The nightlife scene in Phuket City is certainly different from the all-out assault on the senses of Patong. If Patong is Rocky Road, with everything sweet crammed in willy-nilly, then Phuket City is Green Tea: a distinctly Asian flavour that's an acquired taste, but a delight once you get used to it. Rather than being an animatronic, Disneyland-ride version of Thailand, Phuket City is a great window into the life of real, everyday, modern Thais. The scene in Phuket City's nightclubs and bars is very indicative of Thai culture: it's fun, slightly corny and no one is taking anything seriously.

Drinking

The big draws in Phuket City are the Thai-style night clubs - cavernous rooms packed wall to wall with people drinking, dancing, shouting and laughing. The main entertainment of these joints is usually a live band playing a variety of music ranging from western favourites (usually about three years out of date) to Thai folk music that's been amped up. There is rarely an actual dance floor as locals prefer to cluster around standing tables. Although the crowds are mainly Thais, there are plenty of foreigners scattered about, mostly expats who live and work in Phuket. There are plenty of regular pubs around, as well. Many of these are run by and for foreigners and are popular meeting spots. Most of these bars are frequented by long established Phuket residents who gather after work to have a laugh and let off some steam. A few beers liberally spread around will get you the best inside information on the island. One such bar that is good for happy hour is Dorn's on Vichit Songkran.

Dancing

Unlike Patong, there isn't one 'strip' of pubs and party spots in Phuket City, rather, the bars and nightclubs are scattered all over the city, although there are some areas with a few places close together. One of those areas is the section of Yaowarat Rd between Old Town Phuket and Tesco-Lotus. Coming from the Old Phuket roundabout the first place you'll see on the right is Rockin' Angel, a must for music lovers and artists. The owner is a guitarist and singer and impromptu jam sessions are the norm, just don't sit too close to the drums! Across the street you'll find Suea Saming, known to locals as 'The Bar with the Big Blue Doors'. This is a swanky place with a fine selection of imported spirits and energetic music courtesy of the DJ.

Carrying on further up Yaoworat Road, adjacent to the Phuket Merlin Hotel is Blue Marina, which, with its basement location and exposed ceiling, is reminiscent of a hip underground music club, an impression which is borne out by the regular crowd of Thai university students.

The other area with a good concentration of bars and pubs is Rasada Road, near the large roundabout in the middle of old Phuket. This area has really improved recently, with a number of high-end restaurants and shops moving in, including an all-out dance place opposite Phuket Shopping Centre called 9 Richter that features a hopping DJ and a quasi-Vegas live band.

Good to Know

Patong seems purpose-built for pub crawling, but the bars in Phuket City are a different story. A few are within walking distance of each other but you'll need some sort of transport for serious bar hopping. Driving a motorbike is dangerous enough while sober; don't even think about it after you've had a few. Your best bet is to engage a taxi for the night. Most tuk-tuks will be willing to ferry you around the hot spots and then back to your hotel for a flat rate (usually around 1,000 baht). Although this may seem a little steep, it's not bad if you split it between a group and it's a lot cheaper than a hospital stay.

While there aren't nearly as many ladies of dubious reputation in Phuket City as there are in other areas of the island, they can still be found, especially in bars with a mixed Thai and western crowd. It's difficult at first to tell a working girl from a normal Thai girl who just wants to get to know you. The rule of thumb here is if she's provocatively dressed and assertive she's looking for money. The advantage is that she's also a freelancer so you won't have to pay a 'bar fine'.

Thais have a strong tradition of bringing their own bottle and paying for the mixers, with many leaving their marked bottle at the bar. Indeed, Kor Tor Mor has a garbage can specifically for whiskey bottles' cardboard containers! Mixers generally cost about 200 baht.

No one smokes inside anymore. Some places will have a designated outside smoking area while others are more haphazard. Open-sided bars and restaurant are generally more tolerant of the evil weed but in air-conditioned establishments smoking is a big no-no.

Unless you're 15 years old you won't get asked for ID as a foreigner. Similarly, cover charges are unheard-of at Thai nightclubs. Bars in Phuket City, like the rest of the island are allowed to stay open until 02:00 but some of the smaller places are likely to bend the rules.