A culinary weekend drive along Phetchaburi’s coastline promises visitors a mouth-watering journey filled with seafood sensations and more.
Phetchaburi, a coastal province steeped in history, invites you on a weekend road trip to explore its unique blend of flavours, traditions, and scenic routes. While Khao Wang, or Palace Hill, may attract those seeking cultural immersion, Phetchaburi’s culinary treasures and serene landscapes offer much more to discover.
The Salt Road
Kick off your Phetchaburi adventure with a drive along Highway 35, departing from southwestern Bangkok. This route takes you through Samut Sakhon before leading you into the heart of Phetchaburi Province. Just two hours later, you’ll find yourself in a region where the coastal air carries the scent of salt and the promise of fresh seafood.
Your first stop is Ban Laem, a district famed for its expansive salt farms and tranquil bay. Turn off the main road onto Highway 2021, and you’ll find yourself in a landscape where tradition meets nature. The salt pans here, with their reflective surfaces, create an ever-changing canvas that’s a magnet for photographers. But beyond the visuals, Ban Laem offers a taste of the local life, with seafood restaurants lining the coast, serving up the day’s fresh catch.
Continuing along the coast, you’ll reach the Bay of Bang Tabun, where the rivers meet the sea in a setting straight out of a postcard. The mangrove-fringed clay beaches are a testament to the area’s thriving aquaculture. Here, blood cockles are the star of the show, cultivated in the bay’s rich waters and featured on menus across the region. For those keen on immersing themselves in the local culture, a boat trip offers a closer look at the daily routines of coastal fishermen. Glide past traditional stilted huts, known as “Kra Teng,” and watch as locals tend to their traps and shellfish beds.
Laem Phak Bia
From Bang Tabun, it’s a short drive to the historical centre of Phetchaburi, but the journey itself is full of surprises. Take a detour to Yung Gleua Ban Laem, a café perched on the edge of the salt farms, where you can enjoy a meal while soaking in the panoramic views. The café’s fusion of traditional and modern Thai cuisine, combined with its Instagram-worthy decor, makes it a perfect pit stop.
As you continue your journey, make time to visit Wat Klang Nai, a Buddhist temple with roots in the Ayutthaya period. The temple’s teak sermon hall, a relic of the Ayutthaya Royal Palace, offers a glimpse into the area’s rich history.
Next, head towards Laem Phak Bia, a coastal area where mudflats, salt pans, and mangroves converge. This spot is a bird-watcher’s paradise, with a variety of shorebirds making their home here. The nearby fishing village also boasts some excellent seafood restaurants, with Ban Thale Seafood standing out for its fresh, locally-sourced dishes like steamed blue crab and sweet and sour mullet soup.
Finally, your journey leads you to Hat Chao Samran, a beach that epitomises the tranquil beauty of Phetchaburi’s coastline. Whether you’re looking to relax by the water or explore the local dining scene, this beach offers a serene end to your day.
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Flavours of Phetchaburi
Phetchaburi’s culinary scene is a reflection of its rich history. Once a key trading hub between Tavoy (Dawei) and the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the province has long been a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. The legacy of King Mongkut (Rama IV), who built his summer palace here in the 19th century, is still evident in the local dishes that draw from royal Siamese traditions.
A visit to the Old Town Morning Market is a must for food lovers. Located by the Phetchaburi River, this market is a sensory delight, offering everything from delicate “Alua” sweets to hearty beef noodles. It’s a place where you can taste the history of the region, one bite at a time.
No culinary tour of Phetchaburi would be complete without exploring its palm sugar plantations. Just a short drive from the town centre, Uncle Thanom’s Toddy Palm Plantation offers visitors a chance to see how this iconic ingredient is made. The sweet, earthy flavour of Phetchaburi’s palm sugar is a key component in many Thai dishes, and a visit here provides a deeper appreciation for the region’s agricultural heritage.
End your food trail at Tanote Restaurant, where local chefs showcase the best of Phetchaburi’s home cooking. The standout dish? Toddy Palm Curry, where the subtle bitterness of young palm complements the sweetness of the sugar, creating a unique flavour that perfectly encapsulates the culinary journey through this remarkable province.
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