Tickets booked, hotel reserved, now what about food? I got ya covered! These eight Sanya China Restaurants will get your plans popping (& mouth watering!)
Sanya China Restaurant Advice
First of all, there are good restaurants practically EVERYWHERE. So why this list? Because after five trips there, I know a bit about where the best quality of certain kinds of restaurants are.
But of course, do explore and try whichever places are calling your name! Odds are, you’ll be happy with what you find.
Without further ado, here’s my list of 8 Sanya China restaurants that you’ll definitely want to try! (Note: to find each restaurant on your map app while in Sanya, copy/paste the Chinese characters next to each restaurant!)
Local Cuisine Restaurants in Sanya China
1: “Chicken in Coconut” Hainan Coconut Hotpot
Chinese Characters: 椰小鸡 (copy/paste the Chinese to find the nearest branch!)
This restaurant is one of my FAVORITES! I’ve visited it every time I came to Sanya!
Best of all, it’s authentic Hainan style cuisine! I wrote a full description of Hainan hotpot in this post. It’s light, super tasty, and gives you all of the island vibes you need.
Best of all, this specific Hainan Hotpot restaurant has branches near all of Sanya’s four major bays. So no matter where you stay, there’s one nearby you. Definitely make sure to take part in this cuisine experience!
2: “Little Crab Sister” Chuan-Flavor Seafood Stall (Near Sanya Bay)
Chinese Characters: 蟹小妹川味海鲜大排档 (copy/paste the Chinese to find it on the map!)
When in Hainan, seafood is the priority! There are tons of seafood restaurants, but I chose this one as it’s one with very many good reviews.
Plus, it’s in Sanya Bay, which is a very popular location. For people in both Sanya Bay and Dadonghai Bay, getting to this restaurant is a breeze.
All kinds of scallops, fish, and things that I can’t even name are made-to-order and served with Chuan-style flavoring. Restaurants like these are definitely local hotspots!
Foreign Cuisine Restaurants in Sanya China
3: Dolphin Bar
Chinese Characters: Dolphin海豚美式西餐厅 (copy/paste the Chinese to find it on the map!)
Pizzas, burgers, salads and sandwiches, not to mention a full-fledged bar, Dolphin’s menu is very robust! Be warned though: in peak seasons, you may be waiting over an hour for the table.
The food is decent, but the entertainment is the real reason why this is the hangout for Sanya’s expat community. With open mic nights, themed nights, and other events, Dolphin is always exciting!
4: Marco Polo Steakhouse in Dadonghai
Chinese Characters: 马克坡罗牛扒房酒吧 (大东海店) (copy/paste the Chinese to find it on the map!)
Just a few minute’s walk from Dolphin, but with dishes that I have (literally) dreamed of. Every Italian dish you could be craving, AMAZING steaks, as well as the BEST pizzas (their bleu cheese pizza is DIVINE).
Also a great bar with bartenders who make gorgeous and super refreshing cocktails!
This is personally my favorite restaurant in all of Sanya. The prices are superb, and the quality of every dish exquisite.
During my past few trips to Sanya, we were here almost every day. Their food is just THAT good. We’d eat at Marco Polo for the calmer, quieter atmosphere for chatting. Then we’d walk to Dolphin to dance and party.
Best restaurant in Sanya, no question about it. Oh, and the manager is INCREDIBLY kind and even remembered us from our previous visits. That welcoming touch made March Polo that much more wonderful.
Fine Dining in Sanya China
5: Bread Street Kitchen & Bar – Gordon Ramsay
Chinese Characters: 亚特兰蒂斯bsk店 (copy/paste the Chinese to find it on the map!) You can also try just searching the English, as it should come up.
I haven’t personally been to this restaurant, as I’ve never watched Gordon Ramsay and therefore can’t quite appreciate the hype. However, my friends who have been to this restaurant RAVE about it!
Tons of upscale dishes and cocktails await you (seriously, the menu looks beautiful). Honestly I’m kind of regretting not having gone as I look at the reviews and photos now…so don’t make my mistake! 😂
6: MGM Grand Sanya – Niwan Seaview Restaurant
Chinese Characters: 三亚美高梅度假酒店-霓湾海景餐厅 (copy/paste the Chinese to find it on the map!)
Want the finest of dining with a beachside view? Yalong Bay has plenty of these options, but this particular spot has many wonderful reviews (and gorgeous photo ops!).
MGM Grand Sanya also provides beautiful touches for birthdays and holidays, so if you’re planning to be in Sanya for a special event, you can call ahead and arrange the most beautiful dining experience.
I can’t testify to the taste of the dishes here, but based on the reviews and photos on Dianping (China’s “Yelp”), it looks super great!
Honorable Mentions
7: Best breakfast: Maan Cafe
Maan just has it all: the most scrumptious breakfasts, coffees, and paninis. Not to mention a panorama window with a stunning seaside view!
We’d often go here to wait out rainy weather in Sanya. With our books and lattes, we were super content to watch the storm roll in over the bay. Sanya’s only Maan Cafe is in a mall (a “pineapple mall”) in Dadonghai.
We would go to Maan at least once during each trip to Sanya, and always on a morning when we wanted to linger. Why not enjoy your waffles with an ocean view?
8: Best Burgers: Outline Burger
While Dolphin and Marco Polo have burgers well worth their buck, Sanya’s best burgers are just a few km’s away, at Outline Burger! (Note: The photo of the burger at the beginning of this post is from Outline!)
I mean, their pineapple burger is just DIVINE. Made with fresh island pineapple and tender, juicy meat…you’ll wanna order at least two!
There are literally 8 seats inside the restaurant, and that is ALL (it’s tiny!). Unless you want to get take-out and eat at the seashore (which is about 5 minutes by car, 10 by bike), then go before the mealtime rushes.
Honestly, if anything has ever altered my brain chemistry, it’s having Outline’s Pineapple burger while the warm winds of Sanya sweep through the door. It’s not in the best location…but it’s so worth the drive!
So that’s my recommended list of eight Sanya China restaurants you’ll definitely want to try! Still have questions for more specific recommendations? Let’s chat in the comments!
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