Haad Rin Nightlife

Cactus

Fronting Sunrise (Nok) beach with an entrance in the soi leading down to the beach, Cactus has an impressive entrance with a pretty bare interior and upstairs. But it’s not designed to please aesthetes; it’s a party bar and on Full Moon nights you’ll get a thumping earful here as you slosh through your buckets. Spilling out onto the beach, you can choose to dance inside or out on the sand or on the terrace. Cactus is one of the Big Players in the Haad Rin party scene.

Kangaroo Bar

Beachside, built on granite rocks at the north end of Haad Rin, Kangaroo Bar is large and colourful – an experience in itself. Climb up the stairs and chill while watching the beach life below or escape the madness of the Full Moon party here.

Lazy House

Owner John from Exeter has been running Lazy House since 1998 and his hands-on approach pays off in that the food here is good, portions generous and the bar successfully emulates a Khao San Road setup with several TVs showing a scheduled list of movies daily.

Extensive and relaxed with Burmese English-speaking staff, Lazy House is one of Haad Rin’s better establishments. Lazy House is a long way from being a pulsating club but all the same it’s worth a visit.

Outback

The main feature that distinguishes Outback from its competitors is its façade, made up of vines and lush greenery. Oz-themed, you can get an ice-cold brew and food here from midday onwards and the Outback offers a less frenetic vibe than the noisy beach bars.

Reggae House

Just down the road from the police station stands the Reggae House. With its ethnic music, shelves of secondhand books, hammocks, Thai cushions on raised wooden platforms it’s the archetypal Phangan bar.

Perhaps what helps Reggae House to stand out, apart from the outside concrete hand-painted statue of Bob Marley lookalike smoking a you-know-what is that it offers free consultation if you are thinking of getting a traditional freehand bamboo tattoo.

Tommy Bar

Part of the next-door Tommy Resort, Tommy Bar is a boat-themed affair. Upstairs offers dining under the stars while downstairs is a chilled-out scene, ideal for cocktails while people watching. None of this applies, however, on Full Moon nights when all the jams are kicked out and musical mayhem ensues.