Where to Find the Best Nightlife in Phuket, Thailand

Most first-time visitors to Phuket, Thailand have done some research about their vacation destination and expect to find great nightlife on the island. However, they may not have been expecting the volume, variety, and exciting intensity of the nightlife they find when they arrive.

The hub of Phuket’s nightlife is in the town of Patong Beach on the west coast of the island. It's the second-largest town next to Phuket Town, further inland. Patong Beach is the primary destination for many tourists and visitors. It boasts a long beach on a picturesque bay that is an ideal viewpoint for tropical sunsets.

The town is home to many hotels and guesthouses, a variety of Thai and international restaurants, a large modern shopping mall, and smaller shops selling souvenirs and handicrafts.

But when the sun sets on Patong Bay, there's one part of town that undergoes a remarkable transformation. Bangla Road runs perpendicular to Beach Road in central Patong. Every night at 6 PM, you can watch as police haul portable barriers across either end of the road. The many bars lining the road pull tables and chairs out onto the road, and Bangla Road transforms into a walking street and becomes the center of nightlife on the island.

As the sky slowly darkens, the music from dozens of bars grows louder as the lights grow brighter and the crowd of visitors and locals grows larger. Within a couple of blocks of Bangla Road, you'll find hundreds of bars and nightclubs that are all packed with revelers until the "official" closing time of 2 AM.

With the economy of Thailand still struggling to recover from the lack of business during the pandemic, there are discussions in the federal government about extending the hours when alcohol can be served until 4 AM. Whether or not the extensions will be allowed remains to be seen! 

We’ll look at the three most popular dance clubs in Patong Beach. These clubs are generally open sometime around 8 to 9 PM, though they don't really get cooking until about 11 or 12. They're patronized by a mix of young tourists and local visitors. They also have special foreign and famous guest DJs performing regularly. Now that the pandemic seems to be over, look for the nightlife of Phuket to be wilder, louder, and more colorful than ever. The revelers are making up for lost time. We'll start smaller and work our way up to the big daddy of Phuket nightclubs. These three clubs have been a part of the nightlife scene for a number of years.

Tiger Nightclub

Tiger Nightclub is almost an institution on Bangla Road, and it’s certainly the most visible club on the street. It’s been running for almost a decade, which makes it a revered elder of the Bangla Road clubs. It's the place to go if you just want to soak up the lights, noise, and action of Bangla Road and have a few drinks.

The ground floor has many loud and colorful open-air bars surrounded by counter space and stools. For the best view, grab a table near the entrance and watch the parade of people on the street, or check out the live band performing at the rear of the club. Those who want to dance can head upstairs to the still-popular Tiger Discotheque.

White Room Nightclub

This club is one of the most stylish hip-hop clubs on Bangla Road. It consists of a long, tall room finished predominantly in white. Overhead, it has an impressive, state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. An elevated DJ booth runs along one of the side walls.

For a night at White Room, you should probably dress up a little and not look as if you just walked in off the beach. This is an upscale club, with people sipping on Cristal Champagne and Belvedere vodka. The club is known for the quality of its music and caters to serious hip-hop lovers.

Illuzion Club Phuket

Get ready to be impressed when you walk into Illuzion. The club is a huge space taking up three floors. It features a gargantuan dance floor with an equally impressive lighting and sound rig. There’s also a VIP lounge for visiting celebrities and a large balcony overlooking the dance floor.

To give you some idea of its size, the club is in a converted four-story mall. It’s the perfect place to end a night on the town in Patong Beach.

Explore Bangla Road

Bangla Road is a spectacle from 6 PM to 2 AM. For some visitors, the best part of the evening is simply pulling up a seat and watching the show on the road as people parade up and down. There are performers, vendors selling all sorts of trinkets, and people dressing up just to be seen. Spend some time just watching the revelers on Bangla Road. It's worth it.

There is more nightlife to be found along Beach Road at the western end of Bangla Road. Take a walk along the beach and give your senses a rest before diving back into the nightlife of Patong beach. You can also shop for souvenirs at the many small shops open late up and down the road.

Book a Stay at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort

Visiting Phuket’s nightlife hub is fun and exciting, but at some point, you want to rest and to get away from all the traffic, lights, crowds, and loud music. Booking a stay at the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort in Karon Beach is the perfect solution for lovers of nightlife who still want to get a good night’s sleep. The town of Patong Beach is just a short ride over the hill from Karon Beach, but it can seem like a world away after the noise and excitement of Patong Beach.

You’ll wake up to a beautiful sunrise on Karon Beach and be able to enjoy a walk along a pristine, quiet beach before breakfast. For your next vacation, plan to explore the nightlife of Phuket, Thailand, and book a stay at the wonderful Thavorn Palm Beach Resort.