Patong

Thailand

Patong (หาดป่าตอง Hat Patong) is the largest beach resort on the island of Phuket. This article also includes Kalim, a series of small beaches just north of Patong.

The south end of Patong Beach Patong is a party capital of Asia, with famous nightlife and a great beach. Mostly made up of hotels, world-class restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions, this is a hedonists' heaven, with numerous entertainment complexes and countless bars clustered together in and around Bangla Rd and Beach Rd. The town has a very obvious female, transgender, and male sex industry to cater to every taste, however to only view it as this is a mistake, it offers so much more, for families and couples too.

Massage parlors of the erotic and therapeutic (nuat Thai) genre provide less alcohol- and drug-infested venues for punters and wellness seekers. One can even find masseuses practicing this medical art atop bamboo mats on the beach sands (100 baht and up).

Prices are higher than in Phuket Town, but there's more budget accommodation here than at the more southerly beaches.

This may not be a good destination for the average backpacker, except in the rainy season when prices are far lower. However backpackers are not Patong's target market. It is fairly and squarely aimed at holidaymakers, and does it rather well.

Rooming houses ("mansions") a few blocks inland provide nice, clean air-con rooms and suites as cheaply as 300 baht/day (less without air-con), or 3,000-10,000 baht/month. However Patong has every type of accommodation imaginable, from home stays to palaces.

Beach Rd and its immediate surroundings were hit hard by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. The entire region is seismically active, with earthquakes and tsunami: see under Thailand#Stay safe. Local memory of the tragedy remains strong but the damage has been repaired, and the only reminders are the evacuation route road-signs and the inevitable catchpenny merchandising.

Patong's three main axes are the aptly named Beach Road (Thanon Thawiwong) and Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd (the last bit means "200 years" and is pronounced song roi bee) running parallel a few hundred metres inland, bisected at the midpoint by the world famous Soi Bangla. (For the sake of brevity, in this article it is called "Rat-U-Thit Rd". Running parallel to Beach Rd and Rat-U-Thit Rd about half a kilometre inland is Nanai Rd which is the residential expatriate area and has many cheaper guesthouses and hotels. The restaurants here tend to be cheaper as well, with beers to be found for 60 baht a bottle generally.

Between Nanai Rd and Rat-U-Thit is the bypass road. This road runs behind the huge Jungceylon shopping centre and past the local fresh fish and vegetable market, Baanzan (well worth a visit).

There are many sorts of beaches on Phuket. If one wants unspoiled and natural then Patong is not your kind of place, but there are many unspoiled beaches in the north and south of this beautiful island. Patong is for those of you who like a developed resort with a vibrant nightlife.

  • Freedom Beach. Beautiful beach with just a few people compared to Karon or Patong. On the east side of the mountain separating Karon from Patong. You can either charter a long boat from Karon or Patong for about 1000 to 2000 bath flat (negotiate) to drop you off at the beach and collect you there or pay a taxi (tuktuks can't go up the steep mountain) around 600 bath (haggled down from 1000) to drop you off at the gravel road above the beach. Pay when you are picked up again! The "access fee" to the beach is 200 baht per person, although all beaches in Thailand are said to be open to the public. The trail down from the gravel road is steep. A bar and a toilet can be found on the beach.
  • Kalim Beach. Just north of Patong Bay, starting from about the Novotel Phuket Resort Patong to Thavorn Beach Village, this area consists of rocky but quiet beaches, and an interesting road leading up into hills with high viewpoints and a few good quality restaurants perched on the edge and top. Some housing compounds are now being built on the hillsides and the whole area is steadily moving upmarket.
  • Patong Beach. Patong Beach is Phuket's most developed beach. It is 3km-long. 15 km from Phuket town. Patong is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and various tourist attractions. Daytime activities are primarily centered on the beach with water sports. Patong is known for its nightlife, centered on Soi Bangla. The northern end of Patong Bay is called Kalim and is a popular place for viewing the sunset and for surfing between April and September each year.

