Where to enjoy great live bands in Phuket?
Live music bars have always been a big draw in Patong Beach and around the island of Phuket. As far as I can remember, for more than 25 years now, bands have been playing old hits more or less accurately. For decades, the ‘Hotel California‘ song could be heard several times a night anywhere in Patong. It was considered the Phuket nightlife anthem. At the time, the only bands were next to the Banana Disco and at Margaritas, which was since renamed Red Hot. Apart from these two, any bar could have a small group of musicians or just one singer to entertain the guests.
Patong grew faster than a mushroom, and bars with dedicated bands seemed to attract more guests than bars without live bands, so guess what happened: more and more live bands popped up everywhere, and it worked! So, what are the most popular music bars in Patong?
New York Live Music Bar
| Location: Patong Beach |
New York Bar on Bangla Road is packed every night. The bar is vast and somewhat dark, with an excellent sound system blasting both inside and out onto the street, which creates its own energetic advertising.
The bands playing here are dynamic and talented, focusing mostly on heavy rock and hip hop, and always aiming to stand out in a street lined with other live music venues.
Location: Patong Beach – Bangla Road
Address: 68 Bangla Road, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
Open: 6:30 pm – 1 am (probably stays open much later)
Phone: 089 217 7799
The Garage OG Phuket
| Location: Karon Beach |
The Garage OG is a popular live music bar on Patak Road in Karon Beach. I stopped by on a Friday night, and the place was already filling up by 8 pm, well before the band kicked off around 9.30 pm.
The bar has a raw industrial look with shipping containers, old oil drums used as tables, and a vintage VW Beetle parked inside. The resident band plays rock covers, and they’re actually good.
Location: Karon Beach
Address: 522 Patak Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Hours: 5 pm – 2 am
Phone: 064 784 0748
Churchill Bar and Restaurant
| Location: Karon Beach |
Churchill Bar and Restaurant sits just off Karon’s main road, below the Rattana Beach Hotel. It’s only a few metres from Patak Road, but most people walk right past without noticing. One of the reasons to come here is Cole Ley & The Collective Band. They are fantastic. I have seen a lot of live music in Phuket, and this five-piece group is one of the best. They play blues, jazz, soul and pop covers, and the energy fills the room.
Location: Karon Beach
Address: 514, 1-8 Patak Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Hours: 7 am – 2 pm
Phone: +66 94 427 1265
Hard Rock Cafe Phuket
| Location: Patong Beach |
Hard Rock Cafe Phuket does not need to be introduced anymore, but it was a big deal when it arrived in Patong Beach a few years back. If you came here, you already know that Phuket does not lack live bands.
Not all live bands in Phuket bars are good, but people do not seem to be so picky after a few beers anyway. However, there are a few places where the bands can sing and play, and Hard Rock Cafe Phuket is one of them.
Location: Patong Beach
Address: 48/1 Ruamjai Road, Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket 83150
Open: 11 am – 2 am
Phone: 076 366 381
Molly’s Tavern Irish Bar & Restaurant
| Location: Patong Beach |
Molly’s Tavern is a well-known Irish Pub on the beachfront road of Patong Beach. Just 350 m from Bangla Walking Street, the bright red facade is an unmissable beacon for good comfort food and great live music in a wide choice of international and local beers, ales, wines and spirits.
Molly’s Tavern serves international draught, bottled beer & cider selections from Irish favourites such as Guinness, Kilkenny and Magners, and local beers Chang and Singha.
Location: Patong Beach
Address: 94/1 Thawewong Rd, Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
Hours: 2 pm – 11 pm
Phone: 086 911 6194
Red Hot
| Location: Patong Beach |
Red Hot bar sits right at the intersection of Bangla Road and Ratuthit Road, almost opposite the Jungceylon shopping mall. I remember when it was called Margaritas; it used to draw the biggest crowds for live music around here.
Although other bars now attract more fans, Red Hot still fills up fast, especially with passersby wanting to join in the fun. The layout is open to the street, making it easy to slip in and out.
Location: Patong Beach (near Jungceylon) – Bangla Road
Address: Rat Uthit 200 Years Road, 83150 Patong
Phone: 076 340 519
Open 11:30 am – 3 am
Michel Angelo’s Bar
| Location: Phuket Town |
Michel Angelo’s Bar is a live music venue in Phuket Town with a different theme every night of the week. Monday is the Monday Night Jam, Tuesday is Jazz Night, and Wednesday brings a mix of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Reggae. Thursday is Blues Band night, and the weekend keeps the music going with a packed schedule of live performances.
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 12 Takuapa Rd, Tambon Talat Nuea, Amphur Muang, Phuket 83000
Hours: 10 am – 10 pm
Phone: 084-630-1770
Live Music Bars Map
Things to Do at Night around Phuket Island
