Nightlife in Khao Lak? Does that even exist? It is clear that Khao Lak is not exactly famous among night owls. It is known as a relaxing, family-friendly holiday destination. If you like and need the hustle and bustle, go to Phuket, Patong or Pattaya. But there is a nightlife in Khao Lak! The center of nightlife is in Bang Niang, especially around the night market with the adjacent bars. There are also good, well-known bars on the main street in Nang Thong (La On). Cocktails usually cost between 90-120 baht, beer between 60 and 90 baht. Like everywhere in Thailand, it ends at 2 a.m. at the latest.
And then there are other attractions and activities that take place at night.
Here are our Top Ten Nightlife in Khao Lak:
Nightmarkets
Bang Niang Market: Khao Lak’s most famous market and a tourist hotspot. Lots of food stalls, grocery stalls, souvenir and clothing shops, as well as bars and restaurants. The market is located on Highway 4, the main road through Khao Lak, at the traffic lights in Bang Niang. The market is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. However, many shops start to close after sunset.
Build Market: the evening market, which is more frequented by locals, is open as an alternative to the Bang Niang market: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from around 4 a.m. Lots of food and you shop in containers.
Alive Market: in La On, a really lively new market. Many food specialties at around 30 stalls, seasonal attractions and small shops for souvenirs and handicrafts. There is also an open-air cinema – a first for Khao Lak. Open daily from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m. – except Wednesday.
Ruam Jai Evening Market (Roumjai) – a local institution for many locals. At the entrance there are food stalls with cooked food, further back there are stalls with basic foodstuffs. Very untouristy, but with a relaxed atmosphere. The stands are covered. The market is located in Khuek Khak behind the PTT gas station. It is open daily from around 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Build Variety
Build Factory or Build Variety has been the only nightclub in Khao Lak since Zantica closed. Hip indoor and outdoor nightclub. Modern building and furnishings, Thai music, sometimes live and during sporting events live viewing on large screens. On Highway 4, in the northern part of Bang Niang, opposite the water reservoir. Open 7pm to 2am. Main time is from around 12 p.m., before that you can chill out on the terrace. Site: https://build-factory-khao-lak.business.site/
Fireshows and beach clubs
The Kukolo Beach Club is part of the La Vela Khao Lak hotel and is located directly on the beach in Bang Niang. Cocktails from the bar, music and an occasional fire show worth seeing. You can also come by as a non-hotel guest. Page: https://www.facebook.com/kokulobeachclub
There are other bars and restaurants offering fire shows on the beach, especially in high season, often taking place on Saturdays. You should research or inquire online shortly beforehand:
Memories Bar (partly daily, weather permitting) on Memories Beach
Mr. Bao Family Restaurant at PakWeep Beach
La Vela – Kokulo Beach Club Bartender Fire Show several times a week
Pullman Khao Lak Beach Club
X10 Beach Bar,
Karkinos Beach Club and Restaurant in front of Apsara
Kalima Resort,
Meridien Hotel
Moo Moo Cabaret
The Moo Moo is Khao Lak’s answer to the well-known Simon Cabaret in Phuket and shows colorful and loud ladyboy/drag queen shows with performances in the high season (from September 15th to mid-April) every evening at 8.45 a.m., lasting approx. 1 Hour. Entry for 300 baht – which includes a free drink. After the show you can take photos with the actors (it costs!). Located in Bang Niang on Highway 4, just south of Bang Niang Market.
Page: www.facebook.com/MooMooCabaret
Bars and Pubs
In most of the bars you can not only have a drink, but also get food (Thai and/or Western). Conversely, or you can also get cocktails and beer in the restaurants (for example on the beach). The bars and restaurants mentioned here often offer additional services such as billiards, table football, live music or you can watch sporting events on larger screens.