Freedom Beach. Beautiful beach with just a few people compared to Karon or Patong. On the east side of the mountain separating Karon from Patong. You can either charter a long boat from Karon or Patong for about 1000 to 2000 bath flat (negotiate) to drop you off at the beach and collect you there or pay a taxi (tuktuks can't go up the steep mountain) around 600 bath (haggled down from 1000) to drop you off at the gravel road above the beach. Pay when you are picked up again! The "access fee" to the beach is 200 baht per person, although all beaches in Thailand are said to be open to the public. The trail down from the gravel road is steep. A bar and a toilet can be found on the beach.

Kalim Beach. Just north of Patong Bay, starting from about the Novotel Phuket Resort Patong to Thavorn Beach Village, this area consists of rocky but quiet beaches, and an interesting road leading up into hills with high viewpoints and a few good quality restaurants perched on the edge and top. Some housing compounds are now being built on the hillsides and the whole area is steadily moving upmarket.

Patong Beach. Patong Beach is Phuket's most developed beach. It is 3km-long. 15 km from Phuket town. Patong is mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and various tourist attractions. Daytime activities are primarily centered on the beach with water sports. Patong is known for its nightlife, centered on Soi Bangla. The northern end of Patong Bay is called Kalim and is a popular place for viewing the sunset and for surfing between April and September each year.

  • Bali Hai, 200 Years Rd. Bali Hai is one that can be recommended.
  • Orientala. Full service massage.

Bali Hai, 200 Years Rd. Bali Hai is one that can be recommended.

Orientala. Full service massage.

  • All4Diving, 169/14 Soi Sansabai (Near Jungceylon Mall, +66 76 344 611. 10:00-22:00. A complete PADI 5 Star career development scuba diving centre and IDC. Provides day trips and PADI scuba diving courses, from beginner to professional level of instructor, to Ko Racha and Ko Phi Phi Islands. They are liveaboard specialists to the Similan Islands and Bali, having their own fleet, M/V Mermaids.
  • Thailand Divers, 59/1 Sainamyen Rd (close to Patong Hospital, +66 76 510 849. Daily, 07:00-21:00. Has been training new and experienced divers for over 10 years. The dive centre is on the west coast of Phuket in Patong, not far from the best diving locations in Thailand. Day trips, liveaboards.
  • Underwater Holidays, +66 76 292052. Scuba diving holidays to the Similan National Marine Park.
  • Local Dive Thailand, +66 76 384 285. PADI courses and fun dives for those qualified. Own spacious motor launch runs daily to dive sites around the islets & reefs to south of Phuket. Usually a 3-dive day trip, meals included.

All4Diving, 169/14 Soi Sansabai (Near Jungceylon Mall, +66 76 344 611. 10:00-22:00. A complete PADI 5 Star career development scuba diving centre and IDC. Provides day trips and PADI scuba diving courses, from beginner to professional level of instructor, to [[Ko Racha]] and [[Ko Phi Phi]] Islands. They are liveaboard specialists to the [[Similan Islands]] and [[Bali]], having their own fleet, M/V Mermaids.

Thailand Divers, 59/1 Sainamyen Rd (close to Patong Hospital, +66 76 510 849. Daily, 07:00-21:00. Has been training new and experienced divers for over 10 years. The dive centre is on the west coast of Phuket in Patong, not far from the best diving locations in Thailand. Day trips, liveaboards.

Underwater Holidays, +66 76 292052. Scuba diving holidays to the Similan National Marine Park.

Local Dive Thailand, +66 76 384 285. PADI courses and fun dives for those qualified. Own spacious motor launch runs daily to dive sites around the islets & reefs to south of Phuket. Usually a 3-dive day trip, meals included.

  • Jet-skiing, para-sailing and other water-sports. Be careful when renting a jet-ski in Phuket. There is a well known and notorious scam where tourists are falsely accused of damaging the jet ski and extorted out of huge sums of money (in the many tens of thousands of baht). The extortionists are extremely persistent and are known to use threats of physical violence and the police will not help because they get a cut of the proceeds. The general consensus seems to be that to stay safe you should not rent a jet ski in Thailand. If you do, make sure it is through an agency you trust, e.g., your hotel (if you trust your hotel). There is no insurance when hiring jet skis.

