Chaweng Beach Nightlife

Ark Bar

Another Samui institution, the Ark Bar has been at it for quite a few years. Even though it's changed hands several times the bar/restaurant still uses the same methods to draw people in with fire dancers, ambient music, dining and dancing on the beach and a relaxed atmosphere that extends to a child-friendly vibe, even late at night.

Location: Ark Bar Beach Club, Chaweng Central Beach Road

Bar @ C

Part of the Amari Palm Reef Resort, Bar @ C has obviously had no expense spared in its creation and has a fashionable appeal more readily associated with Bangkok bars than other hotel bars on Samui. There's a variety of seating areas including large day beds and giant sofas. In the evening discreet spot lighting is to the fore and a long wall shelf light slowly pulsates different hues, to add to the lounge-style ambience. As the name suggests, the bar is also only a few metres from the sea.

Opening Hours: 08:00 - 01:00
Location: Amari Palm Reef Resort, Chaweng Beach Road

Red Snapper

With a big screen and a nightly live band you'd think that Red Snapper wouldn't exactly be totally be focused in on its food but you'd be wrong.  Part of Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Red Snapper fronts onto the Beach Road and is great for that laid-back meal, while watching the passing throngs. Modern fusion and healthy dishes prevail with more of a leaning towards cocktails than wine on the drinks list, the décor is pleasant and this is definitely a happening place to be.

Opening Hours: 17:00 – 01:00
Location: Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, North Chaweng

Solo Bar

Bar Solo has a cool, sleek interior and a great music policy as well as a pool table and six plasma screens showing major sporting events. Solo Bar is a good option to start a night out, when you can take advantage of their 1/2price cocktails from 14:00 – 20:00. Later in the evening, the bar gets lively with DJ's spinning funky, uplifting house and chilled lounge tunes.

Opening Hours: 14:00 - 02:00
Location: Central Chaweng Beach Road, next to Starbucks

Tropical Murphy's

If you're looking for a happy-go-lucky evening with lots of beer choices, good food, great music, pool, quizzes and an Irish ambience look no further than Tropical Murphy's. Owner Paul Watson takes no prisoners in his quest to be the top pub in town and he ensures that everything runs smoothly. Murphy's Thai staff members speak good English and the extensive choice of seating means that you can take in the live music upstairs in the air-con, watch sports downstairs or enjoy the night air and the street sights on the outside terrace.

Location: Opposite McDonald's Central Chaweng

Zico's

One of the most spectacular dining options in the south of Thailand, the Brazilian-themed Zico's is an on-fire mixture of entertainment, glam cocktails and skewer after skewer of freshly prepared meat served from sword-like serving knives by strolling waiters. To the side lies a salad bar to balance the all-you-can-eat fixed price meats. Entertainment takes place on a central stage and consists of bottom-wiggling sexy samba dancing girls in outfits that leave little to the imagination, live percussion and sax players. Read more about Zico's Diner & Show...

Opening Hours: Restaurant 18:30 – 22:30 Bar 17:00 – 01:00
Location: Opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort
Tel: 077 231 560-3

Bar Ice

One of the coolest places in town – in more ways than one: The walls, bar, sculptures and seats are made from Canadian ice and are permanent fixtures. And no, it's not the usual tiny, fridge-like arrangement that many ice bars go for; Bar Ice is big enough to hold elephant and tuk tuk sculptures and has separate rooms.

The chilliest is kept at -7 degrees, lit by an atmospheric LED lighting system with a full colour spectrum. You can chill in the pub-like part and even sit outside in a beer garden if you wish to smoke. A unique and worthwhile experience.

Opening Hours: 16:00 – 21:30 Happy Hour with two-for-one cocktails.
Location: On the road heading out of northern Chaweng to the Ring Road. A ten-minute walk from Central Chaweng

Springer Pub

Unusual, eclectic or just plain wacky? Springer Pub is based in a garage outlet and has auto parts strewn around in places where there shouldn't be places. With a funky interior sporting seats made out of car parts, a bonnet and headlamps emerging from the wall above the stage, live music past 22:30 and a loosely fitting biker's atmosphere Springer Pub is a welcome relief from the highly charged and sometimes mercenary atmosphere of Central Chaweng.

Location: Beach Road heading south out of Chaweng towards the Ring Road.