Thailand is full of beautiful cities and islands, bringing tourists in for decades. With so many incredible places to choose from, it can be hard to decide which one to visit. But Phuket should be on any traveller’s bucket list! Although Phuket isn’t the biggest city in Thailand, it is one of the most popular! Phuket truly has it all and is perfect for whatever vacation type you desire.
While many people think of Phuket, they think of sandy beaches, phuket scuba diving, luxury hotels, and outdoor excursions, and Phuket is also well-known for its great Phuket nightlife activities. Today we will be talking about the nightlife in Phuket and the numerous different things to do. We will also discuss some of the best places to check out for an evening of fun, laughter, and memorable experiences!
1. Night Markets
Asia is famous for its incredible street markets, but Phuket, in particular, is home to some of the best night markets! Night markets typically consist of an area dedicated to small stands with vendors selling items, such as food, souvenirs, and clothing that operate at night. Night markets are one of the top activities to partake in when exploring the nightlife of Phuket. Here are a few of the best night markets in Phuket to give you the authentic Thailand nightlife experience:
A. Phuket Sunday Walking Market
The Phuket Sunday Walking Market, or Lard Yai Market as the locals call it, is one of the most popular night markets in the area. It is located in Phuket Town, on the historic Thalang Road, which stretches 360 metres long! The market takes place from 4-9 pm every Sunday and brings the entire Phuket Town to life and has always been a popular attraction for tourists and locals.
While walking through the Phuket Sunday Walking Market, you will get to see many stands with gifts, handmade items, and toys, as well as food stands, live music, and other performances. This night market is an excellent choice for everyone, including families with small children, as there are numerous things to do and see.
B. Chillva Night Market
Chillva Night Market is perfect if you are looking for a fun, young, and energetic area to explore! This night market has many young vendors with many different items for sale, such as clothing, shoes, and accessories. They also have plenty of food for sale, mainly street food snacks, some of which include bugs! Yes, bugs! Additionally, they have some bars nearby if you want to grab a drink while wandering through the market and lots of seating areas so you can take breaks to enjoy your food and beverages.
C. Naka Night Market
The Naka Night Market, also known as the Phuket Weekend Market, is the busiest and most crowded market out of what we discussed. This market is famous for its shopping, specifically, knock-off designer items. You can find clothes, purses, shoes, accessories, and even some cosmetics and fragrances, all for low prices. Besides shopping, you can find lots of great food to snack on as well! They have various traditional and modern Thai street foods that you will enjoy. With the loud music, great deals, delicious food, and lively energy of this market, you are guaranteed to have an incredible night!
2. Night Clubs
Clubbing is a popular nighttime activity globally, but if you want to party hard all night, you need to visit a nightclub in Phuket! The great thing about the nightclubs in Phuket is that there are many of them located on Bangla Road so that you can go club-hopping throughout the night. Some of the nightclubs are free to enter, but the ones where you have to pay an entrance fee will stamp your hand so you can come and go as you please. Let’s talk about some of the most popular nightclubs in Phuket.
A. Illuzion Phuket
One of the most popular nightclubs in Phuket is Illuzion Phuket. It is located on Bangla Road and is on the second floor in a humongous building. There is always lots happening in this nightclub because they constantly have live performances or guest DJs perform. The club can fit up to 5000 people, and they have numerous VIP tables available for booking, but general admission is free. If you are searching for a nightclub that gives off hardcore party vibes and crazy energy, then you need to check out Illuzion Phuket.
B. Sugar Club
Right across the street from Illuzion Phuket, you will find Sugar Club! Sugar Club is another famous nightclub on Bangla Road that originated in Bangkok. This club is more of a Hip Hop club than Illuzion Phuket, which focuses more on house music. Sugar Club always has various DJs that play music by internationally known Hip Hop artists, including Rae Sremmurd, Lil Yatchy, and Baby Yu. They also have numerous local Hip Hop artists doing live performances. If you love good music, affordable drinks, and super entertaining performances, then drop by Sugar Club!
C. Gossip Nightclub Phuket
If you want a little more of a chill and relaxed while still fun nightclub, then you should head over to Gossip Nightclub Phuket. Gossip Nightclub Phuket is a trendy Hip Hop bar located on Bangla Road. This club is great because their motto is the 4 F’s: “Fun, Fresh, Funky, and Free (general admission).” Although it is a Hip Hop club, they also play other types of music, like RnB and Reggae. Additionally, they have reasonably priced drinks and tapas to enjoy. Gossip Nightclub Phuket is the perfect place to grab some food and drinks, enjoy some Hookah, and vibe with some friends to awesome music.
3. Rooftop Bars
If nightclubs aren’t really your thing, but you still want to enjoy music, food, and drinks, then you should explore one of the many rooftop bars that Phuket has to offer. Phuket has a variety of gorgeous rooftop bars that are perfect for a romantic evening out with your partner or a fun and relaxing evening with a group of friends. Rooftop bars are great because not only do you get to indulge in gourmet food and drinks, but you also get to enjoy some of the best views in all of Phuket. They make for a classy nightlife at Phuket experience! Now for some of the best rooftop bars in Phuket:
A. Baba Nest Rooftop Bar
If you’re looking for a truly luxurious experience, the Baba Nest Rooftop Bar is the place for you! The Baba Nest Rooftop Bar is an upscale bar inside the award-winning 5-star Sri Panwa Resort in Cape Panwa. While this is a highly luxurious and beautiful place to dine at, it takes some planning beforehand as it is prevalent.
You need to book a reservation for the restaurant because you will not be allowed to enter the resort without it, and there can be up to a two-week waiting list. So if you plan to visit the Baba Nest Rooftop Bar, you’ll want to book as far in advance as possible. But it is truly worth all the trouble of making the reservations.