Jet-skiing, para-sailing and other water-sports. Be careful when renting a jet-ski in Phuket. There is a well known and notorious scam where tourists are falsely accused of damaging the jet ski and extorted out of huge sums of money (in the many tens of thousands of baht). The extortionists are extremely persistent and are known to use threats of physical violence and the police will not help because they get a cut of the proceeds. The general consensus seems to be that to stay safe you should not rent a jet ski in Thailand. If you do, make sure it is through an agency you trust, e.g., your hotel (if you trust your hotel). There is no insurance when hiring jet skis.

One of Patong's main attractions, besides the nightlife, is shopping. Patong Beach transforms into a large night bazaar every evening, when all the main roads become clogged with stalls selling handicrafts, silk scarves, sarongs and a variety of beach clothes, leisure wear, leather goods and luggage, CDs, etc. Bargain hard for anything you buy from these stalls, as everything is negotiable in Patong and starting prices are often ridiculously high. Get a local to help you haggle rather than complain about it. Save yourself to bargain and overpay. Shopping at shopping malls in Phuket is a lot safer and cost effective. Price of a pair of sunglasses for example will be the same price as stalls on beach road (non-bargain).

Fake goods from the many stalls are all over the place. Quality is normally poor. The Thai government recently introduced a new law making it a criminal offence to buy or sell pirated goods. Although no cases involving tourists have been reported, the risk does exist that goods that violate intellectual property rights may be liable to confiscation at the airport.

  • Jungceylon, 181 Rat-U-Thit Rd (near the inland end of Bangla Rd. May-Oct: Daily, 11:00-22:00, Nov-Apr: Daily, 11:00-23:00; Big C Extra: Daily, 10:00-22:00; SF Cinema City: 11:00-01:00; SF Strike Bowl: Daily, 12:00-01:00.. Patong's first full-fledged modern air-con shopping mall, complete with 200 shops, integrated hotels, etc. The food court in the basement has various types of local food, mostly Indian and Thai. It is a good value commercial canteen in style with tables in the middle and food vendors set into walls around table area.
  • Patong OTOP Shopping Paradise. You might be excused for thinking that this has something to do with the "One Tambon, One Product" scheme to promote local industry, but no, turns out this market sells exactly the same copies of branded clothes and mass-produced handicrafts as everybody else. At least there's a fairly wide selection to choose from.

Jungceylon, 181 Rat-U-Thit Rd (near the inland end of Bangla Rd. May-Oct: Daily, 11:00-22:00, Nov-Apr: Daily, 11:00-23:00; Big C Extra: Daily, 10:00-22:00; SF Cinema City: 11:00-01:00; SF Strike Bowl: Daily, 12:00-01:00.. Patong's first full-fledged modern air-con shopping mall, complete with 200 shops, integrated hotels, etc. The food court in the basement has various types of local food, mostly Indian and Thai. It is a good value commercial canteen in style with tables in the middle and food vendors set into walls around table area.

Patong OTOP Shopping Paradise. You might be excused for thinking that this has something to do with the "One Tambon, One Product" scheme to promote local industry, but no, turns out this market sells exactly the same copies of branded clothes and mass-produced handicrafts as everybody else. At least there's a fairly wide selection to choose from.

Patong offers an amazingly cosmopolitan array of eating options, including Arabic, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Scandinavian, and pretty much any country that sends tourists here. Prices are, however, generally inflated (at least by Thai standards). You can expect to pay about 150 baht for basic meals like fried rice unless you really hunt around. Seafood is priced by weight and is not cheap either. If you're looking for a good food court, visit Jungceylon (See Buy).

  • 99 Seafood Restaurant, Rat-U-Thit Rd (Opposite the Royal Paradise Hotel. An open-air restaurant that has excellent seafood selections. The price is also quite affordable and the place is usually busy at night.
  • Red Chilli Restaurant, 41/9 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd (Three min walk from Patong Beach, +66 76 290 480. 11:00-22:00. International and local food. Shows live TV of football matches on a large TV. Has a pool with poolside bar, free Wi-Fi and travel services desk. 150-450 baht.
  • Ristorante Roma da Mauro, 100/7 Thaweewong Rd, Soi Post Office (Down one of the little streets, but easy to see past McDonalds. Good for imported Italian pasta and pizza, has indoor and outdoor seating.
  • The Yorkshire Inn, Soi Sansabai. European and British food, and a Sunday lunch which is repeated on Wednesdays.

