If you are looking for a really special restaurant that is hidden away in a deliciously secret spot that offers tranquility, stunning ocean views, and the most delicious French and Thai cuisine imaginable then you are looking for the “Le Café des Arts” at the stunning Papillon resort, the last resort on the north end of Chaweng beach.

The beautifully tropical, immaculately maintained resort has 23 bungalows that are all tastefully decorated with natural slates and wood in Lana Thai Style. The resort is owned and run by Laurent, a delightful chap from Marseille in the south of France who has been delighting guests and diners to his resort for over 20 years.

The large stylishly decorated restaurant offers spectacular views of Koh Matlang and the sweep of Chaweng beach that sparkles romantically in the evening as you sit back and enjoy French joie d’ vivre. Located right next to the pool the restaurant, that has a Mediterranean feel, can seat up to 60 both indoors and out so you can enjoy superb food and the spectacular views no matter what the weather is doing.

The unbelievably reasonably priced menu is just bursting with delicious dishes for you to choose from while you enjoy the complimentary tapas that are delivered to your table your menus. The menu offers a superb selection of hors d’oeuvres that include salads of chicken gizzards, duck breast and goat’s cheese, home made soups and a tempting tuna, anchovy, olive, rice and vegetable salad. For lighter meals in the restaurant or by the pool choose from a nice selection of eggs, sandwiches or sample the Arabic spicy sausage with French fries, its mouthwateringly delicious. The main meal French, Thai, Italian and Seafood dishes are all cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. Particularly noteworthy is the deliciously tender boeuf bourguignon that comes accompanied with gratin dauphinois potatoes, the confit de canard, king prawns with pastis and of course imported fried frogs legs with garlic and lemon. The menu also offers mussels, prawns, fish and chips, steak tartar, steak with blue cheese and deliciously tender lamb.

The desert menu has a wonderful selection of fruit salads, fritters, pancakes and flambés as well as a tempting selection of ice creams such as rum and raisin, chestnut cream and pistachio. There is also a very nice children’s menu to keep the smaller tummies satisfied. The well selected wine list is as reasonably priced as the food and allows Laurent to enjoy seeing people being able to enjoy fine wines and fine dining every day and not just on special occasions.

It comes as no surprise that this stunning restaurant and resort, with its strong focus on family, has a large number of dedicated followers that return night after night and year after year to enjoy the combination of French and Thai hospitality.

The dedicated team of staff at the “Le Café des Arts” have a great deal of experience in catering for your needs, many have been working with Laurent for over ten years and speak both English and French. Laurent knows that happy staff means happy customers and treats his staff as part of the family. The Thai chef also has a large fan base and has expanded his knowledge of French cuisine by inviting guests from France into the kitchen to show him how to prepare the things they like the best! If you have special dietary needs or want to enjoy something special that is not on the menu all you have to do is ask, culinary delights to please all palettes can be arranged here.

Before your meal why not enjoy a glass of Pastis, Richard, Kir or Campari or try one of the special tropical cocktails at the large and friendly bar, the perfect place to enjoy the company of old and new friends.

It is hard to imagine that you are only a stones throw away from the Chaweng night life and shops as you enjoy a meal in this oasis of peace and tranquility that is so conveniently located and has lots of parking. I am not sure if this stunning resort and restaurant is French style with a touch of Thai or Thai style with a touch of French, I will let you decide, but I do know you certainly won’t leave disappointed!

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