Phang Nga Road in Old Phuket Town – A Walking Guide

Shrine of the Serene Light

The Shrine of the Serene Light (Sang Tham Shrine) used to be ‘the little hidden Chinese temple’ tucked away right under your nose on Phang Nga road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. While most Thais knew all about it, only a few foreigners would be aware of its existence and proudly whisper its secret location to newbies like an old secret passage to some mystic temple.

The Old Kasikorn Bank

The old Kasikorn bank on Phang Nga Road got a massive facelift and has since become a selfie favourite.

Amulet Market

The Phuket Amulet Market is a hidden alley connecting Phang Nga Road to Ratsada Road. It has been opened for more than 25 years (when I first arrived) and is still very popular with collectors. These amulets are usually blessed by monks and have special powers; some will protect you or bring you luck. Depending on their age and rarity, amulets can be extremely expensive.

Peranakannitat Museum

The Baba Museum or Peranakannitat Museum is inside the yellow old ‘Standard Chartered Bank’, at the intersection of Phang Nga Road and Phuket Road. It’s a rather modest museum modest, but the location and the Sino-Portuguese building itself are worth a photo.

Museum Phuket

Museum Phuket is another well-known landmark of Phuket for its clock tower standing high above the main building. Not so long ago, this building was white and neglected, somewhat anonymous if it was not for the clock that was sometimes working, sometimes not. We’ll review the museum shortly.

Tu Kab Khao Restaurant

Tu Kab Khao was always a beautiful heritage building. It hosted boutiques and restaurants in the past, but success only arrived with the opening of Tu Kab Khao, an excellent restaurant serving southern specialities

Surf and Turf by Soul Kitchen

Surf & Turf by Soul Kitchen is a small and excellent restaurant on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town that received a Bib Gourmand in Michelin Guide.

The Memory at On On Hotel

The Memory at On On Hotel is a beautifully renovated but affordable hotel with a fun history. Forty years ago, it was just a run-down cheap hostel for many years, and while it had some ‘character’, people didn’ really look at it twice: there were better places to stay.

The movie ‘The Beach’ came along, and a scene at the beginning of the movie was shot inside On On Hotel. It was a little exaggerated (I never saw anyone washing the walls), but it wasn’t far from what On On looked at the time. It was also proportionally cheap, with rooms starting at 180 baht, and luxury rooms at 350 baht, with private bathroom!

Location: Phuket Town
Range: 3-star
Address: 19 Phangnga Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Phone: 076 363 700
Open: 24 hours
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemoryatOnOn/
Bookings: see the rates

South Wind Books

South Wind is one of the oldest second-hand book shops on the island. It used to be very popular, but as you can expect, paperback books are not as sought after as they use to be a decade ago.

Address: 3, 5 Phangnga Rd, Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Open: 9 am – 9 pm
Phone: 089 724 2136

Yayha Phuket

Phuket traditional clothing, souvenirs and jewellery.