Explanations: In Bang Niang (BN), at the market (M), in La On (LO), on Highway 4 (H), live music (♫), watching sports: (o)
Mr Chay Bar (BN, M, ♫)
Gecko Bar (BN, M) billiards, table football, darts
Songs Bar (BN, M)
Toilets Bar (BN, M) only one without 80s music or reggae
Thai Bar Restaurant & Weed Shop (BN, H, ♫)
Starbar Khao Lak (BN, H), biker friendly
Red Eye Bar (BN,o) billiards, large TV
Piranha Bar (BN, o)
Sunset Boulevard Khao Lak (BN) new
Fat Shark Bar (BN) billiards, table football
Mooses Pub (BN, o) English
Noi Bar & Restaurant (BN), billiards
Lan La Bar (BN)
The Snapper, roof terrace (hinterland between BN and LO)
Monkey Bar (LO, H, ♫) Billiards
Dream Bar (LO, H)
Chang Bar (LO, H, ♫)
Sakai Bar (LO, H, o) Billiards, table football – organization of night safaris
Walkers Inn (LO, H, o)
Green Mamba Bar (LO, H, o)
Forest Bar (LO,H)
Acoustic Bar (LO, H, ♫)
Khao Lak Beer Garden (LO, H)
Thai Boxing
Khao Lak is increasingly becoming a Mecca for Muay Thai fans. There are now 3 boxing stadiums in Khao Lak for the Thai national sport. All fights start at 9 a.m. Booking is not necessary, you can buy the tickets at the door and generally have a good view of the fights from everywhere.
Monday: The One Bar in Bang Niang
Tuesday: Khao Lak Stadium
Thursday: Beyond Stadium
Friday: Khao Lak Stadium.
South of the hill you can also find Thai boxing in the Elephant Bar: bar, billiards, watching sports and a Thai boxing show every Sunday from 8.30 p.m. Free entry (drinks to be paid). They also offer training sessions in Thai boxing. On the road to Emerald and Merlin Hotel.
Dinner at Sunset
Of course, the restaurants on the beach (all of them) have a beautiful view of the sunset. Then there is Phu View, Khao Lak’s highest restaurant with great views in the evening. And you can find providers who offer dinner on a (deserted) beach after a boat trip or on the boat off the coast. A sunset dinner cruise can be booked in Phang Nga Bay: for example on the June Bahtra, a traditional Chinese junk. You will be picked up from the hotel in Khao Lak in the late afternoon and taken to the yacht harbor marina in Phuket in about an hour. Dinner (Thai buffet) on the ship and back at night.
Private Dinner on the Beach
Restaurants right on the beach in Khao Lak always have a view of the sunset, but if you want something special, check whether your hotel offers a private dinner on the beach! There is little more romantic than a fine meal at sunset, with the sound of the waves and your feet in the sand. And it’s often cheaper than you think! These hotels offer private dinners – also for non-own guests upon request: JW Marriott, La Vela, The Sands (and more). A slightly cheaper option is the Memories Bar and Restaurant on Memories Strand.
Night Safari
Something different than a nocturnal activity – it certainly doesn’t fall under the category of party, but you do get to see some of the local, animal nightlife. You can book excursions to the surrounding area, for example, in the Sakai Bar – the boss is also a tour guide for the Khaolak Jungle Safari and a real expert. Or you can go on a canoe night safari and kayak after dinner on the „little Amazon“ followed by a night hike through the jungle with a guide: https://khaolak-junglesafari.com/canoe-night-safari-only-by-us/
Or you can book with Jungle Joe: www.khaolak-adventures.de
Open air Cinema
The new Alive Market has an outdoor theater – an outdoor cinema. It is open every day except Wednesday. Cinema screening at 7 a.m. The screen isn’t huge, but it’s a nice atmosphere with the option to have a drink and something to eat nearby. Films in Thai with subtitles.
The nearest proper cinemas are down in Phuket in the Central Market (shopping center).
Even more tips and information can be found in our travel guide Discovering Khao Lak Compact. It is regularly revised and kept up to date. The book is available from amazon and bookstores (ISBN 978-3033075955) and as ebook.
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