Phuket City Nightlife

The scene in the island's provincial capital has a lot more local flavour than the nightlife by the beach. There isn't the hectic pace of Patong and there isn't really a nightlife centre as in other parts of Phuket but its worth the trip if you are sick of the tourist scene and want to party with some locals.

A long standing favourite of locals and expats is Jammin'. The original concept may have begun as a reggae pub but the band normally play a mixture of western and Thai rock, new and old. Attracting a similar crowd with a mix of Thai and western pop/rock as well as some DJ spun tunes in between sets is Timber Hut, which is packed every weekend and most week nights too.

If you are looking for a more relaxed venue O'Malley's Irish Pub is a great place to watch the footie, play some pool and meet some local expats and tourists. The interior has been recently renovated with a more modern ambience including comfy sofas. Upstairs has been made into a sports bar with flat screen TVs for international sports, a decent pool table, a foosball table and a Playstation 3. There is free WiFi throughout.

Another popular local hangout for expats living in town in Michael's Bar, which also has a pool table, regularly screens live sporting events and offers free WiFi.

Kor Tor Mor is a firm favourite among locals and is packed out every weekend and often during the week. The bar attracts a younger and more trendy crowd, with the band playing mostly Thai pop and rock. In between sets the DJ spins a mixture of hip-hop and other dance tunes. The area around Kor Tor Mor also has a few other bars with live music that are worth checking out.

There are a couple of clubs, Planet and X-zone, which are very geared towards a local Thai crowd but foreigners are very welcome and you do see the occasional expat or tourist having fun with the locals.

There are no beer bars or go-gos in Phuket City, although there is a wide range of karaoke and hostess bars that cater to local men. There are also more upmarket hostess bars which mostly cater to a Thai and Asian clientele, such as the Pink Lady and Fantasia. If you don't speak Thai then its best to go with a local as there is hardly any English spoken.