Bangla Road

Bangla Road? Every city in Phuket has its own unique party scene, from the laid back atmosphere of Old Phuket Town, the karaoke bars in Thalang where the scratchy voices bellow out the latest tunes, to the deep house baselines that drift from the reggae bar in Rawai. While most places boast streets lined with the same humdrum beer and karaoke bars as each other (same same but different), there is one place on the island that stands head and shoulders above the rest, Bangla Road in Patong.

Located across from Patong Beach, this seemingly ordinary walking street by day erupts into one of the most exhilarating and lively drinking venue at night, making it the party hub for all of Phuket. When the sun starts to set on the Andaman Sea, Bangla Road is closed off to traffic, as thousands of party goers emerge from their hotels to bask in the neon glow and pounding baselines that engulf the 400 meter stretch of road. Both sides of the street are lined with an array of different bars, from discotheques to live music venues such as Seduction Nightclub, Illuzion Discotheque, Tai Pan, White Room and Red Hot just to name a few. There are scantily clad Thai women dancing on poles, touts handing out flyers to ping pong shows, as well as a few street performers busking for money, and the infamous lady boys in their cabaret costumes peddling photos with the public.

Most of the real estate on Bangla Road in Patong is taken up by beer bars, with the exception of a few convenience stores, tailors and pharmacies, as well as a few touristy shops. Jutting out from the hustle and bustle of Bangla Road are thinner streets and lanes called soi’s. There are 8 soi’s that split from Bangla Road, and house an eclectic selection of bars and clubs: this is where you will find most of the go-go bars and ping pong shows. You will also find some of the more quieter bars along these soi’s, for those who needs a break from the pushing and shoving of the crowd.

Every bar and club on Bangla Road has its own opening and closing hours, depending on what kind of establishment it is. The disco’s usually are open until the wee hours of the morning, where as the quieter beer bars down the soi’s may close earlier. The same goes for drink prices: most bars charge between 100 to 130 baht per drink; where as the go-go striptease, discotheques and lady shows charge anywhere from 220 to 400 baht per drink. There is also a cover change for some clubs and discotheques.

Watch the video below and walk virtually along the Bangla Road, Phuket’s most exciting nightlife spot;-)