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Did you know! That: Southern Thailand has been inhabited since the early days of mankind by ancient tribes who settled and or adapted their lifestyles to the local environment. Who arrived first and who pushed out or assimilated who has kept archaeologists occupied for a long time, and promises to keep them working for a good while to come. Read more

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Restaurants

Som Tam Hawkers (papaya salad)
Moving food carts generally found in busier areas of town
Patong Beach

This traditional northeastern Thai (Isan) dish has become standard fare all over Thailand and can be found on almost every beach in the country. Thin slices of green papaya combined with peanuts, dried seafood, and vegetables all mixed into one spicy salad that is eaten with sticky rice and fresh grilled chicken. Makes a perfect lunch to nibble on while soaking up sun on the beach.

New Hawkers Food Court

Has recently opened. Located on the beach at the intersection of Soi Sawatdirak and Thawiwong Road (Patong Beach Road). At the time of printing the authorities had yet to work out some administration problems, like what hours the market will be open, and determine which stalls will be allowed to serve what type of food. When all 48 stalls are open it should be a great place to sample a lot of different types Thai food.

The Night Market
Soi Rat-U-Thit 2 blocks north of Soi Bangla

Among this rather tatty looking collection of noodle stands and seafood stalls are a number of fruit venders. This is a good place to sample the fresh tropical fruits that are in season. The venders cut and prepare the fruit, then wrap it in plastic. This is both convenient and cheap because preparing tropical fruits can be messy for the untrained. You can purchase small servings and sample many different fruits. The pineapple grown on Phuket is particularly sweet and crunchy. The seafood offered here is expensive considering the surroundings, but the rice and noodle dishes and the barbecued satays (meat or seafood roasted on a stick) are a good value.

Baan Rim Pa

100/7 Kalim Beach Road	Tel: 340-789, 341-768
Patong Beach	Reservations Suggested-Full Price

Everything about the Ban Rim Pa is special. It perches upon a cliff on the north end of Patong Beach overlooking the Andaman Sea, a beautiful location with an impeccable atmosphere, top notch food and service to match. The food served here is ‘royal’ Thai cuisine, as it is styled after the magnificent dishes traditionally reserved for the royal court. If you are unable to make a reservation for dinner you may want to just drop by the piano bar and enjoy a drink.

Buffalo Steak House

94/25 Soi Patong Resort	Tel: 340-855
Patong Beach	Reservations Suggested-Moderate

One sign of a good restaurant is a crowd of hungry customers and the Buffalo Steak House is busy every day. The atmosphere is quiet and the service is friendly and professional. Enjoy one of the best steaks in town or order a delicious meal from the full menu of Scandinavian, Thai or International food -- all prepared by a European chef.

Casanova

97/32 Thaveewong Road	Tel: 340-417
Patong Resort Arcade	Reservations Suggested

People who love great Italian food and wine will be right at home at this classic Patong Beach restaurant. Serving traditional dishes from the island of Sardinia that take full advantage of the wealth of fresh seafood available in Phuket. Great Pizza.

Da Maurizio

100/9 Kalim Beach Road	Tel: 341-157
Patong Beach	Reservations Suggested

The design and location of "Da Maurizio" both make it worthy of a visit. This restaurant sets the standard for elegant dining and specializes in serving authentic regional cuisine from the finest ingredients.

The Dive Inn

113/18 Song Roy Pee Rd	Tel: 341-927
Patong Beach	Inexpensive

Good selection of delicious and healthy Thai dishes suited to European tastes. An extensive and well-prepared selection of western dishes.

Expat Hotel

End of Soi Sunset	Tel: 340-300
Patong Beach	Inexpensive

A twenty-four hour coffee shop offering good western food, a nice selection of popular Thai dishes, and breakfast is served all day. The steakpie and hamburger are both highly recommended. One well-liked item is beans, (the kind that comes from a tin can) served with eggs or on toast. Dine in air-conditioned comfort while watching a video, or at one of several out door bars. Hosts the weekly run by the ‘Hash House Harriers’. A good place to meet foreign residents of Phuket.

Faulty Towers

A friendly British pub atmosphere with satellite TV, darts, bar games and good drinks. Standard pub fare with a good cottage pie, bangers with mash, and fish and chips.

Islander

Serving traditional English, Thai and International dishes at reasonable prices in a friendly atmosphere. A special roast dinner of the day, full English breakfast, and homemade pies The lamb roast offered on Sunday evening is highly recommended. A sport’s bar environment with satellite TV, pool table, and videos.

Longhorn Restaurant & Bar

Small pleasant restaurant serving Scandinavian and Tex-Mex food in the heart of Patong. The chef is from Sweden and is developing a local following within the ex-pat community, especially on Friday evenings when he hosts an 'all you can eat' barbecue for 150 baht.

