Restaurant in Phuket, Thailand
Sardinian-Italian fine dining; book it for special occasions.
Acqua is Phuket's leading Italian fine-dining address, holding a Michelin Plate (2025), La Liste recognition at 81 points (2026), and a Star Wine List White Star. Chef Alessandro Frau's Sardinian-inflected cooking with premium European imports justifies the ฿฿฿฿ price point for a special occasion. Book 1–2 weeks ahead; peak season (December–February) warrants earlier reservations.
Acqua holds a 4.5 from 502 Google reviews, a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025, and back-to-back recognition on La Liste's Leading Restaurants list (78 points in 2025, climbing to 81 in 2026). By any credential measure, this is the leading Italian fine-dining address in Phuket — and among the leading Italian kitchens in Thailand. The question is whether you should book it for your next special occasion, or whether another address better fits your evening.
The short answer: if you want Italian cooking at genuine fine-dining level in Phuket , not a beach club pasta plate, but serious technique applied to imported ingredients , Acqua is the right call. Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead for most dates; same-week availability is generally possible outside peak season, though shoulder months around December through February fill faster. For the high season, aim for at least 2 weeks' notice.
Acqua sits on Phrabaramee Road in Patong, which positions it slightly apart from the tourist-dense beach strip while remaining accessible. The atmosphere is formal by Phuket standards , quiet and composed rather than lively, with the kind of measured energy that suits a business dinner or an anniversary. This is not where you go for a buzzy night out; it is where you go when the conversation and the meal both need to be good. Noise levels are low enough that you can hear the person across the table, which at ฿฿฿฿ pricing is exactly what you want.
Chef Alessandro Frau brings a Sardinian foundation to the menu, working with premium imported ingredients rather than leaning on Thai produce. The cooking is oriented toward classical Italian technique applied with personal precision. The signature dishes referenced in available data include Tortelli Il Mare, stuffed with burrata cheese and glazed in black squid ink with Sardinian sea urchin and marine plankton, as well as à la carte pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and a tasting menu featuring lobster salad and raw Sicilian red prawns. This is not a menu that changes by the week, but the tasting menu format allows Frau to rotate through seasonal highlights, and the sourcing of ingredients from Europe means what arrives on the plate tracks what is in season there rather than in Thailand.
Because Acqua imports much of its core product from Italy and Sardinia, the menu's seasonal rhythm follows European rather than Thai harvests. Late autumn and winter visits (October through February) align with peak availability of Italian shellfish, truffles, and aged cheeses , the building blocks of Frau's most technically ambitious dishes. If timing your visit around the tasting menu, the October to February window is the stronger bet. The à la carte format offers more flexibility year-round, but the premium imported items that justify the ฿฿฿฿ price point tend to be at their leading during this period.
For context on Italian fine dining in Asia more broadly: venues like 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong and cenci in Kyoto operate on a similar imported-ingredient logic, with seasonal menus tracking European produce calendars. Acqua runs the same playbook at lower price points than its Hong Kong equivalent.
The La Liste score improvement from 78 to 81 points year-on-year is a positive signal. La Liste aggregates critic and guide scores globally, so consistent upward movement reflects sustained quality rather than a one-time moment. The Star Wine List recognition indicates the cellar is serious , relevant if wine matters to your evening.
See the comparison section below for a full breakdown against Phuket's other leading dining addresses, including PRU.
Reservations: Easy , 1 to 2 weeks out covers most dates; book 2+ weeks ahead for December through February peak season. Address: 324, 15 Phrabaramee Rd, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand. Budget: ฿฿฿฿ , position this as a splurge dinner rather than a casual evening. Dress: Smart casual at minimum; the formal atmosphere makes over-dressing the safer error. Format: À la carte (pastas, wood-fired pizzas, mains) and a chef's tasting menu. Booking difficulty: Easy by Phuket fine-dining standards.
For other high-end Phuket dining options, see our full Phuket restaurants guide. If your trip extends to planning accommodation, the Phuket hotels guide covers the island's leading properties. For bars worth your time before or after dinner, see our Phuket bars guide, and for experiences beyond the table, the Phuket experiences guide has what you need.
If Italian is your priority elsewhere in Thailand, the Bangkok outpost (Acqua Ristorante Bangkok, opened 2022) extends the same approach to the capital. For Thai fine dining on the island, Amanpuri and Age Restaurant are both worth considering. Street food contrasts are available at A Pong Mae Sunee. For Italian alternatives on the island, La Gaetana operates at a lower price point if the ฿฿฿฿ tier feels like too much. Wider context on Thailand's fine dining scene: Sorn in Bangkok represents the Thai equivalent at the other end of the cuisine spectrum, while Aeeen in Chiang Mai and AKKEE in Pak Kret round out the national picture.
Yes, at the ฿฿฿฿ tier, Acqua delivers credentials that hold up: a Michelin Plate, La Liste recognition at 81 points in 2026, and a Star Wine List White Star. For Italian fine dining in Phuket specifically, there is no comparable alternative at this level , La Gaetana costs less but operates in a different register. If you are comparing Acqua to Bangkok's Italian options, the price-to-quality ratio is favourable given Phuket's thinner fine-dining market.
For a special occasion, yes. The tasting menu is the format leading suited to what Chef Frau is doing , it gives the kitchen room to show the imported Sardinian and Sicilian ingredients in sequence, from lobster salad to raw Sicilian red prawns. If you are visiting October through February, when European imports are at seasonal peak, the tasting menu is the stronger choice. For a quicker, more flexible evening, the à la carte pastas and wood-fired pizzas are the practical alternative.
