The best gay bars in Phuket are a big part of what makes Thailand among the most welcoming holiday spots in the world for gay travellers. When it comes to nightlife, the Paradise Complex in Patong is the top spot.
Connected to the Royal Paradise Hotel & Spa, the complex consists of a couple of streets of gay-centric guesthouses, restaurants, shops, clubs and bars. Among the places listed below, you'll find host bars (similar to beer bars or hostess bars, but with one very obvious difference), go-go bars (featuring male dancers, often with a ladyboy cabaret show, too) and clubs (just like a standard nightclub, but attracting a gay crowd).
- 1
Boat Bar
- Nightlife
The Boat Bar has been the cornerstone of the gay community in Phuket for decades, staying fresh and exciting with occasional refurbishments. It features a professional twice-nightly cabaret show as well as a live DJ who keeps the dance floor busy with cool and funky sounds. The quality of the club is so high that it attracts men and women, straight and gay – particularly younger, sophisticated international visitors.
Location: Paradise Complex, 123/12 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 1pm to 4am
Phone: +66 (0)76 341 237
Map - 2
My Way
- Nightlife
One of the oldest establishments in the Paradise Complex, My Way brought the cabaret entertainment of Bangkok’s gay scene to Phuket with 3 great shows every night. It's also a high-quality go-go bar. The outside terrace is a good place to enjoy a few drinks and cool down between shows, as well as helping to make it one of the more popular venues in the area, attracting a mixed crowd.
Location: Paradise Complex, 143/6 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8pm to late
Phone: +66 (0)81 978 4172
Mapphoto by Bruce Anderson (CC BY 2.0) modified
- 3
Connect Guesthouse
- Food
- Nightlife
Already a popular guesthouse for gay visitors to Patong due to its location right in the middle of the Paradise Complex, Connect’s Bar is also a popular place for a chilled-out evening. The restaurant serves inexpensive Thai and western food and is open well into the night, with special buffet nights on Thursdays and Sundays. Run by a long-term Swedish expat, Connect Guesthouse organises ‘Gay Day Tours’ every Saturday, giving you a chance to mingle with new friends in the beautiful surroundings of Phang Nga Bay.
Location: Connect Guesthouse, Paradise Complex, 125/8-9 Rat-U-Thit Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)76 294 195
Map - 4
Aquarius Guesthouse
- Food
- Nightlife
Beginning as a small guesthouse in 2003, Aquarius has come a long way. It features renovated guestrooms, a gay sauna and a bar/restaurant. The bar's open all day, and the sauna is free for the guesthouse’s clients but non-guests are welcome for a fee. The sauna is busiest between 5pm and 8pm. Other facilities include a gym, massage service and a pool that's open 24 hours.
Location: Paradise Complex, 127/10-17 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)76 341 668
Map - 5
Passport Pub
- Nightlife
Quite a modest little gay lounge bar right by the entrance to the Paradise Complex, Passport Pub’s frontage gives it the look of a lost jungle temple. Inside, you'll find a couple of small stages. Despite its small size and simplicity, its discreet design and friendly service make it an established favourite.
Location: Paradise Complex 125/2 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 9pm to late
Phone: +66 (0)76 344 366
Map - 6
Zag Club
- Nightlife
The most dramatic and fun of the gay go-go bars in Phuket, ZAG Club features special shows, events and happy hours. It's also a dance club, with great music creating a fun and lively atmosphere. Finally, as with many of the places in the Paradise Complex, it has an outdoor terrace for enjoying a quiet drink and watching the free street cabaret performance.
Location: Paradise Complex, 123/6 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8pm to late
Phone: +66 (0)81 561 9114
Map - 7
James Dean and Friends
- Nightlife
A modest host bar located near to the entrance of Paradise Complex, James Dean and Friends is noted for its very friendly hosts. They attract a mixed crowd, making it a fun and lively place, in spite of being one of the smallest venues on the street. It offers a good view of the street entertainments of the larger venues further down the road and, while it doesn’t supply similar shows itself, it justly deserves its place among the list of the best gay bars in Phuket for its unique atmosphere, built over the many years of its existence.
Location: Paradise Complex, 143/6 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Open: Daily from 8pm to 2am
Phone: +66 (0)87 472 8726
Map - 8
Sundowners Guesthouse
- Food
- Nightlife
Sundowners is a large complex consisting of a guesthouse and bistro on one side of the road and a 2-storey bar on the other. The street-level bar is a lot like the terrace bars of the major clubs it's surrounded by, but with the added bonus of a pool table and an air-conditioned internet café. The upper floor also has a terrace – making it a great people-watching perch – and has flat-screen TVs on which you can enjoy the latest live sporting action in air-conditioned comfort. Sundowners has an especially impressive drinks menu, featuring exotic cocktails, local and imported wines, champagne, bottled and draught beer and fresh fruit shakes. Top-quality bar snacks are available via the bistro.
Location: Paradise Complex, 125/10-11 Rat-U-Thit Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Phone: +66 (0)76 344 215
Map
Start planning your trip
Where to stay in Patong
Panwaburi Beachfront Resort
Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa - Compulsory Join Santhiya Speedboat from / to Ao Po Grand Marina at Phuket
Amari Phuket
Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa, Patong Beach
Four Points by Sheraton Phuket Patong Beach Resort
Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach
Mandarava Resort and Spa Karon Beach
Paradox Resort Phuket
Holiday Inn Resort Phuket, an IHG Hotel
