Lim’s at Kalim Bay is an elegant custom-designed restaurant and a gallery of bold, very abstract art, built on a tropical hillside garden beside one of Phuket’s few natural rivers. Call it a hidden treasure.

Owners Daniel Bosshard and Alongkorn “Gop” Poochamchote opened their restaurant in a small house in 1999. They have gradually expanded, adding a generous dining room with high ceilings and an outdoor courtyard that balances the tropical splendour of the surrounding jungle with bamboo, stone and natural elements to create perhaps the most charming restaurant on Phuket. Gop, an artist, has his large, vivid paintings hanging on the walls, and next door is his studio where one can admire his range of work.

There’s a fun cocktail list which features Long Island Iced Tea, a large mango daiquiri and a specialty that Daniel calls a Busy Night, a mixture of cherry brandy, rum, vodka and apple juice.

“Gop and I have created a simple yet complete menu of what we call ‘modern Thai cuisine’, with an emphasis on fresh seafood served in generous portions,” Daniel said. “We don’t exaggerate our use of spices because we want the clear, natural flavours of the fresh ingredients to impress our guests”.

And impress they do. The menu features an appetizer of mixed treats that includes luscious Vietnamese spring rolls stuffed with carrot, cucumber, capsicum, coriander, basil and mint leaves, deep fried shrimp cookies, grilled pork ribs, and chicken satay.

Lim’s has special offerings that combine interesting textures and tastes. There’s a pomelo salad with shrimp that has a fresh, very clean taste. The slices of marinated duck breast rolled in cucumber are very light and match either the Australian or New Zealand red or white wines offered on the menu. Traditional, popular curries can be found on the menu with large king prawns, chicken or duck and there’s a section for vegetarians.

This is a restaurant to relax in, to take your time between courses and enjoy the company of your dinner companions. Until now, the pleasure of an evening at Lim’s, a favourite of Thai and expat residents, has spread mostly by discreet word of mouth as the chosen elegant hideaway for the discerning diner. Now the word is out.