Southern Thai food and Koh Lanta cuisine combines the best of Eastern cuisines, the oriental bite of Szechwan Chinese, the tropical flavor of Malaysian and the creamy coconut sauces of Southern India. It is not rigid in its approach and interpretation of a dish, but embraces imagination and creativity.

The following are examples of unique southern foods. They are served commonly in street stalls or on the fresh and food market. It is mainly for locals, foreigners need to be aware that they are quite spicy. Vegetables are taken raw or cooked. The most notable is a large tree-grown bean known as Sato that tastes a bit like garlic.

- Kaeng Tai Pla, quite famous among southern thick curries is cooked from fish kidneys with added vegetables.

- Kaeng Luang, a yellow curry with fish and bamboo-shoots. If you have a delicate palate, approach this dish with extreme care; Muslim dishes are, of course, common in this strongly Islamic region.

- Khao Mok Kai, exhibits strong Middle Eastern influences with its saffron rice and marinated chicken.

- Ka Nom Cheen, the grained fish red curry toping on the rice noodle added with many fresh vegetables.

Local Thai (good value) restaurants have now been joined by pizzerias, a bistro and specialty seafood restaurants in the main beach areas. If you are looking for that special meal, the Baan Pimalai Restaurant inside the upscale resort of the same name, offers great food, attentive service and and the largest selection on wines on the island.

It is highly recommended to experience a southern style Thai dish at Koh Ngai Fantasy Resort, especially the seafood menu with freshly caught fishes from the sea, cooked in local style; hot and spicy!

Learning the art of Thai cooking and taking your newfound knowledge back home where you will enjoy many memorable meals reminding you of your stay on Koh Lanta in Thailand. Meet other food enthusiasts and share the fun of Thai cooking, wining and dining, listening to good music in a relaxed, friendly and clean environment while seeing, hearing and feeling the harmony of the sea - enjoy your time - you're on holiday!

The best local cooking schools on Koh Lanta are located on Klong Dao, a three kilometer stretch of white sand backed by rain forest and jungle. Vegetarians are welcome and group workshops can be arranged on application for special interest groups.

The workshops there concentrate on seafood and vegetables and include information about herbs and Thai spices, how to make home made curry pastes, preparation and enjoyment of three to five course meals.

Koh Lanta nightlife is generally low key. Eat, drink, meet people at the local bars, sing at the karaoke bar, and see a local Thai boxing match. Koh Lanta nightlife is not as naughty as on neighboring Phuket with its beer bars and bargirls but you can have fun.

Music bars on the beach are the main feature of Koh Lanta with star gazing on the beaches and watching the squid fisherman boat's lights out to sea.

There are a few restaurant/bars at the harbor and most hotels on Koh Lanta. Ban Saladan has a few seafood restaurants on the sea near the ferry pier as well as a Swiss bakery.
If you feel bored some evening, watching Thai boxing may change your mind. Many people may say it is rough or wild but for Thais it is a national sport.