The best bars in Phuket

Sipping Tiger is one of those bars that makes everyone’s favourite sound the same – but for very good reason. Tucked away inside InterContinental Phuket Resort, it feels more like a private members’ club in Hong Kong, with moody jungle-print wallpaper, marble tables and dimly lit corners.

The cocktails are seriously good, with unusual techniques and clever use of Thai botanicals, including ingredients grown in the bar’s own herb garden. Leaf & Brine, made with oyster gin, kaffir lime-infused Bianco vermouth and Lustau Oloroso sherry, is something of a love-it-or-hate-it cocktail. I am firmly in the love-it camp. Do not miss the Jamón Bellota 42 Months, served on sourdough with tomatoes and rich pata negra. It is worth returning for alone.

Sipping Tiger, InterContinental Phuket Resort, Kamala. Open daily 5pm-1am

After almost a decade on Dibuk Road, Dibuk House has moved to Yaowarat Road and entered its Liquid Society era. The new concept brings together inventive mixology, music, collaborative bartenders and a sociable crowd, giving this Phuket Old Town favourite a fresh lease of life.

A good gin and tonic is always a welcome discovery, and Dibuk House has plenty to choose from. There are creative signature cocktails too, with knowledgeable bartenders happy to steer you towards something a little different depending on your tastes. This bar is one to consider whether you are dropping in after dinner or making a night of it.

Dibuk House, 10 Yaowarat Road, Phuket Old Town. Open 6.30pm-1am

There is something rather appealing about pulling up a stool at AJA's impressively wide bar in Boat Avenue, with plenty of room to eat, drink and watch the bartenders work their magic. There is also a separate open-sided seating area, where you can sit in or out and enjoy the buzz of the neighbourhood.

The cocktails are excellent, but it is the friendly staff and mixologists, who often greet regulars by name, that make this somewhere you want to return. Happy hour offers another good reason to drop by, although Thursdays are especially popular for their steak night. Arrive early if you want to secure a good spot.

AJA Bistro & Bar, Bandon–Cherngtalay Road, Cherngtalay. Open daily 5pm-midnight

Finding Shhh is half the fun. Hidden behind a key-covered door in Phuket Old Town, this secret cocktail bar takes a little detective work to discover. Once you’ve sleuthed your way in, head upstairs and slip past the curtain into the drinking den, where animated projections of famous landmarks provide a rather unexpected backdrop.

The cocktails are just as intriguing, with creative infusions and a menu of signature drinks identified by numbers rather than names. N.013 is a tribute to Phuket, combining cocoa husk-infused vodka, sake, kombucha, jackfruit and coconut-bergamot cordial, among other ingredients. A fun choice, particularly if you want to impress someone who thinks they know Phuket Old Town inside out.

Shhh. Phuket, 12 Thalang Road, Phuket Old Town. Open daily 6.30pm-midnight

From the team behind Suay Restaurant and Daily Dose, Chef Tammasak’s Alchemy Phuket deserves a pin on your Phuket cocktail map. With its feng shui-inspired design and circular features, it might just be the place to restore your balance after a particularly trying day. There are several spaces to choose from, but the main dining room, with its eight-metre bar, is where you want to be for cocktails.

The highball menu is fun, with some unexpected twists on the classic. Our recommendation is the Shibuya Snow, although sommelier Khun Pix also has an interesting wine selection if you are not in a cocktail mood. Weekend live music is gentle enough to allow for chats without shouting to be heard, and with food this good, you may as well stay for dinner too.

Alchemy Phuket, Srisoonthorn Road, Thalang District. Open daily 5pm-midnight

Mrs B has a habit of turning a quick drink into a rather longer evening than you might have initially planned. Just off Boat Avenue, this neighbourhood favourite combines an outdoor but covered bar with a modern dining room. Expect good cocktails, a generous wine list and a crowd that keeps this local favourite buzzing.

The calendar is rarely quiet, with free-flow sessions, gin specials, guest DJs and kitchen takeovers to name a few. There is also a Casa Bacardi takeover running until December 2026, although the events programme changes regularly, so best to check what is happening before you go.

Mrs B Bar & Table, Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay. Open daily 6pm-midnight

If live music is your thing, Bebop is hard to beat. This Phuket Old Town favourite has recently moved into bigger premises on the second floor of VELA, where velvet curtains, brass detailing and a grand piano give the place a touch of old-school glamour.

The man behind it all is jazz guitarist Boy Navio, who has even brought a musical twist to the cocktail menu. Look out for soulful vocalist EKA Soundz, whose performances alongside Boy have become something to block your diary for. Live music starts around 8pm, with the main bands taking over from 9.30pm. Arrive early for a good seat and check the latest line-up before heading over.

Bebop Live Music Bar, 2nd Floor, VELA Phuket Old Town, 20–24 Yaowarat Road, Phuket Town. Open Mon-Fri 6pm-midnight, Sat-Sun 3pm-midnight

You might come here for the steaks, but the upstairs bar is well worth a visit in its own right. With its low lighting, good-looking bar and sophisticated vibe, you could easily be mistaken for thinking you have been transported to Bangkok rather than Surin Beach. The bar is where I would choose to sit, although there is a small terrace if you prefer somewhere a little more tucked away.

The cocktail menu covers the classics to more inventive creations, although the Pornstar Martini is done particularly well here. There is also an extensive wine selection if cocktails are not your thing. And if whichever drinks you end up choosing leave you feeling peckish, the restaurant downstairs is a tempting next stop, especially if you appreciate a seriously good steak.

Wagyu Steakhouse, Twinpalms Phuket, Cherngtalay. Open daily 5.30pm-midnight