If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Chalong, we’re the experts! Whether you’re here as a solo traveller, with mates, holidaying with the fam or a Phuket expat, Chalong has some of Phuket’s most famous treasures that you just can’t miss. You haven’t truly visited Phuket until you’ve hit up the island’s centre and the famous attractions it boasts. Some of Phuket’s most renown religious sites, some very spiritual sites (as in spirits, as in ALCOHOL) if that’s more your speed.
We’ve even found the perfect place for you to stop and get some super duper coffee and a meal to perk you up (or line your stomach) whichever floats your boat. Speaking of boats, you won’t want to miss out on a boat trip from Chalong pier or even a simple seafood meal overlooking the boats from the shoreline. Whatever your personality or travel style, we have got the definitive list of best places to visit in Chalong.
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Poached Breakfast Cafe
Poached Breakfast Cafe is the perfect place to start your day and get fuelled up after your adventuring around Chalong. Or, it’s amazing to grab a quick break and a nice cuppa to give you some energy after the sticky, sweaty heat of high season. Poached Breakfast Cafe is famous island-wide for a reason and that reason is YUMMINESS. Straight facts. So, here’s why this is number one on our list of best places to visit in Chalong.
We have air-conditioning to keep you cool and cosy Nordic style wooden decor that is super inviting and comfortable for you to relax. Our menu is Melbourne inspired and full of all the great Aussie cafe classics. I’m talking the most flavoursome warm banana bread you’ve ever eaten or how about fresh smashed avo on our homemade sourdough bread topped with poached eggs and roasted vine tomatoes. YUMM. Speaking of Aussie classics, you can’t beat the home style ham, cheese and tomato toasted sandwich. There’s something about a toastie when you’re on holidays that just hits different.
If we depart from the classics for just a sweet second, you just can’t leave without trying our customer favourite (and my personal favourite) Pulled Pork Eggs Benny. Get ready to whack your sloppy chops around this: freshly made sourdough bread topped with slow cooked pork shoulder, creamy poached eggs, rich hollandaise sauce, some grated green apple for some tartness to cut through the richness and all of that sprinkled with fresh mint and pomegranate seeds for some sweetness. It’s the most perfectly balanced twist on a staple brekky dish but its to die for. Not literally, but also…possibly literally. This one dish alone possibly makes Poached one of the best places to visit in Chalong.
We’ve got lunch food for you too, don’t stress! We’ve got a whole range of delicious salads, some with a little more zuzch and pizazz and some that are full of health and nutrition. If you’re after a little bit of style, try our Cobb salad. And if you’re hungry for a healthy meal, chomp on our quinoa, roasted pumpkin, beetroot and feta superfood salad. POW!
We’ve also got some banging sangas (sandwiches) with all these unbelievable fillings, from Italian style fillings, to curried chicken and loads more. Stop, I’m actually drooling now. Can you tell I’m hungry while writing? There’s burgers, bagels, waffles, French toast and MORE MORE MORE! You’ll have to lock your peepers onto our fantastic menu for the full low-down on the super duper meals we serve.
And, if you’re just here for the coffee and the vibes, don’t worry kiddo, we serve that too and wowza do we do a good job of it too! Our baristas are coffee obsessed, and so are we! We’re busy dreaming of coffee, making coffee, perfecting our taste, texture, foam and coffee art so we continually serve the best cup in town (and possibly the whole island). We’ve got the science of coffee making down pat and we have the most amazing iced lattes, hot cappuccinos with this seriously thick delicious foam and even our espressos are a little taste of caffeine heaven. If there is such a place, it might just be located in one of our cups!
Don’t believe me? Try us and see just why Poached Breakfast Cafe is absolutely one of the best places to visit in Chalong.
Other best places to visit in Chalong
Once you’ve fuelled up big at Poached, get ready for a day of exploring and sight seeing, immersing yourself in the culture and history that is right at the heart of Phuket, in the beautiful, bustling Chalong.
Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong is the largest of all Buddhist temples that can be found in Phuket and it’s definitely the most spiritually important to the locals here in Phuket. With beautiful golden decor, intricate carvings and even a splinter of bone from the Buddha, there’s a lot to see here. There are several impressive pagodas, a viewing point, and you can even catch a glimpse of some of the young monks in training.
Every year they have several fun fairs with lots of delicious food, rides, games and Thai performances. Sometimes they even have alligators and snakes for show! When you visit, be sure to show your respect by covering your shoulders and knees and not wearing hats or shoes when you enter buildings. This famous 19th century temple is certainly one of the best places to visit in Chalong.
Big Buddha
Phuket’s Big Buddha is also known as ‘The Great Buddha of Phuket’ and is a large statue that is seated on top of Nagakerd Hill in Chalong, facing towards Ao Chalong Bay. With spectacular views, it’s a perfect sunrise or sunset destination. If you’re interested in more of the history and Buddhist spiritual significance, you can buy tickets there for a guided tour who will be able to tell you much more about this very impressive attraction than we can! Again, remember this is a religious site so please show respect by covering your shoulders and legs.
You can either hike to the top or take the drive depending on what takes your fancy. Either way, this is sure to be one of the best places to visit in Chalong.
The Distillery – Phuket
The Distillery in Phuket is the home of Chalong Bay Rum and is a tropical garden paradise, complete with a bar and restaurant that will absolutely blow you away. Visit them for a tour, to purchase some very drinkable souvenirs or take part in some of their memorable and super fun activities.
I’m talking a tasting session of rum, vodka AND gin … ahh sign me up. Or how about a distillery tour with lunch at their fantastic restaurant? Or, my personal favourite, a cocktail workshop where you make AND sip cocktails or mocktails for you alcohol free friends in the most stunning lush, green location. Definitely worth a visit in our books, it’s for sure one of the best places to visit in Chalong.
Chalong Pier
Chalong pier in itself is a little busy and full of boats ready to jet off to some stunning islands that are pretty close to Phuket. When you visit, grab some seafood from some of the local vendors and enjoy a cheap, delicious meal looking out over the beautiful calm sea and bobbing boats. If it takes your fancy, why not check prices for a sponty (spontaneous) boat trip and check out some of the islands such as coral island and bon island that are only a stones throw away!
So, don’t forget to take your snorkelling gear and reef-safe sunscreen and get looking at some fish! It’s got to be one of the best places to visit in Chalong if you take advantage of all that the pier offers!
So, which wins when it comes to the best places to visit in Chalong?
Oooofff it’s a HARD choice but for us, foodies and coffee lovers at heart, it’s got to be Poached Breakfast Cafe all the time, every time! Amazing food, great location by all the tourist sites, the best coffee ever and cosy decor. The majority of Western food you’ll eat in Thailand isn’t really up to par, but for when you’re wanting fresh, quality ingredients that really taste of home, Poached Breakfast Cafe is the winner winner chicken dinner. Guaranteed. So, whatcha waiting for? Come check us out and see if we really are one of the best places to visit in Chalong!
If you liked this article, why not check out one of our other super duper recommendations such as Cute coffee shop in Chalong: Top Places to Grab a Cuppa and the Perfect Insta Snap