Phuket's Iniala, possibly Thailand's most luxurious resort, recently welcomed Esenzi, a refined, Tim Butler-led seafood restaurant where an eight-course tasting menu will set you back B8,000. But its latest opening takes a decidedly more casual route.

Iniala Kitchen and Bar (076-602-308, www.fb.com/InialaKitchenAndBar), which is located next to Iniala Gourmet cafe and bakery at Boat Avenue Cherngtalay, not the resort itself, focuses on casual sharing dishes with Mediterranean touches drawn from group executive chef Sandro Aguilera’s Spanish roots. 

The menu therefore centers on tartine (open-face sandwiches, from B280), ceviche (from B200) and other tapas-sized dishes, as well as roasted free-range chicken with three marination options (from B405/half bird).

The blue-and-white, Mediterranean-evoking decor is matched by dishes like grilled halloumi cheese with avocado, tomato, arugula, mint and bulgur (B300) and Challans duck breast with corn and apple-stuffed ravioli (B410).

Upstairs sits a lounge, where Italian bar manager Stefano Rossini serves twisted classic cocktails from B220. Try Sombrero No. 2 (Jimador teguila, martini rosso, Choya umeshu, Granacha wine, B320) or the Old Fashioned Gon'Tiki (dark rum, orange curacao, homemade banana syrup, chocolate bitters, tiki bitters. B280).

If you're celebrating the year-end in Phuket, they are now offering a New Year's Eve dinner at B3,000 for food only or B4,500 with a free-flow vermouth bar, a bottle of wine and a glass of Champagne.