Koh Samui Nightlife
Once again, apart from the full moon parties on Koh Pha Ngan, Chaweng and Lamai hog the Samui spotlight with a full range of funky pubs, clubs and shows. However, if you stop at the quieter places all over the island you're in for a warm welcome and instant company.
For those whose late nights involve watching the sun coming up, Chaweng Beach is often the location for impromptu later-than-late, after-closing-time festivities. Generally speaking, Lamai's nightlife is a little bit naughtier than Chaweng's, but this is probably because Chaweng's girlie bars are almost hidden away while Lamai's are more in your face.
Chaweng Beach Nightlife
Central Chaweng – the immediate area around Soi Green Mango – is the nerve centre of this beach town's nightlife. The Green Mango is 'the' club in Koh Samui, it gets hopping around midnight along with satellite bars. Soi Green Mango gets packed around this time until closing at two o'clock.
The Reggae Pub by Chaweng's lake was the first significant night spot on the island and it still is a good, but fading venue. ESP (Eat, Shop, Party on Soi Colibri, near Central Samui Beach Resort, is a more laid-back scene but it does offer an alternative to a sore head from too loud sounds. (Read more...)
Lamai Beach Nightlife
Over in Lamai the scene leans more towards live music, female mud wrestling (!!) and foam parties. The live music can be found at Outback and Smooth Pub while the mud wrestling is at Siam Bar & Grill and foam parties take place at the Bauhaus.
For its size, Lamai packs a good nightlife punch and while it's more girlie-orientated than Chaweng it's certainly not too distasteful. Even though Lamai is not as flash as Chaweng, it's altogether quite a good little party town. (Read more...)
Full Moon Parties
The music at full moon parties is mostly ear-splittingly loud trance and house, and a predominantly youthful crowd dance until dawn on party nights. Not to everyone's taste certainly, but it's definitely a unique party experience.
To get there, head to Big Buddha Beach or Fisherman's Village, Bo Phut where you will find numerous speedboats leaving from both places. Many travel agents also sell combination tickets with hotel transfers included. A word of warning - the police often search vehicles approaching the party for illegal drugs, and arrests are common. From 20:00 on full moon nights on Had Rin Beach. (Read more...)
Secret Garden
One of Samui's oldest music institutions, the Secret Garden has a simple but successful formula; live music with a sizzling seaside barbecue. Of course there's more to it that that – the live music is provided by musicians passing through seeking a jam with the locals and most of the time it's very good indeed, with a slant towards rock.
And it's not strictly nightlife either; Secret Garden holds its get-togethers on Sunday afternoons and evenings with stalls selling snacks and trinkets as well as handicrafts. The Secret Garden is by the sea on Big Buddha Beach. A great place for an afternoon and evening out.
