The Garden Grille & Bar

Located on the 7th floor of the Hilton Garden Inn near Bang Tao Beach, The Pool Bar serves up a delightful menu of Thai, western & fusion cuisine, and features two swimming pools with views overlooking the mountains.

The Pool Bar is a hidden gem, and my dining partner and I were completely blown away by our lunch experience. The food here is truly fantastic, the service attentive and the seating comfortable. It is a wonderful place for an al fresco lunch, and I imagine that dinner with the views and sunset is nothing short of romantic.

We were hungry by the time we arrived, and ready to dig in. The wait staff explained the menu, offered up recommendations and we decided on Tasmanian Smoked Salmon, Mac & Cheese, Spicy Crispy Pork Neck Salad, Phad Kapraow with chicken, and the signature Gaeng Kiew Wan Nuea.

Served with crème fraîche, chives, shallots and boiled egg, the Tasmanian Smoked Salmon was the perfect light appetizer to start the meal. Prepared European-style, the Mac & Cheese is slathered in ham, Parmesan and Emmental cheese. It was rich and gooey – comfort food at its finest.

I was super impressed by the three Thai dishes. The tastes were authentic and spicy, and not toned down for the tourist’s palate. My definite favourite was the Gaeng Kiew Wan Nuea, which is green curry served with beef short ribs, eggplant and piping hot jasmine rice. The green curry had an exceptional flavour and was creamy without being oily. The beef short ribs literally fell off of the bone – the meat was just so tender!

Although we were stuffed, we allowed the wait staff to talk us into dessert, and we went all out. We enjoyed a classic Mango Sticky Rice served with homemade coconut ice cream and the unique Floating Island with Caramel Popcorn. The dessert consists of meringue, vanilla sauce and caramel popcorn. Sinfully sweet, but entirely worth the calories!

In addition to its delicious food menu, The Pool Bar also has a full range of adult beverages, an extensive wine list, mocktails, milkshakes and assorted coffees, soft drinks and fresh juices.

If you find yourself in the Bang Tao neighbourhood, do make a point to drop into The Pool Bar. It’s a modern and contemporary space with excellent views and simply outstanding food.

Located in the Hilton Garden Inn, parking is available on-site and reservations are highly recommended.