No specific dietary policy is listed in available data. Contact the restaurant directly ahead of booking to confirm. The menu leans heavily on seafood and imported Italian cheeses and meats, so vegetarian and vegan guests should check in advance rather than assume flexibility at a kitchen built around Sardinian produce.
No bar-seating information is confirmed in available data. The Star Wine List White Star recognition indicates a serious wine program, so wine-at-the-table is the format to plan around. Contact the restaurant directly to ask about bar access before building your evening around it.
No private dining or group capacity details are listed in available data. Acqua's formal atmosphere makes it a workable option for business group dinners, but you should contact the restaurant directly to confirm group-size arrangements. For large celebrations requiring a confirmed private room, verify before booking rather than assuming availability.
Acqua is more naturally suited to two or more diners , the tasting menu format and special-occasion atmosphere are designed around a shared experience. Solo dining is not impossible, but the ฿฿฿฿ price point and formal register make it an unusual solo choice in Phuket. If you are a solo traveller with serious interest in the wine list or the tasting menu, it can work; otherwise, a bar seat at a lower-key Italian address may serve you better.
For more on what to do across the island beyond dinner, explore our Phuket wineries guide and full Phuket experiences guide. Further afield in Thailand, AKKEE Thai Delicacies and Tasting Counter in Nonthaburi and Agave in Ubon Ratchathani are worth knowing if your itinerary extends beyond Phuket. The Spa in Lamai Beach rounds out the southern Thailand picture for those combining Phuket with Koh Samui.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acqua | Italian | ฿฿฿฿ | Acqua Restaurant Phuket is a restaurant in Phuket, Thailand. It was published on Star Wine List on December 6, 2023 and is a White Star.; Chef Alessandro Frau reinvents Italian fare with Sardinian artistry using premium imports. There’s a huge selection of à la carte, pastas and woodfired pizzas. Try the Tortelli Il Mare stuffed with Burrata cheese, glazed in black squid ink with Sardinian sea urchin and marine plankton. Or let the chef guide you through his tasting menu with signatures like lobster salad or raw Sicilian red prawns. Wine lovers will enjoy the fine vintage collection.; La Liste Top Restaurants (2026): 81pts; Michelin Plate (2025); La Liste Top Restaurants (2025): 78pts; Chef: Alessandro Frau Alessandro Frau, originally from Sardinia, began his culinary journey after earning a diploma in Tourism Management. In 1999, he moved to London to study English and started working as an apprentice chef in various kitchens, eventually landing at the Italian Restaurant in the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel. This experience ignited his passion for cooking, leading him to travel worldwide to expand his knowledge and refine his culinary philosophy.Alessandro’s culinary journey took him to several countries, including Mexico, Sweden, Finland, and Paris, before arriving in Phuket, Thailand in 2004. At just 28 years old, he was appointed Executive Chef at the Sheraton Grande Laguna, overseeing 12 restaurants and 130 chefs. In 2009, he opened Acqua Restaurant in Phuket, which quickly became the most awarded Italian restaurant in Thailand and a beloved institution.After years of searching for the perfect location, Alessandro found his dream space in Bangkok and opened Acqua Ristorante Bangkok in 2022. Situated in the heart of the city, his restaurant brings authentic Italian cuisine to the upscale dining scene in Bangkok.; Michelin Plate (2024) | Easy | — |
| PRU | Thai, Modern Cuisine | ฿฿฿฿ | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Blue Elephant | Thai | ฿฿฿ | Unknown | — | |
| Baan Rim Pa Patong | Thai | Unknown | — | ||
| Chuan Chim | Thai | ฿฿ | Unknown | — | |
| Go Benz | Asian | ฿ | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
At the ฿฿฿฿ price point, Acqua delivers credentials that justify the spend: a Michelin Plate in 2024 and 2025, back-to-back La Liste recognition, and a chef with 20-plus years building the most awarded Italian restaurant in Thailand. For a special-occasion dinner in Phuket, there is no Italian-focused alternative with comparable credentials. If you want high-end Thai cuisine at a similar price, PRU makes a stronger case — but for Italian, Acqua is the benchmark.
The menu spans à la carte, house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and a chef's tasting menu, which gives the kitchen real flexibility to work around dietary needs. check the venue's official channels before your visit — specific accommodation details are not published, so confirming in advance is the practical move, particularly for the tasting menu format.
Yes, if you want to experience Chef Alessandro Frau's Sardinian perspective in full. The tasting menu moves through signatures including lobster salad and raw Sicilian red prawns, and the kitchen imports premium product from Italy to support it. If you prefer to pick and choose, the à la carte is genuinely strong — the Tortelli Il Mare with burrata, black squid ink, Sardinian sea urchin, and marine plankton is the dish most cited in recognition from La Liste and editorial coverage. For a first visit, the tasting menu is the more coherent introduction to what Frau is doing.
Acqua holds a White Star recognition from Star Wine List (awarded December 2023), confirming the wine program is a serious focus — so the bar area is worth considering if available. Specific bar-seating policy is not published; check the venue's official channels to confirm options before arriving without a reservation.
Groups of four to six are a reasonable fit for this style of restaurant. For larger parties, contact the venue well in advance — Acqua is a focused fine-dining operation, not a large-format venue, and capacity for big groups is not confirmed in published information. December through February is peak season in Phuket, so groups visiting then should book at least two to three weeks ahead.
Solo diners who are comfortable at fine-dining restaurants will find Acqua a solid choice — the à la carte format means you can order at your own pace without committing to a full tasting menu. The wine list is strong enough to make a single course with a glass worthwhile. Whether bar or counter seating is available for solo guests is not confirmed, so booking a table in the normal way is the safer approach.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
