A slice of Andalusia is opening on a Vietnamese beach. From November 18, Regent Phu Quoc will serve dinner and lunch at Ocean Club by Benito Gómez, a reworked beachfront restaurant led by the Spanish chef who holds two Michelin stars for Bardal in Ronda and also runs the Michelin-recognised tapas spot Tragatá.
Gómez's cooking leans on fire, fish, rice and stews, and everything is built for sharing. He is quick to stress this is not a copy-paste of the Mediterranean. The idea is to bring his Andalusian technique and respect for produce to Phu Quoc's own ingredients — so expect Spanish sensibility with Vietnamese larder.
The setting does a lot of the work too. BLINK Design Group has drawn up a space with an easy indoor-outdoor flow, and you can take your pick between the dining room, the adjoining lounge or the terrace. Lunch is pitched as bright and relaxed, tuned to the sea, while evenings shift up a gear: more refined plates, more elaborate cooking, and the kind of sunset that Phu Quoc's west coast is known for. The after-dark programme includes live music, wine tastings, curated events and seasonal chef-led experiences.
Drinks are treated as more than an afterthought. Wine, cocktails and pairings get the same attention as the food, which matters if you're the sort of traveller who books a table around the cellar list as much as the menu.
For the resort itself, the signing is a statement of intent. General manager Juan Losada has framed the partnership as a step towards positioning Regent Phu Quoc as one of Vietnam's genuine culinary destinations, mixing local and internationally recognised talent. That's good news if you're planning an island break where dinner is the headline act rather than an afterthought.
Phu Quoc has been quietly building a food reputation in recent years, and a two-star name anchoring a beachfront venue raises the bar further. The combination — a serious chef, sunset-facing terrace, sharing plates — makes it an easy pick for a splurge night during a longer island stay, whether you're there for the beaches, the night market or a few days of doing very little by the water. Book ahead if your trip overlaps the festive season, when the island's resort strip fills up fast.
