns
Seafood	Fresh line fish, imported Atlantic lobster, king scallops, seafood platter for two
Grill & steak	Piri-piri chicken, 200 g Australian fillet, 300 g Australian ribeye
Pasta	Fettuccine al salmone, spaghetti frutti di mare, tagliatelle bolognese
Dessert	Chocolate fondant, tiramisu, Italian gelato

Payment accepted includes credit cards and Alipay, per the restaurant’s own site.

Getting There

The Cliff Bar & Grill sits on the coast road that climbs over the headland between Chaweng Noi and Lamai, roughly 13 km (~20 minutes by car) south of Samui Airport, a bit further along the same climbing headland road this site’s airport-to-Chaweng guide clocks at 6-7 km and 15-20 minutes just to reach Chaweng Noi. From central Chaweng it is about 6 km (~10 minutes) south; from central Lamai, about 4 km (~8 minutes) north. The road narrows and climbs in switchbacks over the headland, so a taxi or careful scooter ride works better than a rental car for anyone unused to Samui’s hill roads, especially after rain.

Nearby

Silver Beach (also called Crystal Bay) lies directly below the restaurant’s terrace, a small snorkeling cove about 0.5 km away by road; the restaurant does not have direct beach-level access, so reaching the sand itself means a separate stop. The Coral Cove to Silver Beach hike, a roughly 1.5 km boulder-hopping coastal walk, starts nearby along the same shoreline. Lamai Beach and its Sunday Night Market sit about 4 km south, and Chaweng Noi is about 3 km north. Anyone choosing between the two beach towns can check this site’s Chaweng vs Lamai comparison; for other dining options by area, see the best restaurants guide.

Pros and Cons

The Cliff Bar & Grill’s clifftop terrace over Silver Beach is a genuine draw, and two decades of Thailand Tatler and World Luxury Restaurant Awards recognition back up its reputation rather than relying on marketing alone. The menu’s range (tapas through steak to pasta) and its sourcing (organic garden vegetables, daily-caught seafood, 21-day-aged Australian beef) suit a special-occasion dinner. Set against that: prices are not published and sit in Tripadvisor’s top ฿฿฿฿ band, the best terrace tables are limited to two fixed evening seatings that need booking ahead, the approach road climbs a narrow, switchbacked headland that is less comfortable to drive after dark or in rain, and there is no direct walk down to Silver Beach itself from the restaurant.

FAQ

What is The Cliff Bar & Grill?

The Cliff Bar & Grill is a Mediterranean fine-dining restaurant on a clifftop between Chaweng and Lamai on Koh Samui’s east coast, overlooking Silver Beach. Open since April 2004, it serves Spanish, Italian and Portuguese-influenced seafood, steak and pasta from a sea-view terrace.

Is The Cliff Bar & Grill still open in 2026?

Yes. Its official site lists current hours and a working reservation system, and Tripadvisor shows guest reviews dated as recently as September 2026, alongside a #27-of-279 ranking among restaurants in the Maret district: both signs it is actively trading.

Is The Cliff Bar & Grill expensive?

Yes, relative to Koh Samui’s wider dining scene. Tripadvisor tags it ฿฿฿฿, its top price tier, reflecting imported seafood, aged Australian steak and a fine-dining setting. No specific dish prices are published online, so confirm current pricing by phone or email before booking.

What are the opening hours?

The Cliff Bar & Grill is open daily from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, per its official website. Dinner terrace tables run two fixed seatings, 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM, with indoor tables offered at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM if the terrace is booked out.

Do I need a reservation at The Cliff Bar & Grill?

Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for a terrace table at the 6:00 PM sunset seating. Book by phone (+66 77 448 508), email (reservations@thecliffsamui.com) or the restaurant’s own online booking form on thecliffsamui.com.

How do I get to The Cliff Bar & Grill from Chaweng or the airport?

The Cliff Bar & Grill sits on the headland road between Chaweng and Lamai, roughly 6 km (~10 minutes) south of central Chaweng and about 13 km (~20 minutes) south of Samui Airport. A taxi is the easiest option given the narrow, switchbacked climb over the headland.