The Verdict
Lae Lay is the contemporary seafood restaurant at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on the Andaman coast north of Ao Nang. It was revitalised and relaunched in October 2023 under a new executive chef, Christian Herrgesell, who spent ten years at the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin.
The cooking centres on the freshest Andaman seafood, sourced from local Krabi fishing villages and paired with seasonal produce and intense spice in an Asian-inspired style. The setting is romantic — wooden floors, Thai Lanna paintings, hanging lanterns and water on all sides — with a show kitchen and a rooftop, 'Lae Lay Under The Stars', for private dinners.
The Kitchen
Executive chef Christian Herrgesell, a German chef and concept creator who spent a decade at Berlin's two-Michelin-star Restaurant Tim Raue, leads the kitchen. Lae Lay's menu is built on Andaman seafood — landed by local fishing villages — finished with seasonal produce and bold spice in an Asian-inspired, contemporary style, and prepared in an open show kitchen.
The Room
Lae Lay sits within Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve at 111 Moo 3, Nong Thale, north of Ao Nang. The dining room has traditional wooden floors and colourful Thai Lanna paintings, is softly lit by hanging lanterns and surrounded by water; an intimate rooftop space, 'Lae Lay Under The Stars', is set aside for private dining.
Best for a Proposal
Lae Lay is built for a proposal or a milestone: a romantic, water-wrapped room inside Thailand's most exclusive Reserve, with a rooftop reserved for private dinners under the stars. The Andaman-seafood menu and Michelin-trained kitchen make it the destination evening on a Krabi trip.
Not For
Not for a casual, low-cost dinner or a quick family meal: this is resort fine dining at a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, priced and paced accordingly, with a smart dress code and a remote location north of Ao Nang. Travellers after a relaxed beach-grill night should book Lae Lay Grill in Ao Nang instead.
Reservations
Lae Lay is the seafood restaurant at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; reservations are arranged through the resort and open to outside diners as well as in-house guests. It serves dinner in a smart setting at resort fine-dining prices, and the rooftop 'Lae Lay Under The Stars' can be booked for private dinners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the chef at Lae Lay in Krabi?
Lae Lay is led by executive chef Christian Herrgesell, a Michelin-trained German chef who spent ten years at the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Tim Raue in Berlin. He joined Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in 2023 and oversees its dining, relaunching Lae Lay as the resort's contemporary Andaman-seafood restaurant.
What kind of food does Lae Lay serve?
Lae Lay serves contemporary seafood built on the day's Andaman catch, sourced from local Krabi fishing villages and paired with seasonal produce and intense spice in an Asian-inspired style. Dishes are prepared in an open show kitchen, and the restaurant focuses on sustainable, locally landed fish and shellfish.
Where is Lae Lay restaurant in Krabi?
Lae Lay is inside Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, at 111 Moo 3, Nong Thale, on the Andaman coast north of Ao Nang in Krabi province, Thailand. It is a short drive from Ao Nang and Krabi town, set among the Reserve's villas and pavilions overlooking the sea.
Is Lae Lay open to non-hotel guests?
Yes. Like Phulay Bay's other restaurants, Lae Lay welcomes outside diners as well as resort guests, with reservations arranged through the Reserve. Its relaunch in 2023 under a Michelin-trained executive chef was aimed at drawing destination diners to Krabi, not only in-house guests, for the contemporary seafood menu.
Is Lae Lay the same as Lae Lay Grill in Ao Nang?
No. Lae Lay at Phulay Bay is the Ritz-Carlton Reserve's contemporary seafood fine-dining restaurant, while Lae Lay Grill is a separate casual rooftop seafood spot in Ao Nang town. They share the Thai phrase 'lae lay' (the sea) but are different restaurants with different chefs, settings and price levels.
Also in Krabi
Explore the full Krabi dining guide, or compare it with the resort's Sri Trang at Phulay Bay and The Grotto at Rayavadee.