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Phuket nightlife is a great part of what makes Phuket such a special travel destination. Many travelers are amazed by the Phuket nightlife
Soi Bangla is the epicenter of nightlife in Phuket, the stomping ground of vividly dressed and 'katoeys' or ladyboys as well as extremely friendly girls who use every trick in the book
to entice passers by into their bars for a drink and maybe more. Bangla Rd is the center of the nighttime action with its long stretch of beer bars and pubs and side lanes leading down to more naughty spots. The notorious Soi Katoey, just off Bangla, is a lively place where punters can watch super-sexy 'ladies' dancing on stages at the soi's entrance and further inside. The other sois are amusing places to wander, with countless beer bars, a-go-gos and pubs to explore.
Karaoke bars are everywhere - they cater almost exclusively to a Thai crowd, but most are welcoming to visitors as well. Most bars feature very dim lighting, a karaoke machine and young hostesses who sing Thai love songs and encourage customers to join in. The majority of karaokes have signage in Thai only, but darkened windows and fairy lights seem to be the predominant features of most.
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Bangla Road (The Most Fun You Could Ever Have!)
Like all night owls, Soi Bangla awakens when the sun sets. That's when Patong's liveliest party zone becomes closed to traffic and ready for action!
Almost all of the bars are outdoors so the music from each one is deafening! Bar Beers occupy most of the street's length, with several a-go-gos and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out the attractions both on Bangla and down its side streets.
Famous for its raunchy nightlife, Bangla goes all out to entertain with girls, beers and music that increases in volume as the moon rises. Jammed most nights year round, it's actually totally unthreatening and lively place to walk around as bars compete for customers. The girls aim to please - dancing around poles, engaging in banter, or coaxing customers to play simple bar games like "Connect" or "Hammer the nail" to break the ice. The objective is to entice customers to buy drinks and hopefully, take them away for the evening.
Gonzo, Soi Easy, Soi Lion and Soi Crocodile
Wander down Soi Gonzo, Soi Easy, Soi Lion and Soi Crocodile (now better known as 'Soi Katoey for it's flamboyant transsexual who dance on bar tops, flashing boobs and a bit more if the mood takes) Take note that while the Katoeys (literally translated as ladyboy) love to pose, they will ask (and sometimes demand) a fee 200 baht. So only take pictures if you're prepared to pay.
Soi Eric
Soi Eric - has dozens are bars with the unique difference that they all play the same music, making it easier for your brain to take in the surroundings (and the girls!)
Soi Seadragon
Soi Seadragon branching off the centre of Bangla has several air-conditioned go go bars with names reflecting the theme of the place. Play
School A go go features, (yes you've guessed it) school uniforms with super-short skirts, while Suzie Wonggoes for the naughty Asian theme.
Soi Vegas
Vegas, has the brilliantly named Katoys' R ' Us - featuring flamboyant dancing on the bar counter, competing with Big Spender and King Kong. On both sides several new snooker rooms opened lately. At the end of Soi Vegas is Sala Muay Thai - a small Thai boxing stadium with nightly fights, more a tourist attractions than a real fight, but at least you can have a glimpse for tha price of a beer and decide you you want to see the real thing at Bangla Boxing Stadium.
Bangla is a small, condensed area, so just wander around till you find a place that looks promising. Bar-hopping is common since most places, with the exception of Tiger Disco, do not charge an entry fee. |
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Rat-U-Thit Road / Bangla Road Junction
Right at the top of Soi Bangla where it meets Rat-U-Thit road, lies one of Patong's main party and entertainment zones. max attractions like Club Rio, Rock Hard, on one side, and Tai Pan, VIP and Baya Beach Club on the other - all next door to each other, are places to party out until the small hours. In the side street at the side of VIP, the aptly named Soi Nam Keng (Soi Ice) provides a perfect place to cool down with local pubs and cafes.
Across the road the Margarita Bar elevated slightly above the street and outdoors, is a perfect place to people-watch and listen to the live band playing every evening. Above it is theBangla Boxing Stadium hosting real Muay Thai fights and competitions about twice a week. Expect to pay 700 B for normal seats and 1000 for VIP seats, but they are not so different. An average of 10 fights last for about 4 hours, but you can join anytime, or even go in and out as you like once you have your ticket. Usually the first rounds are very young fighters, but it gets more serious at the end of the game, Thai supporters and betters are also fun to watch! Muay Thai is more a Martial Art than Boxing, so everyone can watch.
Rat-U-Thit Road (Soi Song Roi Pee)
A quieter option to the mayhem of Bangla. Rat-U-Thit runs parallel to the beach road and offers a different perspective on Patong. A stroll down Rat-U-Thit Rd, starting at the south end reveals guest houses, a couple of hotels - notably the beautifully refurbished Holiday Inn and a large night market (OTOP) selling handicrafts from Thai villages, but mainly all the classic copies and fake brands.
In recent years, more and more restaurants have gravitated away from the expensive beach road towards Rat-U-Thit road. The result is a truly international selection of quality eating places. A cluster of middle eastern restaurants proffering hubble bubble pipes occupy the area near Christin Massage. While Italian, Indian and Mediterranean restaurants and comfortable lounge bars with easy chairs dominate the area close to the Holiday Inn.
Soi Sunset
Soi Sunset was once a thriving bar street, but much of it has been torn down to make way for the new TaiLife Health & Leisure Centre. Only a few bars remain, some which are expected to move to an area opposite the Expat Hotel. |
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Paradise Complex
After Bangla, probably the most lively area in Patong is the Paradise Complex located in front of Royal Paradise Hotel. Mainly a male gay area, the Paradise Complex is popular with gay visitors and locals. More than 50 venues - bars, a-go-gos, karaokes, saunas, guesthouses, restaurants and discos - are packed into the u-shaped lane. For dancing, the longstandingBoat Bar always attracts a crowd, especially in the later hours.
It also has nightly cabaret shows. My Way, Uncle Charlie'sbar and Tangmo are other spots that pack people in with their friendly staff and cabaret performances every evening. No entry fee requested, just order a drink once seated. Prices are normal and no overcharges or bad surprises.... just enjoy the show. |
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Beach Road
Thaweewong Rd, better known as the Beach road, runs along the entire length of Patong's 3-km beach. Both day and night it's a busy street, but it really gets packed with strollers and shopper as the temperature cools down in the evening. The most hectic section is the stretch that runs between the Holiday Inn at the south end of the beach and Bangla Road, where vendors are packed into little stalls selling a huge variety of goods including T-shirts, beach towels, shoes, jewellery, disco balls, wooden elephants, key chains and more.
A number of hotel bar-restaurants line the road, most featuring fresh seafood and live music, the most popular is The Port at Banthai Beach Resort. The lively Molly Malone's pub is right next door, between The Port and the ubiquitousMcDonald's.
Just north of Bangla is another busy segment, particularly around the cluster of beer bars opposite the Impiana Phuket Cabana. It's also packed with street vendors and all kinds of shops including sportswear outlets, pharmacies, mini-marts and shoe stores. In front of the Patong Bay Garden Resort(photo) are a number of small bars and restaurants where you can literally step on to Patong's white sand beach. Perfect for sundowners and early evening dinners.
Recently opened and further down on the way to Novotel Phuket and located in front of Club Andaman, is the Andaman Bazaar hosting 2 new music venues: Rock City andSaxophone, a well known and excellent Jazz and Blues Pub from Bangkok. |
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