Khai Kai’s Cafe @ Tubtim Resort

A mellow beachfront cafe tucked into Tubtim Resort on Ao Tubtim, this is where you roll straight off the sand for a proper coffee. Mornings start at 8am with the hiss of the espresso machine and a sea breeze under the pines. Low tables and sandy-foot seats look straight out to that glassy Koh Samet water. Order a strong espresso, an iced latte, or a fruit shake and settle in. It’s the kind of place where time drifts: a paperback in one hand, toes in the sand, and the occasional paddleboard gliding past. If you’re sensitive to smoke, skip the grill-side tables and choose a breezy spot by the beach line. Come early for calm seas and shade, or slide in late afternoon for golden hour when the light turns the bay peach and pink. It’s inside Tubtim Resort on Ao Tubtim (a short walk south of Ao Phai), easy to find and open daily 8am–8pm — ideal for sunrise caffeine and pre-dinner sips before the island heads out for the night.