When the sun goes down, the village of Chaweng in particular, has an exceptionally vibrant nightlife, where beginning at dusk you can stroll the beach road and choose from hundreds of venues for drinks, dining, and live music. There are even transvestite cabaret shows. Chaweng also has several world class discotheques and rock pubs with Western music. These clubs are packed in high season, and there you can mingle with the locals and visitors from all over the world until dawn.
The ambience in Samui's nighttime entertainment areas is as relaxed and freewheeling as you will experience anywhere. The ease with which one gets intoxicated by the excitement, is partly due the island being an exceptionally safe place to let loose and have fun. However be aware that like any tourist destination, we do have our petty criminals. These individuals are most often present late at night in some of the entertainment areas. Simply exercise the same caution you would at home, and it is very unlikely you will be victimized.
Many people - men especially - may find it easy to make attractive new friends in the bars and discotheques. Some of these people will expect you to pay them for their company if you go out for the evening. The majority of them do not have criminal intentions of any kind, however there are occasional incidents. In particular be extremely cautious with men masquerading as women. If you choose to take a new friend (whether a local or a tourist) back to your hotel, always safeguard your valuables. If a friendly stranger pulls up beside you on a motorscooter while you are out walking at night, and offers you a ride, don't go. Finally, women especially, should not accept invitations from a stranger to walk on the beach at night.
Discos / Bars / Clubs
Nightspots offerings here vary from a lounge in the bar to disco dancing. You can't expect Pattaya or Bangkok here, but you will certainly not miss excitement if that's what you are looking for.
The open-bars beckon for some lazy talks; for pepping up for the big party later, which most all travelers here revel into. The Jazz Junction which is at Chaweng Beach Road provides you an ideal place to simply chat and dawdle on. It's quiet elegance is boosted by divine cocktails, cool, jazz, smooth grooves and sunshine soul. The Thai-house-inspired bar is open from 4 p.m. to 2 p.m.
| Night Clubs |
Location |
Telephone |
| Bauhaus |
Lamai |
077 233-147 |
| Santa Fe |
Chaweng |
- |
| The Green Mango |
Chaweng |
- |
| The Reggae Pub |
Chaweng |
077 422-331 |
| The Full Circle |
Chaweng |
- |
You can also head off to The Club where a different atmosphere greets you: warm candlelight's and electric music acid jazz, soul, funk, mellow grooves and a rare feeling of one ness with the crowd. How about some light entertainment? Then come to the Christy Cabaret, Samui's own brand of cabaret. After that slow but sure gearing up, you are then ready for Samui's frenetic body ventures.
One of the most popular discos is the Green Mango. Dancing starts 10 p.m. and lasts until the wee hours of the morning. The big dance floor throbs with a crowd sweating it out to the latest disco tunes. But you can also have an open space with tables just a little farther from the main dance floor. The popular Reggae Pub in Chaweng, noted for its logo which shows the face of Bob Marley. Reggae music (what else) is the fixture here and a live band leads you to wild dancing.
And at Lamai beach, you have the main party place - Bauhaus. Screens showing live sport events capture some people but it is because Bauhaus is for everyone's enjoyment. The place sets a different theme on certain days and there is also a night for your dancing shoes to be polished since true-blue underground music will charm you.
| Bars & Pubs |
Style |
Location |
Telephone |
| Habana Club |
Latino |
Chaweng |
077 230-041 |
| Backstage Rockbar |
Hard Rock |
Lamai |
- |
| Black Jack Pub |
Sports |
Chaweng |
077 413-214 |
| Frog & Gecko Pub |
International |
Chaweng |
- |
| Free House |
Latest Music |
Chaweng |
- |
| Legends Bar |
Sports |
Chaweng |
- |
| New Explorer Bar |
Swedish |
Chaweng |
- |
| O Malley's Irish Pub |
Irish |
Chaweng |
- |
| Penny Lane |
Rock Cafe |
Chaweng |
077 413-014 |
| Red Lion Pub |
English Pub |
Chaweng |
- |
| Roof Pub |
Mellow |
Tong Takian |
- |
| Route 66 |
Rock Cafe |
Chaweng |
- |
| Samui Arms |
British |
Lamai |
077 418-229 |
| Sweet Soul Cafe |
Mellow |
Chaweng |
- |
| The Club |
Mellow |
Chaweng |
077 422-341 |
| The Cotton Club |
Mellow |
Chaweng |
- |
| Viking Bar |
Swedish |
Chaweng |
- |
Live Music
The Beach Pub at Secret Garden has become one of South East Asia's leading venues during the last 5 years. Musicians, both pro and semi-pro have the chance to play stress free, on a wonderful beach, with other musicians from all over the world. If you're a musician and are planning a visit to Thailand, come and join us. We have professional equipment, have instruments and professional staff on the engineering side. These sessions take place every Sunday afternoon from 4p.m. until 8p.m. and usually attracts a crowd of 2 to 3 hundred people, all in a party mood.
| Live Music |
Location |
Telephone |
Red Snapper
(Chaweng Regent Beach Resort) |
Chaweng Center |
077 422-008 |
| Jazzer |
Maenam |
077 427-010 |
| Montien House |
Chaweng |
077 422-169 |
Moon Dance
(Baan Samui Resort) |
Chaweng |
077 422-412 |
| Secret Garden |
Big Buddha |
077 425-419 |
| International Bungalows |
Tong Yang Beach |
077 423-025 |
| Rock Pub |
Chaweng / Lamai |
- |
| Y Not? Pub |
Big Buddha |
- |
Cabaret
Cabaret shows are relatively new in the Samui scene. But slowly, the shows are gaining adherents both locals and foreigners. The show is patterned over the elaborate musicals and features songs and dances (with a mixture of Chinese and American songs and including classical and modern Thai dances) spiced up with gags by popular comedy acts as available on the island. The glamour of the performers are probably the main attraction, though. These performers excite the audience with their glittering costumes, made to complement the dazing production designs. Bring your whole family and spend a wonderful time with cabaret
| Cabaret Shows |
Location |
Telephone |
| Christy's Cabaret Bar |
Chaweng |
077 413-244 |
|