Bars & Beach Bars on Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan is famous for the Full Moon Party — and rightly so. But the Full Moon happens once a month. The other twenty-nine evenings have their own bar culture, and it's one of the island's most enjoyable things to discover.
The west coast faces due west into the Gulf of Thailand, which means every sunset is a production. The beach bars that have set up along this stretch — from Secret Beach south to the Sri Thanu hinterland — exist to make the most of it. String lights come on as the sky turns gold, fire shows begin as the horizon drops, and the cocktail lists reflect an island where people have been honing their evening ritual for years.
But the bar scene goes further than the west coast. There are elevated spots above the treeline with views over the Gulf, beach bars in Haad Rin that buzz even on non-party nights, and village restaurant-bars in the north and south where the island's residents actually drink. Koh Phangan's evening options are broader and more varied than its party reputation suggests.