Karon Beach, On The Rock, and Yuma – A Perfectly Relaxed Beach Day

Location: Karon Beach, On the Rock Restaurant, Yuma Cafe & Bar
Sunbed Rental: 100 THB per person for front row beds
Cocktails @ On The Rock: 290 THB each
Lunch @ Yuma: 470 THB total
Overall Experience: A great, laid-back beach day with good food, good drinks, good value, and beautiful scenery.

Karon Beach – my favourite beach so far…

Today, we went to Karon Beach, and since going here, we’ve also visited Kata Noi and Patong Beach. I can safely say Karon is my favorite, so far.

Looking back, we hit lucky making this our first beach stop, because the experience was so much better than the other two. The vibe was chilled, the sand was clean, and 100 THB per person for a sunbed felt fair—not like we were being rinsed just for sitting down. So often, the pushy beach staff can ruin what should be a relaxed pleasant beach experience. But not here, the staff weren’t pushy at all.

The promenade was a pleasant surprise too—lined with stunning five-star hotels, decent cafes and restaurants, and just enough touristy spots to remind you it’s a holiday destination without feeling completely overrun.

Unlike Patong, which felt 98% tourist trap, Karon had a much more balanced, relaxed energy. That said, Kan’s Haus in Patong was genuinely good, and I’d go back there in a heartbeat. In fact, if I only had 1 day to experience a Phuket beach, despite Karon being my favourite beach overall, I’d recommend going to Kan’s Haus in Patong over Karon.

A Swim, A Walk, & A Drink With A View

After an hour or so sunbathing, followed by a swim where I somehow became a floating coral reef for not-so-tiny fish mistaking my leg hairs for home, we decided to head off for a drink.

We walked toward the peninsula and spotted a stunning resort—Marina Resort—so we decided to check out their On The Rock Restaurant.

Walking into the restaurant felt like stepping onto a movie set. A long, tropical jungle walkway, surrounded by lush greenery, almost like the bridge from “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”.

And then you reach the end.

Through the shaded canopy of palm trees, you’re met with a breathtaking view of the whole beach. Easily one of the most scenic cocktail spots I’ve been to so far.

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The cocktails? Pretty decent.

A good spot to break up the day, one I’d easily recommend.

290 THB each—priced about right for the location.

Didn’t feel ripped off, but also didn’t feel like I was getting a bargain.

Lunch at Yuma – A Safe Choice

After drinks, we moved on to Yuma for a light lunch—the highest-rated restaurant on the strip with a 5/5 on Google from 139 reviews. Surely a safe bet?

First impressions—modern decor, beachfront location, nice setup.

We ordered:

Mai Tai (because why not)
Pad See Ew with prawns (Ashleigh)
Panang Curry Chicken (me)

Keeping in line with Thailand so far, the portion sizes were huge. My curry was packed with chicken—so much so that I actually struggled to finish it. Ashleigh’s dish was loaded with prawns, which was really impressive considering the price.

The Mai Tai? Very average. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special either. For 160 THB on the beach, I wasn’t expecting cocktail artistry, and at least it wasn’t weak. Maybe I just don’t love Mai Tais.

Final Thoughts – Worth It?

470 THB total (£10.89) for lunch by the beach? Solid value.

Was it worth the 5-star rating on Google? Not really. But I get why it has it—good food, fair prices, great location.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with realistic expectations.

If you’re already at Karon Beach, this is a solid, safe choice. You’re not getting a blow-your-socks-off quality experience, but the food is good enough, the price is reasonable, and the location makes it feel like a great deal. It’s not award-winning, but not every meal has to be.

All in all, a perfect, relaxed beach day.