Once you get to the restaurant, you will be escorted to a low table with giant pillows to sit on. You will notice a pond surrounding the seating area, and beyond that, you have a 360-degree view of Panwa Bay, Phang Nga Bay, and the Phuket Hills. All the guests are seated at 5:30 pm to enjoy the exquisite views with the sun setting in the background.
You can then order a variety of exclusive and expensive drinks, including wine, champagne, and cocktails, and you can choose from a selection of Mexican tapas to enjoy with your beverages. Although it may seem like a lot of effort to get a reservation, it is genuinely worth it because it is a highly memorable experience and a great way to enjoy the nightlife in Phuket.
B. Akoya Star Lounge
Akoya Star Lounge is another exclusive rooftop bar great for a night full of luxury and class! Akoya Star Lounge is located at the V Villas Phuket by MGallery right on Ao Yon Beach. Since this is another trendy place to dine, you will also need a reservation beforehand. Also, they have required customers to spend at least 2400 baht, so it is relatively expensive but worth it.
As far as seating options, they have a large selection. You can choose from comfortable sofas with small tables, a seat at the bar, or a full daybed at the front with the best views. Of course, the day beds are high in demand, so you must reserve in advance if you want to sit there. Additionally, they have a variety of decadent tapas and luxury cocktails to order and enjoy throughout your evening. Akoya Star Lounge is another excellent choice for a rooftop bar for anyone who loves the lavish lifestyle!
C. The KEE Sky Lounge
The KEE Sky Lounge gives off a cruise at sunset vibe! This trendy and hip rooftop bar is located right near Bangla Road, the best place to enjoy the nightlife in Phuket. The KEE Sky Lounge is ideal because you can get away from all the craziness on Bangla Road while still enjoying the views and the music from upon the rooftop. While still a little bit fancier than other surrounding dining options, this bar is more reasonably priced than the other two options we talked about, and it is a lot more accessible as you aren’t required to have a reservation.
The KEE Sky Lounge not only offers cocktails and tapas, but they also have a full restaurant menu with lots of choices for appetisers, main courses, and desserts. They also have daybeds, bar seating, and high-top tables overlooking the crowded Bangla Road. This rooftop bar is ideal for those who want a taste of luxury for a more affordable price and to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Bangla Road.
4. Performances and Shows
Nightlife in Phuket wouldn’t be complete without shows and performances! If you aren’t interested in going to a bar, nightclub, or night market, you could attend a nighttime show. There are endless choices to pick from as far as performances go as there are many different kinds, but whichever show you choose, you won’t be disappointed. For a night full of thorough entertainment, check out one of these shows:
A. Phuket FantaSea
Phuket FantaSea is a cultural theme park with shows, food, shopping, and numerous other activities. Their performances are similar to the Circ De Soleil shows because they do many gymnastic tricks in vibrant costumes. But they also tell a story of Thai history through their outfits, dancing, and music. They have two 70-minute, very entertaining shows to choose from: The Legend Of Kamala and The Fantasy Of A Kingdom. Both are unique, fun, and educational. There is sure to never be a moment of boredom at Phuket FantaSea!
B. Phuket Simon Cabaret
The Phuket Simon Cabaret shows are one of the most popular and entertaining shows that you can attend in Phuket. The most optimal way to describe this performance is to mix a drag and a burlesque show. The show consists of Ladyboys dressed up in burlesque-style costumes, with full faces of makeup and long luscious hair, dancing and lip singing. These ladyboys are stunning, and it is hard for many to distinguish if they are a man or a woman!
C. Bangla Boxing Stadium
The Bangla Boxing Stadium is home to some of the best boxing, and Muay Thai shows in Phuket! It is the biggest stadium in the entire town, and they hold fights three days throughout the week; Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. There is also a mix of international and Thai fighters that compete to win prizes and improve their boxing rank. They have plenty of seats in the large stadium, including stadium seats, ringside seats, and VIP seats. The fighters are highly professional, and the fights are engaging. If you are a fan of any martial arts, you should get a ticket to see one of these fights.
5. Full Moon Party
An incredibly entertaining and exciting way to experience nightlife in Phuket is at one of the full moon parties on Paradise beach! A full moon party is a beach party that occurs every month at each full moon and goes on all night long. They are trendy in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries as well.
There is a ton of dancing, loud music, and drinking at a full moon party. Plus, they even have live performances from international DJs and fire dancers. The nightclub Illuzion hosts the parties each month on Paradise Beach. There are also shuttles and buses going to and from the party all night long, so if you are drinking, you don’t have to worry about driving or organising a ride back to your hotel. Additionally, there is an admission fee of 800 baht to get into the party. Full moon parties are an absolute blast, and if you’ve never been to one or even heard of them before, then you should attend the following upcoming party!
6. Sunset Cruises
If you are looking to explore the relaxing side of Phuket, then a sunset cruise might be a good option for you! You can book a sunset cruise on a boat or catamaran where they will tour you around the beautiful ocean while you admire the views, relax, and enjoy some food and drinks. This outing makes the perfect date night for couples or group activities to relax and enjoy your friends’ company! These sunset cruises typically include wine or champagne and a lovely meal prepared by a chef aboard the boat. Sunset cruises are the best way to unwind after a busy day of exploring Phuket!
Final Thoughts
Phuket Nightlife
Thailand, in general, is an enjoyable and exciting place to visit, but Phuket, in particular, is truly spectacular. One of the most extraordinary things about Phuket is that you will never run out of things to do, whether it be daytime and completed a Thailand dive or nighttime. With so many different activities, you may struggle to decide which one you want to partake in! But know that you will thoroughly enjoy yourself and the nightlife in Phuket, whichever option you choose. Come and visit Phuket for the trip of a lifetime and one you will never be able to forget!