99 Seafood Restaurant, Rat-U-Thit Rd (Opposite the Royal Paradise Hotel. An open-air restaurant that has excellent seafood selections. The price is also quite affordable and the place is usually busy at night.

Red Chilli Restaurant, 41/9 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd (Three min walk from Patong Beach, +66 76 290 480. 11:00-22:00. International and local food. Shows live TV of football matches on a large TV. Has a pool with poolside bar, free Wi-Fi and travel services desk. 150-450 baht.

Ristorante Roma da Mauro, 100/7 Thaweewong Rd, Soi Post Office (Down one of the little streets, but easy to see past McDonalds. Good for imported Italian pasta and pizza, has indoor and outdoor seating.

The Yorkshire Inn, Soi Sansabai. European and British food, and a Sunday lunch which is repeated on Wednesdays.

  • Ali Baba and Ali Baba 2, 2 Ruamchai Rd and 206/17 Rat-U-Thit Rd. These two restaurants have two separate menus for two separate cuisines, namely Indian and Arabic. Both locations offer air-con inside and smoking water pipes outside. Watch out for the 150 baht portions of rice and tomato-heavy curries which may not be everyone's cup of tea. Appetizers 60-100 baht, mains around 200-350 baht.
  • Baan Rim Pa, Prabaramee Rd, +66 76 340789. Impressive carved wood décor, fabulous location on the cliff, excellent Thai food.
  • Baan Yin Dee Restaurant, 7/5 Muen Ngen Rd, +66 76 294104(-5). Fusion of European and Thai food in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
  • Casablanca Restaurant, 135/23 Rat-U-Thit Rd, +66 76 340666. Middle Eastern food.
  • La Diva. A bit off the beaten path but you can find it right next to an Austrian, a Belgian, and a Mexican restaurant (go figure) at the bend of the alley. You can easily see it by its colourful neon sign. La Diva has a Latin theme and plays Latin pop non-stop. However, the menu is all Thai. Recommended are green curry chicken (geng kiao wan gai) and the king prawns with glass noodles (gung po woon sen).
  • Green House and Balcony Restaurant. Extensive menu of Thai and Western food, plus pastries and snacks from the in-house bakery. Terrace seating outside and air-con restaurant inside. A bit pricey though, with most everything over 100 baht. From 100 baht.
  • Karlsson's Restaurant & Steak House, Soi Patong Tower, 108/16 Taweewong Rd. Daily, 15:00-00:00. A good choice for imported steaks and Scandinavian specialities.
  • Lim's Restaurant & Bar, Kalim Beach (Follow Beach Rd out of Patong, turn right at Soi 7 after Kalim Beach, on your right 500 m into the soi. Daily, 18:30-22:30. A nice hide-away from the busy streets of Patong, with modern Thai cuisine served. Has an adjacent art gallery.
  • Madras Cafe Restaurant, 198/1-4, 80-82 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd., Patong Beach, Kathu, +66 84 305 5211. 11:00-00:00. Serves south Indian, north Indian food, Indian vegetarian food, Arab food and Halal food.
  • The 9th Floor Restaurant & Bar, Sky Inn Condotel, 47 Rat-U-Thit Rd, +66 76 344311 (after 16:00). An open-air restaurant with a 270 -degree view over Patong. A varied menu of Mediterranean and international dishes, a large selection of wines, a humidor with Cuban cigars, and a range of cocktails.
  • The Old Fisherman's, Novotel Phuket Resort (At Kalim Beach. 18:30-22:30 daily. This restaurant has Thai and international food. Reasonable prices for a hotel outlet.
  • Patong Seafood Restaurant, 130 Thaweewong Rd, +66 76 341244-5. One of the finest seafood restaurants on Phuket serving local delicacies.
  • Sam's Steak House, Holiday Inn Resort, 52 Thaweewong Rd. 18:00-22:15 daily. Sam's serves the finest steaks only from top quality US or Aussie beef, free salad bar with all steak orders. Moderate to high price depending on the kind of food ordered, excellent price/performance. 600-3,000 baht.
  • Savoey, 136 Thaweewong Rd, +66 76 341171. One of the better seafood restaurants in Patong.
  • Spice House, Jungceylon Shopping Centre, Rat-U-Thit Rd. 12:00-22:00 daily. Offers authentic Russian, modern Thai, and traditional Japanese cuisine.

