Kala Thai is a Thai restaurant and bar on Old Christchurch Road, in the centre of Bournemouth. Locally it has earned a strong name for authentic Thai cooking, and in 2025 it was named Best Thai in South England & Wales at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards, recognition for a menu that reaches well past the standard high-street Thai repertoire.
The food
The signature dishes are built on bold, classic Thai flavours. Weeping Tiger is grilled sirloin, Thai style, with a tamarind-chilli dip; Gai Yang is BBQ chicken with papaya salad; there's roast duck in a honey-tamarind glaze; and Pla Neung Ma Nao is steamed sea bass in a sharp chilli-lemon sauce. Green curries and prawn dishes fill out a menu that suits sharing as well as ordering individually. Dishes and prices shift with the seasons, as they do everywhere, so look at the current menu on the website before visiting.
Atmosphere
The restaurant describes its offer as "authenticity, class and a great atmosphere," matching the food with exotic cocktails, quality beers and familiar music. The result works for a laid-back dinner just as well as a livelier evening built around drinks.
Good to know
Opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 12 noon to 10pm, Friday and Saturday until 11pm, and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. To book, call 01202 096357 or use the online booking system; private events are arranged by email. Being on Old Christchurch Road in the town centre, it's an easy walk from the Square, the Lower Gardens and the seafront, so it slots neatly into a day spent in Bournemouth.
For other restaurants close by, see our food & drink guide, or find more ways to fill a day in town in our things to do guide.