Cafe des Amis Fine Dining — Restaurant in Pattaya City

I did it again. This time I arrived by daylight. It's a fantastic place of peace and tranquillity. Great atmosphere, great staff, outstanding dishes. I have to correct something: There is not really a garden, but a beautiful designed courtyard to sit outside. State of the art and super clean toilets....

This is an outstanding and unbelievable place in Jomtien. A bit tricky to find and the area is not very inviting and dark. But then you're standing in front of a wooden double door and the moment you open that door, you enter a complete different world. Everything is nice and beautiful, well decorated and super neat and clean. There is a romantic outdoor garden area for dining and smoking. On the right side, the connaisseur discovers immediately that expensive coffee machine to produce a real tasty italian coffee. But what really jumps into your eyes: this machine is super clean.

You walk on to a cosy bar and lounge, well equipped with all beverages from all over the world. Ok, they don't have a Ramazotti.... Lol

That's the moment when the owner and chef himself appears to welcome you. A tough guy, dressed in black and from Britain, offering French diners. This sounds a bit tricky for those, who know the national differences. But this man made it, he simply made it! He is great.....

And there we are, the dishes. Amazing! Everything is prepared to the point, with love and experience and knowledge. No matter, what you order. This is the way of European celebration of dinner. Thais eat only, but we celebrate. An Apero, a nice glass of white wine from Italy to start, sparkling water from San Pellegrino, a soup from mushrooms, a real creme soup! Already to fall on your knees to pray to the Lord. All served with real, fresh bread.

Then a red wine from France comes together with a beef Wellington. Absolutely perfect done. I had a beef Stroganoff with noodles and as a Swiss, I was all the times looking for the mistake. It's impossible to work so perfect in Thailand.

And then came the truth: Prasit! The chief of staff introduced himself, a Thai man with a Swiss father and grew up in Switzerland to learn all and everything about hotels and restaurants. That's their secret weapon. And Prasit is teaching all the Thai staff to be a real host, in perfect Swiss German, if needed. Don't forget, 50 % of a dinner is attentive and friendly staff, the rest is the venue, the kitchen with its chef and his crew.....

Summary: this is an absolute pearl of a restaurant. Go there and enjoy, you will not regret. I saw happy faces only. Try the desserts as well, the joice of different ice creams is perfect to share....

And then, finally, I found something to complain: that painting far out on the wall was not hanging straight. I knew, I will find a mistake to complain......

PS: meanwhile I visited Prasit's Mama in Switzerland, where she runs for many years a famous Thai restaurant countryside. A great place with perfect Thai dishes in Switzerland, you even get Leo, Chang...

Easily my favorite place to eat in Pattaya, I make sure to fit it in my meal plans anytime I make a trip there. Amazing value for the quality of food and the service; it's way better than it should be for the price, and it is better than many fine dining restaurants in Bangkok at double the price or more. I so wish this place was closer to Bangkok so I could go more frequently. As-is I've made the drive to Pattaya just to eat here a few times!

Some specific favorite dishes: The spaghetti vongole is top 3 in Thailand, at any price. Not the largest clams, but great flavor, perfect cook, and very consistent over many visits. The spicy version is a great twist on it if you eat spicy.

The duck breast is another favorite. Again, always perfect cook, well-rendered skin, and accented by beautifully done sauces (this is a common theme across many of their dishes, this restaurant has a very French attention to detail for each of their sauces and purees.) Someone in the kitchen is quite a saucier. Frankly, I've eaten at Le Normandie in Bangkok and had worse sauces.

Best beef wellington in Pattaya, and it's not close. Actually one of the best in Thailand as a whole (top award still goes to Artur). Great steaks in general.

I don't recommend the pork tenderloin; in a menu full of standouts, it is quite plain. Not bad, just not special like most of the other dishes.

The owner, Blu, is a huge fan of gin. The menu has a loving page of different gins available from all over the world, and you will discover something new here. He's always happy to help with a recommendation. If gin isn't your thing, the capable bartender will make you about anything you want.

Desserts are excellent as well. The apple tarte tatin (served flaming, if you want a dessert that comes with some flair) and the chocolate cake are standouts. Though my personal preference is to wind down the meal with a very traditional cheese platter.

And a special comment on the level of service - the back of the menu has a page dedicated to you (see attached photo). They have reading glasses if you need. They have shawls for the ladies if they get cold. They'll get you a phone charger if you need it. There's an adjustable lamp on every table to help you read the menu and see the food. This is an attention to detail and a dedication to service that is missing at most 5-star hotels in Thailand, much less a small neighborhood restaurant like this. Absolute kudos for the standard of service.

I can't recommend it enough. This alone is reason enough for me to go to Pattaya. It's a better fine dining experience than much of Bangkok (I've eaten at just about every Michelin and every 5-star hotel in town), and a notably...

This is the third establishment I have visited that the reviews rave about the food. This is the first place the reviews are accurate.

I’ve not written a Thailand restaurant review until now, and I hesitated to compare my experiences in American dining to Thailand’s restaurant scene. However, this restaurant has set a new standard, leaving no room for excuses from others offering subpar experiences.

This is true fine dining. Unlike many establishments in Thailand (wish me luck with those reviews), I never once felt shortchanged. The quality of both service and cuisine was well worth every baht.

The amuse bouche was a delightful surprise—refreshing and creative. For once, I wasn’t served the typical bread and butter, and I appreciated that. The crab cakes were impeccably fresh, with none of the fishy taste or odor that often plagues even high-end restaurants. The prawns were perfectly cooked and paired beautifully with a vibrant avocado salsa. The filet was prepared exactly to my requested doneness, and the lamb chops—without question—were the best I ever tried. My guest picked at the bones just to ensure not a single morsel of meat was left behind.

The service was impeccable. A well-coordinated team attended to my table with professionalism and efficiency. Not once did I need to ask for a refill, an extra utensil, or wonder where my server went. The hostess, in particular, stood out. Her vibrant energy was infectious, and she treated every guest like a valued patron. Whoever hired her truly hit the jackpot. Not only did she understand the assignment— she wrote the book. Her warmth and genuine hospitality set the tone for the entire experience. It’s a stark reminder that the demeanor of front-of-house staff can make or break an establishment. Think about the last time you hesitated to visit somewhere because the hosts were unfriendly, inattentive, or made you feel like an inconvenience. In this case, that was never a concern.

Overall, this restaurant sets the standard for what true fine dining should be: outstanding cuisine, flawless service, and a front-of-house team that elevates the entire guest experience. The chef truly deserves recognition for their exceptional execution of each dish. From the precise cooking of the proteins to the thoughtfully crafted flavors, every plate was a testament to culinary mastery. Hats off to the kitchen for delivering an unforgettable...