Hi Traveler, it’s Journey Wilde with Gay Thai Travel, and I need to tell you about the time I accidentally ended up eating lunch in the jungle because I was too sweaty and too stubborn to go back to Patong.
Here’s what happened. I was driving south toward Wat Chalong, windows down, deeply regretting every life choice that put me outside in Phuket at noon, when a sign pointed me toward Hanuman World. Zipline. In this heat??? I kept driving. And then, like a fever dream made of bamboo and thatch and big trees that have clearly been here longer than I’ve been gay, Three Monkeys Restaurant appeared on a hillside and I pulled over so fast I nearly left my dignity in the road.
The place sits in actual jungle, babes. We’re talking a massive open-air dome built from natural materials, surrounded by 100-year-old trees, with a panoramic view of Phuket city below. It’s got Bali energy without asking you to fly to Bali. Every angle is a photo op, and the crowd knows it — the bird’s nest swings, the jungle backdrop, all of it basically designed for people who want their Instagram to look aspirational while their pad thai goes cold.
Straight Talk: Yes, it is a selfie restaurant. Yes, you will take seventeen photos. No, I am not judging you. The light is genuinely incredible up there, and looking good in a jungle is a personality trait.
Now, the food. The menu is Thai with a Japanese counter tucked in there (Phuket contains multitudes), and I went straight for the Tom Yum Seafood. 250 baht. Spicy enough to make me question my choices, fragrant enough to make me order it again next time. The stewed pork belly at 220 baht was fall-apart tender and the kind of dish that makes you go quiet mid-conversation. The staff — I want to specifically name Nong, our server, who checked on us with the cheerful efficiency of someone who genuinely enjoys her job and isn’t just counting down to her break. She made the whole thing warmer.
Beers run 100-130 baht. Cocktails around 290 baht. Soft drinks 60 baht. For a restaurant this stunning, these are Not Serious Prices, Travel.
Splurge vs. Save: Save by sticking to Thai dishes and a Singha. Splurge on a cocktail at sunset, when that Phuket city view hits different and you suddenly understand why people keep coming back to this island.
The vibe is genuinely relaxed, which surprised me — Instagram-famous places usually deliver the aesthetic and then let the service collapse. Three Monkeys pulled it off. Open air (hot, but breezy), a small air-conditioned section inside if you need a moment to remember what cold feels like, and outdoor seating under big shady trees that have seen some things.
It is a bit out of the way. You’ll want a car or a rideshare. It’s near the Phuket Big Buddha route and not far from Naka Weekend Market, so you can make a proper afternoon loop out of it.
Journey’s Verdict: Three Monkeys is the rare place that earns its reputation. Great food, real jungle, prices that won’t make you cry into your Tom Yum. Go hungry, bring your phone, tip Nong.
TL;DR Cheatsheet
- ๐ 105 Moo 4, Chao Fa Road, Wichit, Phuket — next to Hanuman World zipline
- โฐ Open daily 10am – 11pm
- ๐ธ Dishes 150-250 baht, beers 100-130 baht, cocktails ~290 baht
- ๐ฟ Jungle setting, open air, Bali vibes, panoramic Phuket views
- ๐ Thai + Japanese menu, Tom Yum Seafood is the move
- ๐ You’ll need a car or Grab to get there
- ๐๐๐๐ out of 5 — four peaches, no notes
Don’t Just Travel โ Journey Wilde ๐
