What to Do on Bangla Road?
Bangla Road is Phuket’s most famous nightlife street, a 400-metre strip in the heart of Patong Beach that transforms every evening into a walking street packed with bars, clubs and neon lights. Also known as Bangla Walking Street or Soi Bangla, it has been the heart of Phuket nightlife for decades. I’ve been coming here since the 1990s, and it still surprises me.
The battle for nightlife supremacy plays out every night between beer bars, live music venues, rooftop bars, nightclubs, go-go bars, tattoo studios and, more recently, cannabis dispensaries. Phuket never stops reinventing itself.
Over the years, the centre of action has shifted up and down the street depending on seasons and what’s popular, but the ever-changing face of Patong nightlife is always worth seeing. On each side of the main road are smaller alleys, locally called “Sois”, where you’ll find more modest but often cheaper beer bars.
Wherever you go on Bangla Road, friendly ladies will call you with a smile and encourage you to sit, have a drink and play some silly bar games. Everyone is welcome: men, women and couples. If the party is on your agenda, Bangla Road should be at the top of your list.
| Bangla Road – Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| 📍 Location | Patong Beach, connecting beach road to Rat-U-Thit Road |
| 🕕 Walking Street Hours | 6 pm – 2 am (clubs stay open until 4–5 am) |
| 🎉 Best Time to Visit | 10 pm – 1 am for peak atmosphere |
| 💰 Entry Fees | Street is free. Most bars free. Clubs 300–500 Baht (often includes drink) |
| 🍺 Drink Prices | Beer 100–180 Baht, cocktails 200–350 Baht |
| 🚕 How to Get There | Taxi, tuk-tuk, or Grab. 45 min from airport, 30 min from Phuket Town |
| 👕 Dress Code | Casual. Comfortable shoes recommended |
| 👨👩👧 Suitable For | Adults. Not ideal for children after dark |
Pros and Cons of Bangla Road
Pros of Bangla Road
- Vibrant nightlife: Home to numerous beer bars, nightclubs, live music venues, and go-go bars.
- Wide variety of venues: Includes rooftop bars, tattoo studios, cannabis dispensaries, and sports bars.
- Entertainment diversity: Options for live music, silly bar games, and beachfront bars like the Aussie Bar and Sunset Bar.
- Street food and late dining: Bangla Street Food offers casual eats late into the night, perfect for post-party meals.
- Nightclubs for every style: Popular venues like Illuzion, Sugar Club, and BarFunk provide upscale party experiences with international DJs.
- Pedestrian zone in the evening: Closed to traffic from 6 pm, creating a festive walking street atmosphere.
- Go-go bars without entry fees: Transparent pricing with no scams, unlike similar scenes elsewhere in Thailand.
Cons of Bangla Road
- Crowded and noisy: Expect dense crowds, especially after 10 pm, which can feel overwhelming.
- Persistent touts: Touts may try to lure visitors into questionable venues or shows.
- Cannabis surge: The rapid rise of cannabis dispensaries may not appeal to all visitors.
- Touristy and chaotic: The atmosphere may feel too commercial or intense for those seeking a laid-back experience.
- Nightlife focus: Less suited for families or those not interested in nightlife or drinking culture.
- Venue turnover: Popular bars and clubs can close or change rapidly, affecting consistency.
Bangla Road Overview
Bangla Road is the street that stretches from the beach to Rat-U-Thit Road, near Jungceylon Shopping Mall. While it is a very anonymous one-way traffic street during the day, it turns into a crazy pedestrian-walking street starting at 6 pm. As you can see in the photo above, it is still relatively quiet at the beginning of the night, but past 10 pm, expect to share it with a dense crowd.
You will mostly walk past many beer bars on each side, and all have an open facade. Every bar has ladies whose mission is to convince you to step in and order a drink (nothing more). Ladies usually stand in front of the bar, showing a menu with the drinks’ prices.
Some ladies dance on counters, and some demonstrate jaw-dropping pole and acrobatic dancing skills (they are wearing clothes, so don’t go imagining something). It’s easy-going and relatively cheap, so have a seat somewhere and chat with the ladies; they are very friendly and watch the crowd.
Quick Jump to Patong Beach Pages
Live Music Bars
Live music venues are trendy in Phuket. The bands’ overall quality has greatly improved with time, sounds, and light systems, and for the price of a beer, you can watch live concerts. The good old Rock City is now gone, but New York Live Music Bar is. A bit away from the centre of Patong is the legendary Hard Rock Cafe, with excellent musicians and bands and a higher price tag.
New York Music Bar
New York Bar on Bangla Road is packed every night. The bar is vast and somewhat dark, with an excellent sound system blasting inside and outside on the street, advertising itself naturally. Bands are good and dynamic on stage, mostly playing heavy rock and Hip Hop. New York Bar knows that singing and playing an instrument is not enough to attract a crowd spoiled with a choice of live bands on the same road, making it one of Phuket’s best live music bars. Air conditioning works so well, even though the place is open at the front, which is also very inviting during the hottest months of the year.
Red Hot
Red Hot bar sits right at the intersection of Bangla Road and Ratuthit Road, putting us almost opposite the Jungceylon shopping mall. We 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 Night Clubs
There are quite a few nightclubs in Bangla. However, they come and go, and no matter how popular they are, even the most famous ones can vanish overnight! Most clubs are at the top of Bangla Road, where you can spend a good part of the night at Illuzion, Sugar Club and that good old Tai Pan. Closer to the beach is the Hollywood Club, which used to be a trendy spot but lost a bit of its fame to the competition.
