Baobab Koh Samui: Lamai Beach Bistro, Free Loungers, Prices

Overview

Baobab (also written Baobab Restaurant or Baobab Beach) is a French-run beach bistro on the southern stretch of Lamai Beach, Koh Samui. It is open every day from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, serves steak frites, tuna dishes and crème brûlée alongside Thai standards like pad thai, and gives diners free sun loungers on the sand. There is no dinner service. For an evening French meal instead, Chez François at Fisherman’s Village runs a set menu.

The beach-day setup is the draw: free sun loungers and towels with a meal, plus paddleboards and inflatables to use in the water. Baobab holds 4.7 out of 5 from about 1,670 reviews on Tripadvisor, ranked about #9 of 160-165 Lamai restaurants as of late September 2026 (the rank shifts as listings change).

Key takeaways

• Beachfront French bistro on south Lamai Beach, near the Hua Thanon boundary.
• Open daily 8:30 AM-6:00 PM only: lunch and afternoon, not dinner.
• Mains run roughly 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head.
• Free sun loungers, towels, paddleboards and inflatables for guests.
• Rated 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor from about 1,670 reviews (September 2026), about #9 among Lamai restaurants.
• Best at lunch and early afternoon: the kitchen shuts at 6:00 PM, so it is not a sunset or dinner stop.

Key Facts

Baobab has no confirmed dedicated website: a Facebook page is the closest thing to an official channel, alongside third-party listings on Tripadvisor, Trip.com and local Samui directories.

The Beach Setting and Sun Loungers

Baobab’s main draw beyond the food is the beach setup that comes with a table. The restaurant provides free sun loungers and towels to diners, plus paddleboards and inflatables for use in the sea, a combination that keeps it popular with families and anyone spending a full day on this quieter, southern part of Lamai rather than the busier central strip. Seating is casual and open-air, right on the sand, with the kind of unhurried service reviewers describe as a genuine draw rather than an afterthought to the beach amenities.

Because the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM, Baobab functions as a lunch-and-afternoon stop rather than a sunset dinner venue: plan a visit for late morning through mid-afternoon, and treat it as one stop on a beach day rather than an evening destination. No reservation system is advertised on the venue’s own channels, though one Tripadvisor listing says it takes reservations: for a group, message the Facebook page or call. Otherwise the best sunbeds and shaded tables go to whoever arrives first, particularly around midday.

What to Order at Baobab and What It Costs

The menu blends French bistro staples with Thai and international dishes, built around fresh seafood and simple, hearty cooking rather than fine-dining plating.

Reviewers and listings single out the tuna tartare and fresh tuna steak, steak frites, coq au vin and crème brûlée on the French side, with pad thai, seafood rice and spring rolls on the Thai side. Fish steak and a four-cheese pizza also show up in reviews. Free sunbeds come with an order of food or drinks, so plan to eat or drink something rather than just claim a lounger. Portions are consistently described as generous, and the overall price band, around 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head, sits closer to a casual beach kitchen than a resort restaurant, even with the French-trained cooking behind it. Prices above are compiled from third-party reviews and directories rather than a single official menu, so treat them as a planning guide and confirm current figures on arrival.

Is Baobab Worth It for a Lamai Beach Day?

Yes, if you want a quieter, south-Lamai day with food and sunbeds in one place and you are happy to be done by about 6 PM. It beats the busier central strip for space, and the cost of a meal replaces the usual sunbed fee. It is a poor pick for a sunset dinner or a late night: Lamai’s evening scene is in the centre, a few minutes north. If you are still choosing a base, our Lamai Beach guide and Chaweng Beach guide compare the two: Lamai is calmer and cheaper, Chaweng livelier with a longer evening scene.

Getting There

Baobab sits on Lamai Beach’s southern section, just off Route 4169, close to the same stretch of coast as Hin Ta Hin Yai. From Samui Airport or Chaweng, expect roughly 25-35 minutes by taxi, the same drive time this site’s Lamai beach guide quotes for the wider south Lamai area. From central Lamai’s main strip, it is a shorter 5-10 minute drive or a walkable stretch along the sand at low tide. Parking is limited to roadside space on Route 4169 near the restaurant; most visitors arrive by taxi, scooter, or on foot from a nearby south Lamai hotel.

Route 4169 through this stretch has no dedicated shoulder in places, so exercise normal caution on a rented scooter, especially during the monsoon season (September-November) when sudden downpours reduce visibility on the ring road.

Nearby

Hin Ta Hin Yai (the Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, Samui’s most photographed natural landmark) sits at the southern tip of Lamai Beach, a short walk or drive from Baobab. Wat Sila Ngu, a vividly colored red Hindu-Buddhist temple, is under 1 km away. Hua Thanon Beach and its Muslim fishing village border Baobab’s stretch of coast to the south, and Lamai Beach’s central strip, with its restaurants, Muay Thai camps and Sunday night market, is a few minutes north. For a wider comparison of where else to eat on this side of the island, see this site’s best restaurants guide.

Pros and Cons

Baobab’s free sun loungers, towels, and paddleboards turn a meal into a full beach-day stop, and reviewers consistently praise the generous portions, friendly service and quieter, south-Lamai setting away from the busiest part of the beach. Set against that: the kitchen closes at 6:00 PM, so it never works as a dinner or sunset venue, there is no reservation system, and a minority of reviewers describe it as more tourist-friendly than an authentically Thai kitchen despite the Thai dishes on the menu. Information about the restaurant online is inconsistent in places (it has no confirmed official website, only third-party listings and a Facebook page), so confirming hours by phone before a special trip is worthwhile.

FAQ

What are Baobab’s opening hours?

Baobab operates daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. It has no evening service, so it works as a lunch or afternoon stop rather than a dinner venue. Confirm the hours by phone before a special trip, since they are not published on an official restaurant website.

Is Baobab authentic Thai food?

Baobab is a French bistro with Thai dishes on the menu rather than a traditional Thai kitchen. The cooking blends French classics like steak frites and coq au vin with pad thai, spring rolls and seafood rice. A minority of reviewers describe it as more geared toward tourists than an authentically local eatery, though most reviews are positive.

How much does a meal cost at Baobab?

Expect roughly 250-450 THB (~7-13 USD) per head for a main course, with starters and desserts at the lower end of that range. Portions are consistently described as generous. Prices are compiled from third-party listings rather than an official menu, so confirm on arrival.

Do I need a reservation at Baobab?

Usually not. Baobab does not advertise a booking system on its own channels (one Tripadvisor listing says it accepts reservations), so seating and the free sun loungers are first-come, first-served. Arrive before the midday rush for a shaded table, and message the Facebook page for a large group.

Does Baobab have free sunbeds?

Yes: Baobab gives diners free wooden sun loungers and towels, per Tripadvisor reviews and listings. The sunbeds come with ordering food or drinks. Paddleboards and inflatables are also offered for use in the sea. Confirm the details on arrival, as they are not published on an official site.

Is Baobab open for dinner?

No. Baobab Koh Samui is open daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM and has no dinner service. For an evening meal in Lamai, head to the central strip a few minutes north, or see the best restaurants guide.

Is Baobab good for families with kids?

Yes. The free sun loungers, towels, paddleboards and inflatables make it a popular full beach-day stop for families, and the relaxed, open-air setting suits children well through the daytime hours the restaurant operates.

How do I get to Baobab from Chaweng or the airport?

Baobab sits on south Lamai Beach off Route 4169. From Samui Airport or Chaweng, budget roughly 25-35 minutes by taxi. From central Lamai, it is a shorter 5-10 minute drive, or a walk along the sand at low tide.