Ali Baba and Ali Baba 2, 2 Ruamchai Rd and 206/17 Rat-U-Thit Rd. These two restaurants have two separate menus for two separate cuisines, namely Indian and Arabic. Both locations offer air-con inside and smoking water pipes outside. Watch out for the 150 baht portions of rice and tomato-heavy curries which may not be everyone's cup of tea. Appetizers 60-100 baht, mains around 200-350 baht.

Baan Rim Pa, Prabaramee Rd, +66 76 340789. Impressive carved wood décor, fabulous location on the cliff, excellent Thai food.

Baan Yin Dee Restaurant, 7/5 Muen Ngen Rd, +66 76 294104(-5). Fusion of European and Thai food in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

Casablanca Restaurant, 135/23 Rat-U-Thit Rd, +66 76 340666. Middle Eastern food.

La Diva. A bit off the beaten path but you can find it right next to an Austrian, a Belgian, and a Mexican restaurant (go figure) at the bend of the alley. You can easily see it by its colourful neon sign. La Diva has a Latin theme and plays Latin pop non-stop. However, the menu is all Thai. Recommended are green curry chicken (geng kiao wan gai) and the king prawns with glass noodles (gung po woon sen).

Green House and Balcony Restaurant. Extensive menu of Thai and Western food, plus pastries and snacks from the in-house bakery. Terrace seating outside and air-con restaurant inside. A bit pricey though, with most everything over 100 baht. From 100 baht.

Karlsson's Restaurant & Steak House, Soi Patong Tower, 108/16 Taweewong Rd. Daily, 15:00-00:00. A good choice for imported steaks and Scandinavian specialities.

Lim's Restaurant & Bar, Kalim Beach (Follow Beach Rd out of Patong, turn right at Soi 7 after Kalim Beach, on your right 500 m into the soi. Daily, 18:30-22:30. A nice hide-away from the busy streets of Patong, with modern Thai cuisine served. Has an adjacent art gallery.

Madras Cafe Restaurant, 198/1-4, 80-82 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd., Patong Beach, Kathu, +66 84 305 5211. 11:00-00:00. Serves south Indian, north Indian food, Indian vegetarian food, Arab food and Halal food.

The 9th Floor Restaurant & Bar, Sky Inn Condotel, 47 Rat-U-Thit Rd, +66 76 344311 (after 16:00). An open-air restaurant with a 270 -degree view over Patong. A varied menu of Mediterranean and international dishes, a large selection of wines, a humidor with Cuban cigars, and a range of cocktails.

The Old Fisherman's, Novotel Phuket Resort (At Kalim Beach. 18:30-22:30 daily. This restaurant has Thai and international food. Reasonable prices for a hotel outlet.

Patong Seafood Restaurant, 130 Thaweewong Rd, +66 76 341244-5. One of the finest seafood restaurants on Phuket serving local delicacies.

Sam's Steak House, Holiday Inn Resort, 52 Thaweewong Rd. 18:00-22:15 daily. Sam's serves the finest steaks only from top quality US or Aussie beef, free salad bar with all steak orders. Moderate to high price depending on the kind of food ordered, excellent price/performance. 600-3,000 baht.

Savoey, 136 Thaweewong Rd, +66 76 341171. One of the better seafood restaurants in Patong.

Spice House, Jungceylon Shopping Centre, Rat-U-Thit Rd. 12:00-22:00 daily. Offers authentic Russian, modern Thai, and traditional Japanese cuisine.

Bangla Rd by day

Patong's nightlife spills out in all directions but the centre of the maelstrom is Bangla Rd and its four sois: Crocodile, Eric, Gonzo, and Seadragon, packed with a frenetic mix of pubs, beer bars, and go-go bars. Soi Crocodile is also known as Soi Katoey, a reference to its many transsexuals. There are also a couple of good nightclubs with dance floors, unusual in Thailand otherwise.

