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Situated right at the foot of the island, Rawai is home to many
expat retirees, working farangs (Caucasians), and Thai-farang families.
The area is best described in two words: laid back. So don't expect
the swinging-from-the-rafters Patong-type nightlife but do expect
a friendly, relaxed and no-hassles welcome from those kind folks
down south Phuket way.
What to Expect
Rawai is a relatively tight-knit community where a lot of people
frequent their 'local' rather than bar hopping. This doesn't mean
there isn't much choice of nightlife however, and the logistics
of getting around in Rawai are much easier than most places.
Rawai officially begins at Chalong circle and halfway between Rawai
and the circle, on a soi leading down to the sea, is Friendship
Beach. A long-established location for live music, Friendship
underwent a radical transformation some years back when it was transformed
from a rundown hippy gathering place to a pleasant bungalow complex
with a more-than-competent restaurant, a swimming pool and a snug
and friendly open-sided bar with a view out across Chalong Bay.
It is well-signed outside on the main road.
Where to go on a night out in Rawai? It's simple: start roughly
outside the Evason Phuket
and head south, following the road swinging west at the bottom (no
choice really; if you go straight you'll be in the sea).
Just outside the Evason's entrance (opposite the shell museum)
there is a gaggle of bars, some girly, some not. And it's not difficult
to distinguish between the two, what with monikers like 'Nookie
Bar', 'Good Time' and 'Candy Bar' representing
the fleshier side of things. Expect expert pool players in tight
jeans and skimpy T-shirts and if you join in a game you'd better
not bet any money or you'll be sorry...
For some mysterious reason, most of the bars are located on the
left-hand side of the road as you head south so that makes it even
easier to scout out the land. Further down, there is a Bavarian
beer house and assorted cheap eateries.
Going round the bend
If you follow the road round the bend to the right, immediately
to the left of the road is Rawai Beach. Rounding the corner at the
bottom of the drag, you'll notice two bars diagonally opposite each
other, but each with a diametrically different clientele. On the
left (the only bar smack on the beach at Rawai) is Nikita's.
Yachties, professionals, and people of a certain vintage make up
this atmospheric joint's clientele. Nikita's is somewhat of a Rawai
establishment and it's not for nothing that it's usually busy. It
features discreet lighting and a delicious right-on-the-water feel.
On the right-hand side of the road is a large, orange-fronted indoor/outdoor
watering hole. This is Freedom Bar - a sometimes raucous
sports bar with two pool tables, occasional live music, live televised
football and more tattooed gentlemen than Hamburg docks. Charlie,
the owner, is a real card and loves to keep the place animated with
his earthy humour. Big, loud, basic - 'subtle' Freedom is most definitely
not.
Further up on the right is Megli & Mario's - a great
spaghetteria that is wildly fashionable with the locals and whether
this is for its excellent food, its reasonable prices or for its
popularity is not clear; probably all of the above. It's certainly
worth a stop to try out some of the seafood combinations.
The most consistently packed bar in Rawai is the Sunshine Bar,
just a few paces away from M&M's. The owners are a great laugh
and they're always encouraging patrons to join them behind the bar
for their impromptu cabarets. The stiff shots they pour ensure that
a few people are usually willing to take them up on that offer.
Drinks Price Guide
Prices in the Rawai Area tend to be lower than Patong
Beach but higher than Phuket Town,
since the primary clientele are foreigners.
Local Beer (Singh, Chang, Leo, Cheers): 60-90 baht
Imported Beer (Heineken, Tiger): 70-90 baht.
Spirits: 80-120 baht including mixer.
G-Rated Activities
Rawai Mini-Golf on Soi Saiyuan is a small, homemade putting course
that offers a bit of family fun. On Fridays in high season they
even have a good value barbeque buffet.
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