Philipp Meier

Green season is no reason to hide indoors in Phuket. The southwestern monsoon brings waves to the west coast, Chalong Bay is primed for regatta racing, and the island’s beach clubs are keeping the party going. There’s a seaside Sunday brunch in the mix, too. British DJ-producer Hardt Antoine makes his Phuket debut at Café del Mar, COAST Beach Club serves a Rome-inspired Sunday brunch by the sea, and Phuket Yacht Club hosts five days of racing and waterfront gatherings at its PYC Yachting Festival. Over on the west coast, Kata Beach is the place to get on a board, while Barra Cuda Beach Club launches a weekly Mykonos-inspired AZUR Festival in Patong. However you spend the weekend, Phuket’s green season is giving you plenty to work with.

Barra Cuda Beach Club’s new weekly AZUR Festival brings a dose of Mediterranean glamour to Patong. For the occasion, the bright, white beach club and its sea-facing pool take on a blue-and-white Mykonos look, with international artists including Bimini joined by vocalists and local DJs. The pace starts easy, with champagne, daybeds and afternoon lounge sets, before building into harder-hitting afro house from sunset until late. July 16 (weekly). B700 (no minimum spend required). AZUR Festival, Barra Cuda Beach Club, Patong. 2pm-late

The southwest monsoon means surf season is in full swing, and Kata Beach is one of Phuket’s best places to get on a board. The one-kilometre stretch has beach breaks running in both directions, with the southern end generally offering the best angle. Beginners can learn how to read waves, time their take-off and build enough momentum to glide, while more experienced surfers can make the most of the swell. Book a class and the surfboard, rash guard and leash are typically included for use after the lesson. July 16-19 (daily). From B1,500 (1.5-hour private lesson). Phuketsurf, Kata Beach. 8am-7pm

The PYC Yachting Festival brings five days of regatta racing and waterfront gatherings to Chalong Bay. First-warning flags go up at 11am each day, followed by sunset socials, Thai buffets, pizza and barbecues at Phuket Yacht Club’s Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, with onshore events sponsored by Really Good Deli Ltd. Courses range from short inshore races to longer, multi-province passages and are announced daily according to the wind. Sailors can register at the club, while spectators can buy a pass or watch free from viewpoints including Big Buddha, Khao Khad in Cape Panwa and Windmill Viewpoint near Yanui and Nai Harn beaches. The festival wraps up with an awards dinner on Sunday.  July 15-19. B18,000. PYC Yachting Festival, Phuket Yacht Club, Chalong. noon-11pm

COAST Beach Club brings the flavours of Rome to Phuket with a Sunday brunch built around hearty cooking, seafood and slow afternoons by the sea. Start antipasti before moving on to Italian favourites from the live stations. The food-only package starts at B1,590++, while B2,880++ adds free-flow drinks – handy with orata or gilt-head sea bream, and a chilled white. Brunch also includes access to the resort pool and waterpark. Save room for strawberry tiramisu, finished  with fluffy mascarpone cream and juicy berries and served from the chef’s trolley.  July 19 (monthly). From B1,590++ (food only). Roma Sunday Brunch by the Sea, COAST Beach Club and Bistro, Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket. noon-3pm

British DJ-producer Hardt Antoine has moved fast. A set at Burning Man in 2024 and a place on DJ Mag’s ‘Ones to Watch’ list for 2025 helped push him into the spotlight, followed by appearances from Milan and London to Berlin and Ibiza. His sound resists neat labels, moving between deep house, tech house, soul, ’80s pop and even classical influences, with releases on labels including Innervisions. At Café del Mar Phuket, expect infectious melodies, soulful vocals and deep grooves shaped by his French and Jamaican roots. As Antoine puts it, dancing is the ultimate form of active relaxation. July 18. B300. Hardt Antoine, Café del Mar Phuket. 10pm-3am

Harking back to the good old R’n’B days? Head to Mrs B Bar & Table this Friday evening for a night wrapped in non-stop hits. The Bangtao bar and co-host R’n’B Society bring back the golden-era ’90s and ’00s mood of romance and nostalgia, with DJ Lildew and Pele (not the footballer, sadly) at the forefront. There is no actual dancefloor at the open-air bar & restaurant to shake a leg and retry those two-step moves, but Bobby Valentin’s romantic Slow Down and other classic R’n’B slow jams add ambience to the crackling sounds from the wood-fired stove. July 10. Free entry. The RNB Society Takeover, Mrs B Bar & Table. 8pm-late 