Drink prices in Patong can vary, sometimes wildly, between bars, even those right next to each other offering nearly identical atmosphere and patronage. Be on the look-out for drink specials, and do not be afraid to ask for a drink menu if it is not readily available.

  • Irish Bar. Nice and less expensive place on Beach Rd, though not with a view of the beach. One of the few places in Patong to sell Guinness. Has a Celtic cross made of (empty) Guinness cans.
  • Little Aussie Town Aussie Bar. Daily, 12:00-02:00. An outdoor bar. Frequently serves free food. The bar is equipped with a TV showing cable channels. Suitable for all ages and nationalities.
  • The Manchester Arms. It's the best place to watch the sports and they have an occasional live music jam with some of the island's best musicians. They are the only bar in town playing music from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Reasonable prices and they have Aussie beers and Tetleys Bitter from the UK on draught.
  • Molly Malone's. Nice place to sit down and have a decent pint or two. The prices are a bit high, but if you need some good pub food and want to sit back and watch the human traffic plus the great music band, this is a good enough pub.
  • Rock City. A palace built to rock music. They promise to "rock your ass off" and they do with excellent rock tribute bands. It's like going to a mini-gig every night. A bit pricey, but well worth it.
  • Saxophone. The little brother of Bangkok's most famous live music venue. They have top quality jazz, blues, funk, and soul outfits there each night and the place is very well-designed. Can be hit-or-miss with the bands, but usually very good quality.
  • De Tapas Bar, Nanai Rd 91/1, +66 84 8522404. 22:00-24:00. Only Spanish restaurant on the island of Phuket, with Spanish chef. Medium prices, high quality. 220 baht.

  • Cocktails and Dreams. See a ladyboy cabaret for free! Free admission.
  • Simon Cabaret. See the famous ladyboy show at Simon Cabaret. Adult VIP, 800 baht; Adult regular, 700 baht.

Cocktails and Dreams. See a ladyboy cabaret for free! Free admission.

Simon Cabaret. See the famous ladyboy show at Simon Cabaret. Adult VIP, 800 baht; Adult regular, 700 baht.

  • Banana Disco. Small, but good DJ. Admission, 300 baht, including 2 drinks.
  • D Club. Nightclub under joint Thai/Swedish ownership.
  • Tai Pan. The daddy of all Patong's discos, the best music and lights and always very busy, at the top of Bangla Rd at the traffic lights.

Banana Disco. Small, but good DJ. Admission, 300 baht, including 2 drinks.

D Club. Nightclub under joint Thai/Swedish ownership.

Tai Pan. The daddy of all Patong's discos, the best music and lights and always very busy, at the top of Bangla Rd at the traffic lights.

Irish Bar. Nice and less expensive place on Beach Rd, though not with a view of the beach. One of the few places in Patong to sell Guinness. Has a Celtic cross made of (empty) Guinness cans.

Little Aussie Town Aussie Bar. Daily, 12:00-02:00. An outdoor bar. Frequently serves free food. The bar is equipped with a TV showing cable channels. Suitable for all ages and nationalities.

The Manchester Arms. It's the best place to watch the sports and they have an occasional live music jam with some of the island's best musicians. They are the only bar in town playing music from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Reasonable prices and they have Aussie beers and Tetleys Bitter from the UK on draught.

Molly Malone's. Nice place to sit down and have a decent pint or two. The prices are a bit high, but if you need some good pub food and want to sit back and watch the human traffic plus the great music band, this is a good enough pub.

Rock City. A palace built to rock music. They promise to "rock your ass off" and they do with excellent rock tribute bands. It's like going to a mini-gig every night. A bit pricey, but well worth it.

Saxophone. The little brother of Bangkok's most famous live music venue. They have top quality jazz, blues, funk, and soul outfits there each night and the place is very well-designed. Can be hit-or-miss with the bands, but usually very good quality.

De Tapas Bar, Nanai Rd 91/1, +66 84 8522404. 22:00-24:00. Only Spanish restaurant on the island of Phuket, with Spanish chef. Medium prices, high quality. 220 baht.

  • Kamala — next beach to the north
  • Karon — next beach to the south
  • Khao Lak — diving centre and Patong's antithesis, 100 km north
  • Ko Phi Phi — a popular day trip via tour packages
  • Phuket Town