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Restaurants & Food
Krabi

The River Restaurant & Bar

4.6(1,756 reviews)$$$$

Waterfront restaurants usually charge you for the view. This one, on the Krabi River in the middle of town, doesn't. Soups and curries come out well over average size for a few baht more than a street stall would ask, and the seafood is where people keep landing: fat prawns, crab curry with coconut milk. Somebody praised the passion fruit smoothie enough that I'd order one. There's live music some nights, candles on the tables, and enough thought put into the decor that it feels deliberate rather than dressed up for tourists.

It works as a proper dinner or as somewhere to sit with a drink and watch the river go dark. Service gets a lot of love, and staff have been known to wheel out cake and sparklers for birthdays. That said, one diner had a real scrap with a supervisor over outdoor tables and got put on a 1.5-hour limit at a busy time. If you want a riverside seat, ask when you book rather than turning up and hoping.

Taste more of Krabi

Street-food tours, market visits, and Thai cooking classes near The River Restaurant & Bar — a guided way to eat like a local.

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Experience hints

Visitor favorite
Mid-range

Pair your visit. After The River Restaurant & Bar, round out your day in Krabi with contrasting stops nearby.

Reviews from Google

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The food was absolutely delicious, every single dish. The atmosphere was lovely and comfortable, and the service was a perfect 10/10 — the staff were incredibly attentive and friendly. I visited on my birthday, and the restaurant surprised me not only with a birthday cake, but also with wine and sparklers, along with a sweet birthday song. It was such a thoughtful and heartwarming gesture — truly unforgettable 🥰 Highly recommended dishes are the Crab Curry with Coconut Milk and the Shrimp Cakes (my fiancé is a foreigner, and he could enjoy the food very much as well — not too spicy at all) hands down some of the best I’ve ever had in my life. 100 thumbs up 👍👍👍 Most importantly, the prices are unbelievably good for the quality. Amazing value for money. I was beyond impressed and will definitely come back again. Highly recommended! ❤️

Fantastic place. Views are wonderful and the place is nicely decorated with a lovely ambience. You'd expect such a place to be overpriced, but it's definitely not the case. Soups and curry are way bigger than average, super tasty, and just a few baht more than any street place. All good was amazing, coffee as well. Service is amazing too. Everyone was very attentive. Will definitely come back. Ir you're in Krabi town, don't doubt and come eat here.

The restaurant was highly ranked in KRABI town. Decided to come in here early. I did not give service well as my experience was rather awful with one of the supervisors. We wanted to sit outside but was told certain tables were reserved for later and we had some arguments before that which I don’t want to mention. Later we sat on a table outside where we were given only 1.5 hours to dine before the next customer. As it was going to rain heavily in 15 minutes, we decided to move inside, again having arguments with supervisor on sitting near to the window as it was reserved. Food wise, the only one that I enjoyed most was Tom yum seafood where it was flavourful! The grilled fish - guess you can get it anywhere nothing special no spices at all. The seafood curry on coconut even disappointing, we thought it was going to have spicy taste to it but ended up to be curry with no chilli. Overall, nice ambience restaurant sitting next to the river. Food wise, many people may come and opt for the premium option. Don’t think it was spectacular! Price is a bit higher end if you compared to any other local restaurants around but guess you are paying the premium for the atmosphere. That’s just my opinion.

A sample of visitor reviews from Google. Read all 1,756 reviews on Google.

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The River Restaurant & Bar: Frequently Asked Questions

Is The River Restaurant & Bar worth visiting?

The River Restaurant & Bar holds a 4.6★ rating from 1,756 Google reviews, placing it among the highest-rated restaurants & food in Krabi.

What are the opening hours of The River Restaurant & Bar?

The River Restaurant & Bar is typically open 11:30-00:00 — see the full day-by-day schedule in the location info on this page. Hours can change on Thai public holidays, so check ahead for holiday visits.

How expensive is The River Restaurant & Bar?

The River Restaurant & Bar is moderately priced (฿฿) relative to other restaurants & food in Krabi.

When is the best time to visit The River Restaurant & Bar?

The best months to visit Krabi are November – April, with the most reliable weather. Crowds peak in December – February — going early in the day usually means fewer people. Months to think twice about: June – September (rough Andaman seas).

Where is The River Restaurant & Bar located?

The River Restaurant & Bar is at 256, 1 Thanon Utarakit, Tambon Pak Nam, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000, Thailand, in Krabi. Getting around Krabi: Long-tail boats (islands & Railay Beach); Songthaews in Ao Nang.

Location Info

256, 1 Thanon Utarakit, Tambon Pak Nam, Amphoe Mueang Krabi, Chang Wat Krabi 81000, Thailand+66 96 297 8264www.facebook.com/theriverkbv19
Opening Hours
Monday11:30–00:00
Tuesday11:30–00:00
Wednesday11:30–00:00
Thursday11:30–00:00
Friday11:30–00:00
Saturday11:30–00:00
Sunday11:30–00:00

Visitor Information

Best time to visit

November – April

Avoid: June – September (rough Andaman seas)

Rainy season

May – October

Avg. temperature

23°C – 33°C(73°F – 91°F)

Crowds

High

Peak: December – February

Getting there

Krabi Airport (KBV) has direct flights from Bangkok (1.5 hrs). Ferries connect to Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, and Phuket. Bus or minivan from Phuket takes ~3 hrs.

Getting around

  • Long-tail boats (islands & Railay Beach)
  • Songthaews in Ao Nang
  • Grab (limited, mainly Ao Nang)
  • Motorbike rental

Where to stay near The River Restaurant & Bar

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Tips for Visiting Restaurants & Food

Learn the Spice Scale

Say 'mai pet' for no spice, 'pet nit noi' for a little spice, or 'pet mak' if you want it Thai-hot. Most cooks will default to a toned-down version for foreigners unless you specify otherwise.

Follow the Crowds

The busiest street stalls are almost always the best — high turnover means fresh ingredients and a recipe that locals vouch for. An empty restaurant at dinner time is a red flag.

Ice Is Safe

Factory-made tube or cylinder ice (used in virtually all restaurants and stalls) is made from purified water and is safe to consume. You don't need to skip the iced Thai tea.

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A well-regarded steakhouse in central Krabi open nightly until midnight, with quality grills and a romantic atmosphere.

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A working rivermouth seafood place where the day's catch decides the menu, not a printed list.

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