The Best Bars in Ko Phangan, Thailand

Loi Lay might only be open one day per week, but on that day it’s one of the best bars around. On Sunday nights the bar — which is floating on the sea — welcomes a troop of hardy party goers wanting to take advantage of the cheap booze, beautiful surroundings and awesome ambiance. Often with international DJs coming to play, there’s a mix of techno, house and electronic music played through the night, whilst those in attendance can take advantage of the cold beers and tasty cocktails. A word of warning though — after climbing into one of their hammocks, you might not want to leave (or you might not be able to…).

Much like travelers, pirates left their homes to voyage around the world in search of treasures, and that’s what you’ll find at Pirates Bar. In a glorious location by the beach with a gorgeous rocky backdrop, Pirates Bar is your archetypal beach bar; ramshackle and rustic by design but sure to provide a night to remember. Cocktails are stunningly cheap, making a great companion for the stunning sunsets, and it attracts a large backpacker crowd as the night goes on, attracted to the music and the vibes like a moth is to a flame. Speaking of which — it’s also a top spot to catch a fire show.

Fubar is close to the Full Moon Party | Joe Stump/Flickr

Situated on the island’s western coast is The Jam, a bar whose stage has long been the destination for both budding and established musicians from the area. With live sets providing a great atmosphere to enjoy a few drinks in, it’s a little more relaxed than some of the more party-orientated bars but just as unforgettable. Know a few chords or can hold a note? You’re more than welcome here, as guests are encouraged to share their talents with the rest of the jovial crowd, and there’s a range of beers, spirits and cocktails to get you through if you’re suffering from stage fright.

Arriving at The Mason’s Arms is a disorientating experience for most people. For starters, it looks extremely out of place; a quintessentially British pub in the middle of paradise? Then there’s the food, where guests can dine on scotch eggs rather than som tam. But despite this, it works. British pubs are places where people come together, which fits in perfectly with island life on Koh Phangan, where people from all walks of life come together to discuss and plan adventures — and here they can do it in unashamedly British surroundings. It’s quirky and it’s unusual, but it’s a great pub with a wide range of food and drink options, and so it’s well worth checking out.

A beach restaurant and bar by day but a nightclub once the sun goes down, Cactus Bar is a must-visit for anyone who comes to Haad Rin with partying in mind. By the beach, it’s relatively calm and peaceful through the day, but becomes a hot spot of activity later on. It has an eclectic mix of music, from hip hop to chart to electronic, and so you’re bound to come across a song that you can dance to, and the cheap alcohol deals will make sure you don’t care who’s watching. With a number of games and fire shows that call for audience participation, it makes for a lively night, and it’s bound to be busy regardless of whether there’s a full moon or not.