Kata

 Kata Beach - Baan Kata

Situated about 47 kilometres from Phuket International Airport, Kata is an amazing bay on the southwest coast islands. It is split into two parts by a small promontory. The largest bay to the north is known as Kata Yai or simply Kata Beach, while the smallest to the south is called Kata Noi. Kata is a precious gem on Phuket Island, one of its most charming and popular seaside destinations that attracts and enchants many visitors throughout the year with its beautiful white sandy beaches surrounded by an incredible crystal turquoise sea. Mainly oriented towards family or couple holidays, Kata Yai and Kata Noi beaches during high season, from November to April, are very popular with sunbath lovers, swimmers and snorkelers. During the monsoon season, from May to October, both beaches become a popular destination for surfers and kitesurfers who come here to take advantage of the waves, which are longer and higher than in other beaches in Phuket.
Kata Yai - Set just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, Kata Yai is the most developed bay and has a quite lively atmosphere throughout the year, while the nearby Kata Noi, equally beautiful but lesser-known, is quieter and less developed. The spectacular Kata Yai Beach consists in a strip of white and fine sand long 1.5 km, lined by a beautiful row of palm trees. You will find vendors selling a variety of goods including drinks, food and souvenirs. Just off the northern shore of Kata Beach lies the small Koh Pu, one of the few islands overlooking the Phuket's west coast. The tiny island can be reached by swimming and its coral reef provides a perfect spot for snorkelling. Placed behind Kata Yai Beach, Baan Kata is former anglers' village developed into a modern tourist destination that offers great accommodation, eating and shopping opportunities. The area around village and Kata Road is much more relaxed and easygoing then the noisy streets of Patong, however it is pretty busy in high season and, if you do not book in advance, it may be difficult to find the cheapest accommodation. Kata has excellent accommodation choices, from an impressive range of hotels, resorts and guesthouses to numerous apartments and villas, including private luxury villas that are available for short and long-term rentals. Baan Kata is split into three focal areas: the waterfront, Kata Center set at the northern end of bay and close to Karon, and Kata ‘Back Road’, the main road running from Karon to Kata Noi at the back of the beach. The beach hosts many restaurants and high-end hotels on the waterfront, including the prestigious Club Med set in the central area. The south end of waterfront is mostly occupied by two well-established hotels: Kata Beach Resort & Spa and the well-known and newly renovated Mom Tri's Boathouse Hotel and its amazing Boathouse Wine & Grill restaurant, as well as its newest addition RE KÁ TA Beach Club & Restaurant. This is also the beach's most crowded and busy area. Kata Road is filled with plenty of budget hotels and guesthouses that are very attractive, as well as a good number of friendly boutique hotels and five star resorts. Kata Center offers the most convenient accommodations; clearly, you will find the cheapest more far from the beach.
Restaurants - Kata Yai offers a great selection of restaurants to suit every taste, most of which are reasonably priced, especially around Kata Center. You will find cuisines from all over the world and there is no shortage of Thai restaurants in Kata. Dining options are plenty, but if you want a special dinner, try the Kampong Kata Hill and Two Chef's Restaurant set on top of the hill next to Dino Park, or the Italian Capannina Phuket set along the Kata Road. For a romantic beachfront dinner, the best option are The Boathouse Wine & Grill and RE KÁ TA Beach Club located at extreme south of Kata directly on the beach.
Shopping - Strolling around Kata, visitors will find many shops and stalls selling handicraft souvenir, fashion clothes and brand accessories, cheap jewellery, sunglasses, T-shirts, swimsuits and bikinis. Local mini marts, seven Elevens and pharmacies are scattered throughout the area. Towards the southern end of main road, there is Kata Plaza, where you can buy billabong shorts and T-shirts, shoes, fake watches and sunglasses. At northern end of Kata, just over the hill towards Karon, you will find Udomagg, an air-conditioned store with fixed prices that offers a large variety of handbags, shoes, wallets, suitcases and handicrafts. There are also many tailors and optics located in Kata.
Nightlife - Mainly oriented towards families and couples, Kata's nightlife is very quiet and relaxing, although there is still a good selection of bars and pubs, as well as a lot of Beer bars but no Go-go bars. Most of these bars can be found around Taina and Patak roads in Kata village. At the southern end of Kata, you will find the most popular nightspots, like the Ska Bar where you can listen to some reggae and hip-hop, and RE KÁ TA Beach Club offering stunning sunsets over the bay. You will find other bars and pubs offering live music next to Kata centre intersection.
Kata Noi - The stunning white sandy beach at Kata Noi is no more than 700 meters long, less than half the longest twin to the north. It is bordered to the north by the Mon Tri's Villa Royale Resort and to the south by a luxury villas development offering breathtaking views of the bay. The Katathani Beach Resort occupies most of the beachfront. Boasting an enviable location at the northern end of the beach, this large resort is an ideal destination for family vacations. Behind Kata Noi Beach there is a moderate range of accommodation, from 5 star hotels, private villas and a few small guest houses, as well as several restaurants and a couple of bars. Some of the best restaurants in Phuket can be found at Kata Noi. Up the hill towards Kata, you will find the Mom Tri's Kitchen, a world famous restaurant that offers delicious Thai and International cuisine in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea. At the bottom of the hill is set the Kata Noi seafood restaurant and in front of the Katathani Beach Resort are situated the Beach Club and Siam, a restaurant that serves some great local dishes and seafood at affordable prices. For Italian cuisine, the best choice is La Scala located in the Katathani wing at Katathani Resort.  More