Barn Thai Restaurant Langkawi

The Mangrove Dining Experience

Langkawi is blessed with lush mangrove forests and unspoilt scenery. Tucked away amongst the mangrove trees along Sungai Kisap lies the mangrove-friendly Barn Thai Restaurant Langkawi, owned by the YTL Corporation.

Barn Thai Langkawi Restaurant was built in the heart of an unspoilt mangrove forest, and was the brainchild of the former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This is no ordinary restaurant. You can only reach the restaurant either via a 450m wooden walkway through the forest or by boat from Tanjung Rhu. It's unique because this is one development where nature comes first.

"Not a single mangrove tree was destroyed during its construction - the walkway and restaurant were built around the trees!"

Barn Thai Restaurant Langkawi is an eco-tourism development that other operators should be encouraged to follow. The restaurant has a strict policy on waste removal - nothing is dumped on-site. All rubbish is removed for treatment elsewhere. This policy has paid off and the unsploit environment continues to attract tourists from all around the world.

The former Prime Minister was eager to promote his favourite island and preserve the wetlands. He had just returned from Turkey where he had been very impressed by a restaurant in the marshes there. TYTL Corporation Bhd was then given the big task of constructing the restaurant timber structure, opening the restaurant within 65 days, in time for LIMA ‘93. Barn Thai Restaurant Langkawi was officially opened by Dr. Mahathir on December 6, 1993.

Barn Thai Restaurant Location

Barn Thai Langkawi is not at the most convenient of spots, just 15 minutes out of Kuah but a bit hard to find if you try to cut across the main island. The restaurant provides free shuttle service from all hotels in Langkawi except The Datai and Andaman Resort. You can also opt for a scenic boat ride to Barn Thai from the Tanjung Rhu jetty.

A 10-minute stroll on a wooden walkway of 450m long leads you to the rustic timber building and at times it seems that you are never getting there, there's plenty to look at en route - gnarled and claw-like roots, monkeys, monitor lizards, flying foxes, mud skippers and all kind of birds from herons to hornbills. If you visit the restaurant during the evening, you'd see a beautiful scene created by some old-fashioned hurricane lamps which illuminates the path, and strategically placed spotlights which lit up the trees.

The restaurant itself is unique, set in a natural setting and relaxing ambience. There are tall ceilings with tree-trunk columns, a skylight in the middle of the dining hall and weathered teak furniture lend the décor an earthy feel.

However, if you're a long time Thai food enthusiast, you might find the food not as impressive as the atmosphere. As for the prices, we think they're a little bit pricey.