Nakaburi

Is new restaurants and a gift shop that sits atop a mountain about 8 Kilometers north of Patong on the road to Kamala beach. The lure of this place, aside from the spectacular view, is the five Thai restaurants, each serving food from different region of Thailand. You can enjoy delicious Thai food from one region or mix the different regions to suit your taste. It is rather an enchanting place, especially in the evening, and it feels like a place that someone put a lot of thought and imagination into.

Otowa

Pass though the 15^th century Kyoto gate and enter an enchanting Japanese restaurant perched out over the crashing waves at Kalim Beach. Come early and enjoy the sunset while sampling some of the many varieties of authentic Japanese cuisine offered. Well known for its exceptional sushi and Robata Yaki (Japanese BBQ).

Sabai Sabai Coffee Shop

Good selection of both Thai and Western food. Serves fresh bread and is a favorite place for visitors looking for a good western style breakfast. Everything on the menu is good, well prepared, and the prices are reasonable. The service is usually bad and sometimes terrible.

Sam’s Steak and Salad Bar

When Thai food just won’t do and you need a steak, Sam’s is the place to go. Imported beef perfectly prepared to suit your taste and served with all the trimmings. The restaurant is fast becoming a legend along the Beach Road.

Malee Seafood Village

Typical open air seafood restaurant in Patong Beach. Choose from a large variety of seafood laid out on beds of ice. Lobsters, still alive and kicking, are displayed in large basins, but remember a lobster will up the price of your meal considerably. The seafood is then prepared for you and served at your table. In spite of the fact new seafood restaurants seem to open every day and the competition is fierce, seafood prices continue their upward spiral.

The Royal Kitchen

Chinese restaurant perched on top of a 25 story hotel. Good selection of Chinese food and the service is quite good. The panoramic views of Patong from the restaurant unfortunately attract a large number of group tour customers.

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Night Life

Gaudy, rowdy, naughty, noisy, tacky, disgusting, or delightful -- take your pick to describe the night life at Patong. As the sun goes down the lights come on, the girls and katoeys (transexuals) come out, and the show begins on soi Bangla and the surrounding areas. ‘Beer bars’ Thai style usually have a score of young hostesses (generally female) who serve drinks and chit chat with the customers (usually male). The competition is fierce and the management of each establishment depends on the charms and the finely honed talents of persuasion of the girls to help potential customers decide where they want to enjoy a drink or two. Some of the more popular places on Soi Bangla are Ned Kelley’s Bar where Big Joe and Little John can regale you with stories about Phuket, and on down the street, The Kangaroo Bar and the Alice Bar draw steady crowds. You can drop by the Oasis Club on Soi Patong Resort for a game of pool and a cold beer. Thai-style Go-Go clubs like the Play School on Soi Sea Dragon, and the Rock Hard and Firehouse Discos on Soi Bangla, all have dancers to entertain the customers. More traditional discos -- like the Banana Disco on the Beach Road and the Safari Pub on the top of the hill on the road to Karon Beach -- get going at about midnight. The newly opened Shark Club on the corner of soi Bangla and Rat-U-Thit Rd offers a high-tech environment for those looking for a place to dance or just watch the laser light show. Admission is 100 Baht and includes one drink. Most bars and entertainment venues close at 2AM, when the action moves to Soi Sunset where the bars stay open to the wee hours of the morning.

As the hotels and resorts strive to bring in a more varied types of entertainment that couples and families enjoy, Patong Beach is slowly shedding its ‘sailor on shore leave’ image. Jazz music is beginning to draw crowds to the lounge in the new Novotel Phuket Resort and the piano bar at the Baan Rim Pa Restaurant is always a popular stop. Check with your hotel about scheduled entertainment on the island as it is one of the fastest developing trends currently happening.

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Things to do

Hide Away Spa: Offers ancient art of Thai massage in a relaxing pleasant jungle setting in the foothills of Patong. The special medicinal ingredients and herbs in use for centuries in Buddhist monasteries have been carefully researched and reproduced for your relaxation and enjoyment. A soothing soak and massage is just what the doctor ordered for the weary traveler. Start with refreshing herbal spa, then let a specially trained massage technician remove the knots, knead away the stress and strain, and leave you relaxed and rejuvenated and ready for more travel adventures. Well worth the modest fee. Located 47/4 Na Nai Road, Patong Tel: 340 291

Thai Kick Boxing Gym: A local boxing gym in Patong that offers training in the ancient art of Thai boxing. Stop by to watch local lads train in this specialized form of martial arts. You need to come in person to make arrangements for training and it may take more than one trip as the management is rather informal. Located on Na Nai Road in Patong just down the road from the Hide Away Spa.

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