Thong Nai Pan

Updated May 2009

There’s lots of choice of where to eat, drink and party in Thong Nai Pan. Most of the bungalows have restaurants and the three 5 star hotels also have places to eat. If you like a bit of nightlife then you won’t be disappointed with Thong Nai Pan.

Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs in Thong Nai Pan Noi

The ‘Beach Club’ is perhaps the most popular spot to eat in Thong Nai Pan Noi. The food on the menu is nothing special but they have a BBQ every night serving freshly caught fish, baked potatoes and steaks. Between 5pm and 6.30pm is happy hour when all cocktails are 100 thb. The long island ice tea is particularly potent.

The Mio Restaurant is sadly closed. Now the only place to watch Premiership football is a new bar just outside hideaway bar. I think it’s called Indigo.  The drinks are over-priced and it’s a haven for mosquitos.

The Stonehouse Restaurant is overlooking the beach in the southern corner of Thong Nai Pan Noi beach. It is a nice spot to have dinner. It’s more expensive than other ‘local’ places but worth it if you want to treat yourself. They have a BBQ every night and offer an extensive buffet style salad. However, be careful crossing the ’stream’ that separates Panviman from the rest of the beach – sometimes it gets quite deep. Alternatively you can walk through the village and turn left after you cross the bridge to walk around.

The Doors Bar is also on the road leaving the beach. It is a short distance from Luna Lounge. It is a delightful wooden building that has a pool table. They serve good Thai curries and is an ideal spot for a quiet evening drink.

The I Sea Bar is located on the northern end of Thong Nai Pan Noi beach. It is next to Tapan Noi restaurant. It’s a great spot to enjoy a cool glass of draught beer if you need a break from lying on the beach. A glass of draught Singha beer is 60 thb.

Handsome Sandwiches is the only ‘fast food’ spot on Thong Nai Pan Noi. It is opposite the Jungle Bar. If you want a snack at 2am then Handsome Sandwiches is your best bet. They sell burgers, sandwiches and cold drinks.

Que Pasa is another closure on the beach. It’s a shame because the restaurant has a wonderful garden and some great seating.

Santhiya Restaurant is the most scenic place to dine in Thong Nai Pan Noi. Unfortunately, the food served is no different to other places on the beach except that is 3 times as expensive!

The Jungle Bar is Thong Nai Pan Noi’s original nightclub. They have a party every Monday night that always attracts many locals and tourists. Buckets, cocktails as well as the usual assortment of beers are available. The party goes on until 5am (if the police don’t enforce the 2am alcohol curfew). So if you are staying at Sandee Bungalow, Baan Panburi or Star Huts it’s a good idea to join the party and have a few beverages to help you fall asleep.

more info:  http://thongnaipan-magazine.com/nightclubs.html

The other late night spot in Thong Nai Pan Noi is The Hideaway Bar. The party night is Friday. The music is the same as the Jungle Bar (bizarre mix of anything that was in the charts with some house, electro and dnb thrown in for good measure). However, as with the Jungle Bar night it’s more about making friends and letting your hair down. If you are staying in the nearby area you are in for a noisy night.

more info: http://thongnaipan-magazine.com/nightclubs.html

Baan Pong is in the middle of Thong Nai Pan Noi beach. It serves really good Burmese food and has a few good vegetarian dishes on the menu. There is al fresco seating as well as some nice low table seating with bean bags. It is a stylish place with good service. The prices, however, seem to keep going up with alarming rapidity. Next to Baan Pongs is the Flip Flop Pharmacy which sells drinks not prescription drugs. It has a free pool table and is at present a favourite haunt for what remains of the local ex-pat community.

Restaurants, Bars and Nightclubs in Thong Nai Pan Yai

Central Cottage Resort has a restaurant with seating on the beach. They have perhaps over done it with the lanterns in the beautiful old tree. The menu offers the usual selection of Thai curries, soups and noodles as well as burgers, sandwiches etc. A good place for a snack. Recently the prices have gone up and it’s now comparatively expensive to eat at Central Cottage.

Havana Resort has a small beach front bar that is a nice spot to enjoy a drink. There is a big television in the bar. Havana also boasts Aash Restaurant, Thong Nai Pan’s only Indian restaurant. It does passable curries and nan breads at reasonable prices (a vindaloo, korma or tikka masala is 250 thb)

Yai Bar is a delightful wooden structure on the beach. It is the only dedicated bar on Thong Nai Pan Yai beach front.

Dreamland Resort has a large shady restaurant on the beach. There is a large menu offering the usual Thai and western dishes.

Nu Bar in Thong Nai Pan Yai main street is an impressive looking building. It has a proper bar counter inside. It is a cool place to go in the evening.  Western and Thai food is available at the bar.

I can’t really tell you anything about Wisit Burger other than it looks very spartan and presumably sells burgers. It’s on the same side road leading to the beach in Thong Nai Pan Yai as Deeva Restaurant and Living Well Gym.

Deeva Restaurant and Pub is the latest addition to bars in Thong Nai Pan Yai. It looks like a stylish place, but I’ve had no feedback from anyone about the place so I can’t say much more.

The Funky Buddha is currently the coolest night club in the Thong Nai Pan area. It is located up a side road off the main road (turn left if you going south) in Thong Nai Pan Yai. It has an old skool feel, with several seating areas on different levels. There is a small dance floor and DJ Lai plays a good selection of techno that unlike Jungle Bar and Hideaway Bar isn’t interrupted by naff pop hits. Party nights are Thursdays and Sundays

For more infomation about restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai visit http://www.thongnaipan-magazine.com/barsandrestaurants.html