Koh Tao, ThailandA simple but excellent breakfast spot in Mae Haad serving proper all-day English breakfasts, Thai-style omelettes, fresh fruit smoothies, and the strongest coffee on the island. Divers who need a solid pre-dive meal and travelers who need to sit quietly for an hour before the ferry home both love this place equally.
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The most popular beach bar and cafe on Sairee Beach with excellent cocktails, strong iced coffee, and a relaxed beach-side atmosphere that makes it the default meeting place for divers between morning and afternoon dives. The seating on the sand, cold beers, and view of dive boats departing is quintessentially Koh Tao.
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A hip beach bar and cafe on the quieter northern end of Sairee with excellent smoothies, healthy food, hammocks over the water, and a relaxed creative vibe that attracts photographers and artists. The aloe vera lemonade and the grilled tuna wraps are the most ordered items.
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The most serious specialty coffee shop on Koh Tao with proper espresso equipment, Thai single-origin beans, and a selection of cold brews and pour-overs. The AC interior is genuinely cold - a rare luxury on a tropical island - making it the most popular working cafe for nomads spending multiple weeks on Koh Tao.