JALA

Andaman Langkawi, Jalan Teluk Datai, Langkawi TEL: 04 959 1088 facebook.com/theandamanlangkawi

What a joy to literally kick off your shoes at Jala, where everyone goes barefoot to enjoy the feel of sand between their toes. Another wow factor is how fishermen physically deliver their catches of the day by pulling up to the restaurant’s private beach—it doesn’t get fresher than that. Seafood lovers will be in seventh heaven when selecting their protein, style of preparation, sauces and sides, but if crustaceans and molluscs don’t float your boat, note that there are poultry, bovine and vegetarian dishes too. Named the Strawberry Reef, Jala’s signature dessert takes a page from Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea and The Aviary in Chicago; pistachios, sponge cake, ice cream and fruit are splashed across a sheet of mahjong paper with artistic flair.