To say the least Phuket has a vibrant, active, and in certain places, rowdy nightlife. There is no denying that the go-go bars and lady bars are a highly visible aspect of the nightlife that is Patong and to a lesser extent Kata and Karon. For those looking to get rowdy, a visit to a go-go bar or lady bar is a must do after a hard week of training. If not easily offended, this is also a great place to have a few drinks and people-watch. Having said that, you should most definitely expect to see the unexpected…
If you can take the Phuket night-life in stride, here are a few good places to consider:
Aek-Ka-Nek
As the natives of Phuket say, “a place for sleepless people”. Aek-Ka-Nek is one of the newer entrants and is made recognizable by the huge Johnnie Walker logo next to the sign. It is not as rowdy as most other places in Phuket and also has a very good house band.
Fantasia
This is another quintessentially Thai place, complete with extremely attractive and skimpily dressed dancing girls in a pretty good floor show overall complete with flashing lights, expensive drinks and a slight air of seediness.
O’Malley’s Irish Lounge Bar
Invariably, there is an Irish bar by the name of O’Malley’s and is located in the heart of Phuket Town. O’Malley’s is a comfortable place fit for everyone, including kids. It offers pub type foods and drinks as well they have occasional live music and deals on beer. If you want to catch up with local expats, just drop by – especially on sports nights. O’Malley’s also has a pool table, free Wi-Fi and a Playstation.
Pink Chamois And Pink Lady
Located in the basement of the Metropole Hotel, Pink Chamois offers live music every night.
Rockin’ Angels Bar
Rockin’ Angels is a must-visit place for music lovers and artists. The owner of the bar is a Singaporean who is also a guitarist and singer. This is to say that one should be ready for impromptu jam sessions that can happen at any time. One of the best places to be in while in Phuket as the proceedings are very lively and mostly free of other “influences”.
Fever Corner
Fever Corner is a typical Thai-style beer garden with quite a few friendly good-looking hostesses around. People under 20 are not allowed in. Prices for food and drinks are quite cheap compared to the majority of the western coasts tourist sub-districts.
Phuket Simon Cabaret
Phuket Simon Cabaret has fast become one of Southeast Asia’s most outstanding entertainment attractions drawing roughly a thousand enthused visitors from around the world each evening. A spectacular display of lights, colour, talent and originality the performance with more than 100 backstage staff including show managers, costume and different wardrobe departments is some of the most flamboyant (mostly ladyboy) fun you’ll ever witness. Mixed in for good entertainment value, are professional soloists dressed like Lady Gaga, Tina Turner or Diana Ross. A single show runs the entire range of musical theatre referencing various cultures from all around the world so as to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Patong – Night Life
Lit up like Las Vegas, Patong is rife with bars, clubs, karaoke lounges, massage parlours, go-go bars, discos and cabaret type shows. Most of the action is centered on Soi Bangla which joins the Beach Road at one end and Rat-U-Thit Road at the other. In between are a number of small “sois” (streets) with bars, go-go bars, restaurants and cafes literally right next to one another.
Patong is mostly made up of medium to large size hotels, world class restaurants, nightclubs, entertainment complexes, tourist attractions, as well as countless smaller bars clustered together in and around Bangla Road and the beach road. The area (especially at night) has a highly visible sex tourism industry which caters to every individuals tastes and desires.
Massage parlors of the erotic kind (Christian Massage) as well as the therapeutic (Nuad Thai) genre provide somewhat less alcohol infested venues for potential wellness seekers looking for some R&R. One can even find local Thai masseuses practicing this medical and holistic art atop bamboo mats at the beach (300 Baht and up).
Hollywood Disco
Hollywood Disco has made and retained its name as one of the best clubs to go to in Patong. It features two rooms with different designs and themes as well as music. Be entertained not only by the in-house DJ’s, but also by a few celebrities you may perhaps see from Bangkok as well as overseas. Games and or prizes are all part of a fun night out at Hollywood and so they occasionally give away big prizes such as motorcycles and TVs. The best time to stop by Hollywood is after midnight when it is relatively easy to meet friendly local girls or boys if thats what you’re looking to do.
Seduction Discotheque
Seduction Discotheque has raised the bar for discos in Patong. Located at the northern end of Soi Bangla, just look for the red carpet that leads to the door! Big name DJ’s from Bangkok and around the world play here on occasion, one former guest being none other than the legendary Judge Jules (UK). A mixed Thai and tourist crowd packs the club most nights of the week looking to party to whatever’s hot with an R&B theme on the first floor and an electronic/house music theme on the second, especially on weekends, a vivacious atmosphere at Seduction is virtually guaranteed. Swanky décor includes color changing chandeliers which hang above the bars and on the second floor, the circular DJ booth is raised up in the middle of the dance floor which also has palm trees dotted around.
Kata – Night Life
Kata Beach has a small village-like atmosphere, which is quite pleasant for strolling around in the evening. The bar scene here is fairly low key and informal for the most part. Many places have pool tables and televisions which make them ideal for adults and children alike but that’s not to say there is a shortage of places to sit, relax and drink a cocktail or two.
If you prefer wine, try The Boathouse Wine and Grill or any one of the Two Chefs restaurants, which also serves exceptional food in sophisticated surroundings.
If Thai food is what you like, then you’ll find an endless amount of places serving all kinds of local dishes. You will also find European food served in many places and there are some great Scandinavian restaurants in Kata as well.
Naiharn- Night Life
In comparison to some of the busier places on the island, nightlife in Nai Harn is fairly low key, however there are still a number of enjoyable and relaxing bars and restaurants to be found in the areas surrounding the beach, inland lake, village and or Yacht club, many which get busier as the evening goes on, and have a friendly, lively atmosphere. For a laid back evening chilling out to funky beats, live music and reggae sounds, head for the lakeside bars of Yoonique Stone Music Cafe and the Reggae Bar. If you’re still up and looking for a place to go thats somewhat near the gym, hit the dance floor at Icon Nightclub located along the road to Kata, which gets quite busy on weekends. Across the road, is a small collection of bars worth a brief visit for its endearing hostesses and lively, fun atmosphere. Nai Harn, with its many bars operating also as restaurants and saunas for ex during daytime hours transforms as the sun goes down offering friendly hostesses, large screen televisons showing major sporting events, pool tables as well as darts. For truly fine dining held in world-class settings overlooking the bay, go to one of the high end resorts at the northern end of the beach and dine in style as the sun sets slowly over the azure waters.
