Is anyone planning to visit Phuket in a relaxing way? Take a look here. Phuket Old Town It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Phuket. If the visitors are not going to beaches, they definitely visit Phuket Old Town instead. Today, our chef Sebastien will take everyone for a walk on a cultural street with beautiful Sino-Portuguese buildings. If you’re ready, let’s go…
The Chartered Bank
The Chartered Bank and Talat Yai Police Station are located on Phuket Road. They are two-storey buildings in Sino-Portuguese style and are older than 100 years old. These historic buildings were the first bank established in this region around 1907 during the reign of King Rama V under the initiative of Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahitsaraphakdi, the foresighted governor of Phuket. He developed the economic and banking systems of Phuket city to the international by trading tin, rubber, and various products abroad.
After taking photos with The Chartered Bank, chef Sebastien immediately headed to the lottery vendor, choose his favorite number and purchase the lottery himself. Let’s see if this draw will have a new millionaire named Sebastien or not.
Thalang Road and Soi Rommanee
This old historical road is the center of tourism in Phuket Old Town. With many old tenement buildings including several shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and souvenir shops. These buildings are decorated with arched windows alike the neoclassical architecture style and beautiful patterns especially natural vines, leaves, and animal figures.
The tenement buildings in this area have a unique feature on the front door which is an old wooden façade. The columns are as wide as the two buildings combined, with the art of punching windows and art deco stucco patterns that have been applied harmoniously and beautifully. Nowadays, many houses and buildings are newly painted but still retain their original forms.
In addition, there is Soi Rommanee located on Thalang Road. It is a small alley where tourists come to take photos because there are colorful buildings in various colors, pink, yellow, and blue. There are also many coffee shops and hostels in this alley, which make it another route that tourists should not miss.
Chinpracha House & Museum
Chinpracha House was built at the end of the reign of King Rama V by Phra Phithak Chinpracha (Tan Ma Sieng), who built the first house in the Sino-Portuguese style in Phuket, also called “Ang Mo Lao”.
The distinctive features are that it is a 2-storey house, and the door has Chinese characters lacquered with gold. Wooden windows are made of louvers that can be opened and closed. In the middle of the house is a small pond and open for ventilation. There are made in Italy floor tiles, beautiful pattern on wooden stairs, and most of the furniture is inlaid with pearls brought from China. Most of the materials in the house are also imported from abroad due to the booming trade by boat through Penang Island to Phuket in those days, etc.
Inside the house exhibits the history of Phuket through the objects used in the lives of Phuket people over the past 100 years, such as antique kitchen utensils, photographs, and paintings.
At present, Chinpracha House is owned by the “Tantavanich” family that has well preserved the buildings and furniture with the aim of making the house a living museum.
Cava Bien Marché
“Cava Bien Marché” is a French restaurant in Phuket Old Town with the concept “Because delicious food is always in the market”. Chef Sebastien has absorbed a style of cooking called Bistronomy, which differs from Gastronomy for its delicious taste and ease to understand. Yet it requires professional and advanced knowledge of cooking techniques similar to Fine Dining.
But most importantly, it still needs to be a Bistro, meaning it must be easy to eat, easy to understand, and also easily accessible for both price and location. Like the chef said, just wearing a t-shirt and sandals, you can come and taste our French food here.
That is all for a day trip to take a walk and take photos on cultural streets with Sino-Portuguese-style buildings. Even though the weather is a little too hot today, our chef Sebastien is still not giving up. And where will be the next locations in Phuket, you must follow in the next article!
