What to Do in Phuket at Night?
Contents
Phuket is famous the world around for its colorful nightlife. It has evolved a lot to reach all kinds of travellers and it’s nowhere as rowdy as in Pattaya or even Bangkok. Nightlife in Phuket is now for everyone with great night clubs hosting international DJs, fancy rooftop bars, more live bands than you really need, and ladyboy shows that defies your imagination. And of course you might be tempted to have a look inside the notorious Go Go bars at least once… go on it is actually easy going and couples are welcome.
The Sois of Patong Beach explained
1. Bangla Road
Soi Bangla or Bangla Road is the heart of all Phuket Nightlife, and the battle for night supremacy is raging between Soi Seadragon and the new Tiger complex. Over the years, the center of interest has been moving up and down Bangla road depending on seasons and popularity but the ever changing face of Patong nightlife is definitely worth a look. Of course, wherever you go in Bangla, friendly ladies will call you with a big smile and encourage you to have a drink and play few silly bar games, everyone is welcome. Read more…
2. Soi Seadragon
Soi Seadragon is the main ‘Soi’ of Patong beach. This is where most Go Go bars are located. The street is covered so you don’t have to worry about the rain and there are plenty of beer bars in the central part. Those beer bars are fun and famous for their friendly ladies and their silly games. Connect 4 and Jenga are the classic ones but hitting a nail with a hammer in the minimum amount of time after a couple of beers is memorable experience. See lower in the page to read about the famous Go Go bars of Soi Seadragon. Read more…
3. Soi Tiger
Soi Tiger as always been very popular, possibly due to its prime location, fancy design but mostly because of the many sexy dancers on bars. Located in Soi Bangla, just next to Bangla Shopping Center, Soi Tiger and just above it Tiger Disco are hard to miss with their Flintstones giant cave look. It’s huge and a bit kitsch but don’t hesitate to explore inside… it’s always fun, loud and very colorful. Read more…
4. Soi Easy on Bangla Road
Soi Easy is the closest Soi from the beach, and not as popular as its neighbours. Apart from few usual indoor beer bars, the main attractions are the Hollywood Disco and a long time well known place called Aussie Bar on the second floor, and ‘The Secret‘ a Go Go bar hidden in the back trying to be a bit more upmarket. Actually the dancers on stage, advertised as ‘models from Bangkok’, put on a decent dancing show. Read more…
5. Soi Gonzo
Soi Gonzo is a tiny lane with bars on each side and a huge tattoo shop above called Pitbull Tattoo. Soi Gonzo used to be colorful and lively with small beer bar and laughing staff encouraging you to sit for a drink. Soi Gonzo is now mostly the doorway to the very popular White Room Club. Read more…
6. New Tiger Complex
The New Tiger entertainment complex in the famous Soi Bangla in Patong Beach is about to take a serious bite at the nightlife scene in Phuket. With three floors dominated by three massive tigers, much higher ceilings and a lot more room to walk around the new Tiger is a party monster. A blast of lights and colors are taking this gigantic Flintstones cave looking venue to a much higher level of party zone. Read more…
7. Bangla Street Food
Bangla Street Food has replaced the old food court located behind the Old Tiger complex. It’s mostly a large open space with all the cooking stalls placed under colorful tents in the center of the plaza and all the dining tables located around. It’s not very sophisticated but this kind of ‘night market’ way of dining is very popular in Thailand. It’s relatively cheap since you have to walk to the cooking station, order and bring your own food and drink back to your table.
Go Go Bars of Phuket
What happens in a Go Go bar?
The concept of Go Go Bars in Soi Bangla doesn’t vary much between places. Basically it always rotates around few common features. So what really happens in there? A center elevated stage surrounded by stools is accessorized with stainless poles. Sofas and small tables are lined up around the room, sometimes on two levels and loud music will be played with flashing colorful lights. Read more…
1. Suzy Wong’s A Go Go
Suzy Wong’s is already an icon of Soi Bangla nightlife and you just can’t go to Patong without paying them a visit. A great deal of effort was given to the new bar facade with its bright red Chinese decoration and massive door. Despite being the last bar in the Soi Seadragon, you won’t walk by without being intrigued. But Go Go bars are not only about pretty facades, so you’ll ask what makes this one any different from any other Go Go bar? Read more…
2. Harem Bar
Harem A Go Go is the most luxurious Go Go bar in Phuket, with plush red velvet sofas and curtains all around, 2 main stages with 4 smaller platforms on each side. The place feels cozy and intimate and the staffs are really pretty. Just like this wasn’t enough to make you want to visit, Harem is also the largest Go Go bar since it occupies the space that used to be Playschool and Candy Club. Read more
3. Devil’s Playground
From the owner of the famous Suzy Wong in the same Soi Seadragon, Devil’s Playground ‘raise the bar’ of Go Go bars to a new level. Right form the outside you can tell that this is not just the usual boring dark room with a central stage and few stools around. Built like a cave entrance with a massive castle door, you’ll be welcome to hell by a pretty cute devil with a tiny red skirt and some flashing red horns. Entrance is free so let your curiosity take over this time, you always wanted to know what happens ‘Inside a Go Go Bar‘, so, why not do it in style. Read more…
Other Nightlife Stories
10 Tips to Spot a Ladyboy
Is that lady you are chatting with not a bit ‘too good to be true’? Tall, slim, pretty to die for, big assets and really sexy… Ah Ah, you fell for it! she’s a Ladyboy! So here are 10 tips for you not be fooled next time.
So what is a ladyboy, is a transvestite that is actually considered by others as a ‘woman’. They often look very feminine and get a lot of attention, just look at some of the places where they perform their little act of ‘look at me I’m more feminine than your wife’. Read more…
Phuket Gay Festival
The Phuket Gay Festival or Phuket Pride will be held in Patong Beach from 22 to 28 April. Phuket Gay Festival has been around for a while, with some ups and downs, and in the good years it attracted of large crowd of party-goers, gay or not.
For almost twenty years, the heart of Phuket Gay party zone has been beating in the Paradise complex in Patong Beach… I don’t know if the fancy name had any influence on the choice of location, but it’s really easy to find, right at the foot of the ‘Paradise Hotel’ a 24 floor tower erected in the middle of it like a lighthouse, well you get the picture. Read more…
10 Fun Ways to PARTY in Patong
Where to Party in Phuket? Everyone expects something different from his holiday, but everyone wants to see the best of it in a minimum amount of time and (almost) everyone wants to PARTY! Here are 10 fun ways to party wild in Phuket, don’t take it too seriously, this is not a Top 10 that would suit everyone, just 10 Fun Party Tips I would certainly recommend to my visiting friends. The list could go on and on, but these are a good start. Read more…
(Click here to see the “Girls’ Top 10 Things to Do“)
Rock City Patong
Live bands are everywhere in Patong and I usually steer far from them, but that was before I decided to have a look inside Rock City. So what changed my mind?
It’s a tough competition, there are more live bands in Phuket than tailors (some will know what that mean) and everyone wants one because some did well with it. But not everyone can afford a great band and some venues would do better concentrating on their food. Read more…
Party and Hangover Drinks
Energy drinks are part of the daily landscape in Thailand. Convenience stores always dedicate several fridge shelves to those tiny bottles. Do they really work? That might depend on which brand, but mostly that will depend on you. If like me you are an Italian espresso drinker, that might just give you a mild boost, for some it’s an all night long kerosene. So if you don’t know these tiny bottles, you might want to memorize some of the names! ‘Energy Drinks’ are used as mixers and/or party through the whole night, while ‘Hangover Drinks’ to make the day after less miserable, better safe than sorry! Read more…