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Patong Beach Entertainment Guide

What to Do and Where to Go at Night
Nightlife Overview

Apart from a few bars on the seafront, the Patong nightlife scene remained virtually intact after the tsunami. Bangla Rd, which reaches from the beachfront to the back road, still remains unashamedly the centre of night action with its long stretch of beer bars and pubs, with side lanes leading down to more naughty spots. The notorious Soi Katoey, just off Bangla, is a lively place where punters can watch super-sexy 'ladies' providing the floorshow with dancing on stages at the entrance to the soi (lane) and more further inside. The smaller sois are amusing places to wander, with countless beer bars, go-gos and pubs to explore.

The famed Phuket Simon Cabaret, the extravagant katoey show has two spectacular shows a night, while the newly opened Sphinx Restaurant and Theatre offers elegant dining and live dance shows in a classy setting.

Fans of rugby, football and other pro sports worried about missing the big game will be relieved to hear that Patong has numerous sports pubs with satellite TV links to all the favourite European and international matches.

Dancing fiends will not be disappointed with the long-running Banana, Tai Pan and Safari discos being consistently popular places to boogie, while newcomers to the scene are Star Club (formerly the Shark Club) and Tiger discos.

The myriad shopping outlets and open-air markets, bowling alleys, bookshops and cafes offer an alternative for those looking for quieter nighttime options.

Nightspots, Bars and Girls

Patong has the notoriety of being a 'girly bar' centre, and for the most part it lives up to its reputation. But that scene is not the only thing happening after dark - there's a wide range of nightspots to explore, and not all of them cater only to men on the prowl. Looking for something loud and lively or relaxed and classy? One that's teeming with people or peaceful and romantic? Whatever type of place you're seeking on an evening out, you'll probably find it in Patong.

Discos - Beer bars - Sports pubs - Live music - A-go-gos - Beach bars - Upscale bars - Gay bars - Karaoke bars - Live theatre/cabaret - Wacky & unusual - Alternatives.

Nightlife Areas
Bangla Road - Paradise Complex - Soi Sunset - Beach Road

Prices Guidelines

Beer - Local beer 50-60 Baht;
Imported Beer 70-90 Baht. Prices go up to 100-120 Baht per bottle in discos and upscale spots.
Cocktails - Usually around 100-150 Baht.
Admission - Most places have free entry, except for some of the discos, which charge 100 or 200 Baht. Fee covers the purchase of one or two drinks.
Bar fine - This is the fee to cover a bar's 'loss' when taking a lady out of the place for a 'date'.

Hours of Operation
The official closing time for pubs is 1 am while discos may remain open until 2 am. In recent years the authorities have cracked down on places operating later, but it is still possible to find nightspots open until 5-6 am. Nightowls can just ask around at the bars to find out which venues are open late. Just remember that these places are circumventing the law, so there is a small chance that they will be raided by police, with patrons facing ID checks and urine tests for drugs.

Many places have happy hours, usually from 5-7 pm or sometimes extending to 8-9 pm, offering up to 50% discounts on cocktails or beer.

Dangers & annoyances
The streets of Patong are quite safe at night, more safe than many Western cities. Incidences of violence against tourists are rare, though there have been cases of purse snatchings and pickpocketing. The seemingly friendly katoey (ladyboys) are infamous for lifting wallets and having sudden bursts of nasty behaviour, so be extra careful around these 'ladies'. Just use your common sense and make sure your belongings are secure.

The most common visitor complaint is of harrassment by local touts trying to lure people into anything from Indian restaurants to timeshare presentations to tailor shops to tuk-tuk tours. Ignoring these characters usually does the trick.

Women are generally safe to go out at night, though they may encounter some harrassment while wandering the streets. It's also not advisable to travel by tuk-tuk or motorbike alone at night.