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Rawai Nightlife Guide

What to Do and Where to Go at Night in Rawai

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 Beach Restaurants

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

Sala Loy Restaurnant

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.

 
  To Nai Harn Nightlife To Chalong Nightlife


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