For a quieter but no less impressive night out, Phuket School of Music hosts The Latsos Piano Duo for a one-hour concert for two pianos. The husband-and-wife duo are known for sensitive performances of Schubert’s four-hand works as well as lighter arrangements of film music, including pieces by John Williams. What makes the format special is the precision. Two pianists, two instruments and one shared musical conversation, with the best duo making the whole thing feel almost telepathic. Phuket School of Music founder Gladwin Pantastico puts it neatly: play softly and the piano can sound sweet; play harder and it rings out brightly, almost like a bell. In other words, this one is for anyone who likes their weekend with a little polish. July 12. B1,500. The Latsos Piano Duo, Concert for Two Pianos, Recital Studio, Phuket School of Music. 6.30pm-7.30pm

Wine tasting gets a techy twist at The Green Man Pub in Rawai, where QR Wine lets guests scan their way through catalogues, videos, prices and food-pairing notes from a smartphone. Happily, this is not a ‘good luck, figure it out yourself’ situation. Host Howard will be there to pour, explain and steer the conversation away from wine jargon overload. The line-up includes lesser-spotted grapes and bottles such as Refosco, the deeply coloured Italian red known for its dark fruit notes, alongside Roter Veltliner, Rondinella and a sweet Riesling. The catch is that places need to be reserved in advance, with guests asked to let Howard know their preferred grapes by July 6. For curious drinkers who like a bit of context with their glass, this is a low-pressure way in. July 11. Free entry. Wine tasting with QR Wine at The Green Man Pub. 8pm-11.30pm

Mirror painting sounds more intimidating than it is, which is exactly the point of this sunset session at Etna Restaurant Bangtao. Hosted by Wasted Art Collective, Paint, Sip & Connect gives you a mirror, acrylic paint and enough guidance to turn a blank reflection into something floral, dreamy, abstract or wildly overambitious. No experience is needed, and the lakeside golden-hour setting should help loosen up anyone worried about making a mess. The forgiving part is the real selling point: acrylic paint can be wiped away once dry, so mistakes become less ‘disaster’ and more ‘try again with confidence’. Go for blossoms, water, butterflies, a moody little landscape or whatever your reflection happens to suggest. July 12. B350. Reflections at Sunset, Paint, Sip & Connect, Etna Restaurant Bangtao. 4.30pm-6.30pm

Can’t decide between big-room energy and underground house? Tony Romera gets it. The France-based DJ, producer and remixer has built a sound that sits somewhere between main-stage impact and club-floor credibility, with releases on Defected and tracks including ‘Back & Forth’ to his name. Expect a late-night set leaning into French house, disco loops, filtered funk, boogie touches and the sort of pumping groove that keeps things moving without tipping into autopilot. Romera has picked up support from names including Tiësto, Fatboy Slim and Carl Cox, which should give you a fair idea of the territory. Catch him at Illuzion for a night that bridges polished EDM muscle with proper momentum. July 11. B500. Tony Romera at Illuzion Phuket. 8pm-4am

You don’t need a yacht to join Phuket’s monthly Grow Boating Evening, though you may leave wanting one. The Royal Phuket Marina meet-up keeps things casual, bringing together newcomers, island regulars, boat people and the generally curious for an easy networking session by the water. This month’s edition comes with a buffet from Bluu Asian Kitchen & Bar, drinks from Blue Paradise and Aqua Thrill, and enough harbour-side chatter to carry you well into the weekend. Think less hard sell, more sunset catch-up with a nautical edge.  July 3. Free. Grow Boating Phuket Evening, Bluu Asian Kitchen & Bar, Royal Phuket Marina. 5pm-8pm

Swiss mixologist Dirk Hany is better known online as Doctor Cocktail, and the nickname is not just for show. The multi-award-winning bartender and founder of Zurich’s Bar am Wasser, one of Switzerland’s most talked-about cocktail bars, has built a career on sharp technique, playful ideas and drinks with a story. At Trisara, he takes over 7.8°N Craft Cocktail Bar for one night only, with an afternoon masterclass followed by six signature cocktails in the evening. Expect pear brandy, whisky, clever twists and the kind of backstory that makes a drink linger longer than the glass. The Andaman views are a bonus; for once the bar may be the main attraction.   July 3. Free entry; reservations recommended. 7.8°N, Trisara Phuket. 5.30pm-late; free cocktail masterclass 4pm-5.30pm