A Walk Along Ratsada Road, Phuket Town
Ratsada Road (Rassada Road) sits just a few blocks north of the more photographed streets like Thalang and Dibuk, but it’s a stretch we often find ourselves returning to. It doesn’t have the same postcard-perfect Sino-Portuguese facades, but there’s something about its slightly worn edges and quieter pace that feels more lived-in.
At first glance, you might miss the hidden gems tucked along this road. One of the most intriguing is the Thavorn Museum, housed inside the historic Thavorn Hotel. Originally opened in the 1960s, the museum was more of a quirky collection of old hotel equipment and family memorabilia. After a renovation in 2024, it still retains its eccentric charm but feels more curated now, offering a nostalgic glimpse into Phuket’s early tourism days.
Just behind the museum, there’s an abandoned mansion that locals have dubbed Ratsada Mansion. It’s easy to miss unless you know where to look, but once you spot it, the decaying beauty of its architecture is striking. The mansion has no known name, so we called it Ratsada Mansion as it is located at the back of Ratsada Road, behind the weird ‘Thavorn Museum’ where the very first Phuket Shopping Centre used to be.
One of the newer additions to the street is Hotel Midtown Ratsada. They’ve transformed an old department store into a beautiful boutique hotel that captures the essence of Phuket’s historic past. The rooms are modern yet designed to reflect the shophouse style that’s characteristic of the area.
So, while Ratsada Road might not have the immediate elegance of its more famous neighbours, it offers a quieter, more authentic slice of Phuket Town that’s well worth exploring.
Thavorn Museum
The Thavorn Museum, inside Phuket’s oldest full-service hotel (1960), is now a fascinating place to explore Phuket’s history. It started as a quirky storeroom but has been transformed into a proper museum with over 1,000 antiques. The collection covers Phuket’s tin mining era, early cinema, old transport, household items and more. Highlights include a vintage mobile movie truck and a rare Froghead Tuk-Tuk. The museum feels more personal and less formal than others in town. A new vintage toys room is also being prepared. It’s well worth visiting if you enjoy old Phuket stories and heritage.
The Library
The Library Phuket looks like an old library from the street, but behind the back door is one of Old Town’s fun late-night bars. It used to be at the Quip Hotel and is now tucked next to the fountain waterfall on Ratsada Road. The crowd is mostly young locals and a few expats. The cocktails are excellent, with creative house specials and a good list of classics. Bartenders love to show off their flair skills, and there’s a DJ playing most nights.
Coffee Talk Coffee Shop
Coffee Talk Cafe operates as the museum’s entrance and living display space. Hundreds of vintage objects fill the cafe: guitars, radios, antique lamps, old movie posters, and two restored classic cars serve as tables. These pieces come from the hotel’s golden years, carefully collected and preserved over decades. This cafe is unique in Phuket, blending a great place for a break with heritage, allowing visitors to experience history whilst enjoying coffee and drinks. After browsing the cafe’s collection, you can enter the museum itself to explore further displays.
Ratsada Mansion
Ratsada Mansion is one of those hidden places in Phuket Town that I always enjoy showing to friends. It’s an old Sino-Portuguese building, now abandoned, tucked behind the Thavorn Museum on Ratsada Road. No one really knows its official name, but people started calling it Ratsada Mansion. The facade is worn and faded, but you can still spot the beautiful old details. It used to be part of Phuket’s very first shopping mall with an escalator, which is hard to imagine now. A great little stop if you enjoy exploring the lesser-known parts of town.
Phuket Amulet Market
The narrow alley called Phuket Amulet Market is a handy shortcut linking Rassada and Phang Nga Roads beside the Shrine of Serene Light. Dozens of tables overflow with Buddhist amulets and talismans, studied through magnifying glasses by collectors of all ages. Items in stone, bronze, bone, or precious metal are believed to bring safety, luck, or love; prices range from ten baht to small fortunes. Vendors are friendly, speak English, and remain open from 8 am to 7 pm daily.
Hotel Midtown Ratsada
Hotel Midtown Ratsada is a great-value stay right in the centre of Phuket Old Town. The rooms are simple, spacious and very clean, with friendly staff always ready to help. There’s a small pool, gym and parking, which is rare in this part of town. The Midtown Café serves a good breakfast and casual meals in a space full of local history. You’ll also find great restaurants and quirky bars just a short walk away. It’s not fancy, and some walls can be a bit thin, but for the price and location, it’s a very smart choice.
Ratsada Road Map
Phuket Streets
