Pepenero, Koh Samui: our review
A regional Italian kitchen in a lantern-lit garden on the Maenam road, with homemade pasta and charcuterie boards up to a metre long.
By Kylian DevPhotos: Pepenero, from the restaurant's official website.
Pepenero is an Italian restaurant in Maenam, on Koh Samui's north coast, 1.2 km past Bophut's Fisherman's Village. Milan-born chef Alain Di Tomaso cooks regional Italian recipes, from homemade pasta to charcuterie boards and a dry-aged Fiorentina, every evening except Sunday.
Our recommendation
Why we would book this table
We would book Pepenero for the evening when Samui calls for a long, unhurried Italian dinner. The format is generous and convivial, with boards of charcuterie and cheese built for the whole table and a cheese shaved or a tartare smoked right in front of you, while the cooking stays regional and precise, from spaghetti with clams to a 27-day dry-aged Fiorentina. A Milan-born chef in the kitchen, a maître d' in the garden and some 70 wines: it is the Italian address we send friends to on the north coast.
Best for
- A relaxed Italian dinner
- Sharing boards with friends
- Wine lovers
What makes it special
- Charcuterie and cheese boards for every table size, up to the Pepenero Meter, a one-metre wooden board
- Theatre at the table: La Raspadüra di Lodi cheese shaved in front of you, a tartare smoked in front of you
- Around 70 wine labels, plus a collection of premium spirits and gins
On the menu
What to order at Pepenero
Dishes taken from the restaurant's own menu. Menus change with the season: ask the team for the day's specials.
Pepenero Meter
A one-metre wooden board laden with the house charcuterie and cheeses, for the whole table.
Tartare di Fassona
Piedmontese Fassona beef with olive oil and Parmigiano.
Spaghetti alle Vongole
Clams, garlic, parsley and cherry tomatoes: the seaside classic.
Zuppa di Pesce
Seafood soup with prawns, calamari, mussels and clams.
Ribeye with Mushrooms and Truffle
Ribeye topped with mushrooms and truffle.
Getting there
How to get to Pepenero
On the main road, 1.2 km past Fisherman's Village in the direction of Maenam, on the left-hand side, opposite the lane to the W Retreat.
4/5 Moo 1, Tambon Maenam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84330
Good to know
Pepenero: your questions
Opening hours, booking and what to order, answered in short.
When is Pepenero open?
Monday to Saturday, from 6 pm to 11 pm. The restaurant is closed on Sunday, so plan your Italian night for another evening.
Where is Pepenero on Koh Samui?
In Maenam, on the main road 1.2 km past Fisherman's Village, on the left-hand side towards Maenam, opposite the lane to the W Retreat (4/5 Moo 1, Tambon Maenam).
How do I book a table at Pepenero?
Send a WhatsApp message or call +66 91 175 0707; the landline is +66 77 963 353. Groups are welcome and have their own booking page on the official website.
What should I order at Pepenero?
Start with a board to share, up to the one-metre Pepenero Meter, then a pasta such as spaghetti alle vongole. For a main, the Fiorentina is dry-aged for 27 days; for a lighter dinner, the zuppa di pesce.
Is Pepenero suitable for children?
Yes, children are most welcome; the team simply asks that they stay seated at the table during dinner.
Is there a dress code at Pepenero?
Smart casual, in keeping with the dining room. Keep swimwear and beach outfits for the afternoon.
Also on Koh Samui
Two more tables we recommend
An editorial pick: the links to the restaurant go straight to its own website, with no affiliate tracking. Hours, address and dishes come from the restaurant's official website, and the photos are the restaurant's own.