Pinto Restaurant

A marketplace-inspired dining venue with open kitchens and decor that pays homage to Phuket Old Town’s shophouse history, Pinto Restaurant is a sleek all-day-dining venue within InterContinental Phuket Resort. Bright and airy, the restaurant’s cuisine is famous for the freshest seafood, premium meats and garden-grown produce which create delectable sharing menus in a modern, comfortable setting. 

We arrive at Pinto Restaurant just in time for lunch, and once seated, waste no time perusing the menu and choosing our dishes. The staff are extremely hospitable and helpful, and answer all our questions before we order. 

First up is the Cold Cuts platter which features an assortment of cured meats, salami, artisanal farmhouse cheeses, homemade sweet and sour vegetable pickles, fig jam, dried grapes and crackers. Everything tastes fresh and flavourful, and this appetiser proves to be a delicious start to our meal. 

Pinto Restaurant is popular for its homemade pizza, so we decide on the Parma Ham pizza which is slathered in fresh tomato sauce and topped with Parma Ham, rocket and Parmesan cheese. The pizza crust is light and fluffy, and the rocket has a delightful peppery flavour with no hint of bitterness. This is truly a great pizza! 

Our mains arrive together - they are beautifully plated and the portions are beyond generous. The T-Bone Steak is Australian dry-aged and served with béarnaise, roasted root vegetables and an herb salad. The steak is cooked to perfection and unbelievably tender. The roasted root vegetables are a nice touch and add a crunchy texture to the overall dish. 

A Thai classic, our Phad Thai Goong features succulent prawns, a healthy dose of bean sprouts and a sprinkling of peanut and chili. The flavour is entirely unique – the sauce is rich and smoky which complements the soft, chewy noodles perfectly. This is one of the best Phad Thai dishes that I have ever tasted.

Although we’re stuffed, we can’t say no to dessert. The Makrin Chocolate is a signature dish at Pinto Restaurant. It’s a creamy Thai chocolate mousse with butterscotch and hazelnut ice cream. This dessert is completely decadent and pairs well with our iced lattes. 

I’ve dined at the various F&B outlets at InterContinental Phuket Resort at least a dozen times, but I am always pleasantly surprised at just how good the food is – and Pinto Restaurant does not disappoint. It’s such a lovely spot, and well worth dropping in for a bite when you are in the Kamala Beach neighbourhood. 

Pinto Restaurant is open daily from 6:30am-10:00pm and offers the choice of indoor seating with air-conditioning, or an al fresco dining experience surrounded by tranquil gardens. The dress code is casual chic, and reservations are highly recommended to secure a table. Parking is available on-site and the restaurant is easily accessible from the resort’s lobby.