Illuzion
Illuzion started as a stage performance combined with a discotheque and soon became the most popular nightclub in Phuket. Huge dance for a stage, a powerful sound system and frequent international DJs have kept Illuzion at the party’s forefront. Read more
BarFunk
BarFunk Phuket is a large and spacious venue with a capacity of over 1,000 people. It is decorated in a Renaissance-inspired style, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and marble pillars. The dance floor is large and open, and there is a VIP section with sofas and tables. Read more
Sugar Club
Sugar Club is known for its upscale and stylish atmosphere, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, spacious dance floors, and VIP areas for those who want to party in luxury. Sugar Club is known for its hip-hop music, with top international DJs and live performers regularly taking the stage. In addition to the dance floor, the club also features several bars, serving a range of cocktails and premium drinks.
The Go Go Bars
Bangla Road in Patong is not known for scams or rip-offs, the way it often happens in Patpong, Bangkok. Here, there is no charge to enter. All you need is to order a drink that costs between 180 and 200 Baht, depending on the bar. The only known exception is Moulin Rouge, a Russian Go Go (yes), which is more expensive than usual and not too friendly. In any case, you will get the menu with clear prices before ordering. Your bill arrives in front of you, or you can pay for your drink when the waitress brings it. So, unlike some places in Patpong, Bangkok, there should be no surprise.
Suzy Wong’s
At the very end of Soi Seadragon, Suzy Wong’s is one of the first go-go bars to open in Phuket and is still the most famous and most popular in Patong. The party atmosphere is unique and unforgettable.
Harem Lounge
Harem is a large and upmarket lounge bar in the same Soi Seadragon. The design is great and the music is good. The ladies are friendly and always welcoming. Drink prices are not higher than in any other lounge, but the design will make you feel like a VIP.
Suzy Wong’s 3
Suzy Wong’s Three is the latest and the most attractive go-go bar in Patong, with Chinese-inspired decor and terracotta warriors inside and outside. With music played by live DJs and the prettiest ladies in town, the atmosphere is excellent and perfect for celebrating and partying.
Important Note about Touts: Touts are not working for bars! Never follow a tout in the street with his little card of whatever he says you will see in the show! It’s often not real, and you will be charged extra; walk away! The bars are easy to find (they are difficult to miss!)
Famous Bars of Patong
At the beach end of Bangla are iconic bars such as ‘Aussie Bar’, ‘Sunset Bar’, ‘Shipwreck’ and ‘U2 Bar’, where all you do is drink and watch the passing crowd (it’s more entertaining than you think). These are often the best places to watch sports games on large screens and play a few rounds of snooker!
There are many bars all along Bangla Road, and they tend to come and go, but some names, like Aussie Bar, have been around for a long time, sometimes for decades. Usually, those bars are just tables and chairs with an open facade, allowing people to sit and look at the crowd walking up and down the streets. There are always a few ladies standing outside whose job is to invite you to sit at their bar rather than the next one, often holding a card with drink prices. Some bars have live music, and others have pool tables and TVs above the bars where patrons can watch sports events.
Where to Stay Near Bangla Road?
There are many hotels in Patong to choose from, but if you want to be near the party and the beach, there are a few hotels to consider.
The Kee Resort and Spa
M Social Hotel Phuket
Hotel Clover Patong
Where to Eat Around Bangla Road?
Bangla Street Food
Bangla Night Market and Street Food have replaced the old food court behind the Old Tiger complex. This vast open space hosts cooking stalls placed under colourful tents in the plaza’s centre, and all the dining tables are around. It’s not very sophisticated, but this kind of ‘night market’ dining is trendy in Thailand. Food is relatively cheap since you have to walk to the cooking station, order and bring your food and drink back to your table.
The Kitchen Patong
Savoey Seafood Restaurant
Paname Brasserie Phuket
Wine Connection Jungceylon
The Streets of Bangla Road
On each side of Bangla Road are the ‘Sois’, the Thai word everyone uses for ‘alleys’ or ‘lanes’, where you will find all the famous Go-Go Bars we describe below.
Soi Seadragon
Soi Seadragon is the main ‘Soi’ of Patong beach, where most of the Go-Go Bars are. The street is covered, so you don’t have to worry about the rain, and plenty of beer bars in the central part. Those beer bars are fun and famous for their friendly ladies and silly games. Connect Four and Jenga are traditional, but hitting a nail with a hammer in the minimum amount of time after a couple of beers is a memorable experience. Soi Seadragon has always been a famous street, probably because this is where you will find most of the go-go bars: Suzy Wong’s, Harem a Go Go and Devil’s Playground.
Bangla Night Bazaar
Bangla Night Market and Street Food have replaced the old food court behind the Old Tiger complex. This vast open space hosts cooking stalls placed under colourful tents in the plaza’s centre, and all the dining tables are around. It’s not very sophisticated, but this kind of ‘night market’ dining is trendy in Thailand. Food is relatively cheap since you have to walk to the cooking station, order and bring your food and drink back to your table.
Soi Freedom
Soi Freedom is a friendly and relatively large alley lined with a dozen colourful bars and a great live band at its end (they seem to come and go, unfortunately). Located in the middle of Bangla Walking Street in Patong Beach, Soi Freedom was better known as the iconic Soi Eric long ago. Soi Eric was once famous because it was the only street in Soi Bangla playing the same music in all the bars, while other roads around sounded like a band’s battle. Note that a pretty good band is playing at the end of the Soi.
Soi Patong Resort
Soi Patong Resort is a long street that connects Bangla Road to Patong Resort. Here, you will mostly find restaurants and massage shops, but not many bars.
More photos of Bangla Road
Bangla Road Map
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/YAcCTbqhMSZBPJS58
This story was first published on June 6, 2016
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