Acqua Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Sardinian Vision on the Andaman Sea

Acqua Restaurant sits above Kalim Bay on Prabaramee Road, its clean black-and-white interior and floor-to-ceiling views over the Andaman Sea making it one of the most visually striking fine dining addresses in Phuket. The design is deliberate: futuristic lines and a strong sense of proportion that, rather than competing with the setting, frame it.

Behind the restaurant is Chef Alessandro Frau, a Sardinian-born cook whose path to Phuket ran through London's Grosvenor House Hotel, kitchens in Mexico, Sweden, Finland and Paris, and eventually an Executive Chef post overseeing twelve outlets at the Sheraton Grande Laguna. At 28 he was running 130 chefs. What he wanted, though, was to cook — and Acqua was the answer.

The Philosophy in the Plate

Frau's Italian cuisine is rooted in authenticity and ingredient obsession. Sicilian red prawns, Puglian burrata, Sardinian sea urchin, French oysters, American lobster — the sourcing is genuinely global, guided by the principle that the best ingredient for any dish comes from wherever that ingredient is grown or caught at its finest. Local Phuket seafood sits alongside these imports, all filtered through a cooking philosophy that honours Italian tradition while embracing modern techniques and artistic presentation.

As Frau puts it: "perfect natural ingredients at their best, fused in an artistic interpretation of tastes, colors and combinations" — evolution without extremism, origins kept firmly intact.

Recognition That Speaks for Itself

Acqua has featured consistently in the major restaurant guides covering Asia, including the Michelin Guide and Tatler. Its wine programme has earned particular distinction: Wine Spectator recognised the cellar annually from 2010 onwards, and in 2017 elevated Acqua to the Best of Award of Excellence — the guide's two-glass rating, reserved for lists of exceptional depth and breadth. For a fine dining Italian restaurant in Southeast Asia, that is a meaningful benchmark.

In 2015, Now Travel Asia named Frau one of the Best 20 Chefs in Asia, a recognition that reflects both the consistency of the kitchen and the ambition that has since extended to a second Acqua location in Bangkok.

The Experience

Trendy without excess, spacious without feeling empty — the room works for an intimate dinner as well as a private event. Smart casual dress is recommended, and the wine list is extensive enough to reward those who want to explore pairing options alongside the à la carte menu. Valet parking is available, and the restaurant opens every evening from 5:30 pm.