13 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Lamai

The central Lamai beer bars occupy a 2,000-square-metre plaza in the town centre. Each bar plays its own music at various volumes, so it can get quite loud at times.

These bars are happening places in high season and the plaza is a great people-watching place. The competition is tough between these venues and gets even more so on Saturday nights, with Thai boxing contests in a small ring, set in the middle of the plaza. It’s all free – you just buy a drink or 2 at one of the surrounding bars.

Lava Lounge is friendly, tasteful, and brews up some great cocktails. There are over 40 to choose from, along with plenty of reds and whites on the wine list and a range of Belgium beers. Lava lamps, bamboo sofas and an atmospheric bar occupy the 60-square-metre lounge.

You can enjoy some great music (mostly classic Motown) while rubbing shoulders with the friendly punters. Lava Lounge is in a quiet alley leading to Lamai Beach in Koh Samui.

Beer Bar Central is the largest concentration of beer bars and nightlife entertainment in Lamai. Located a few hundred metres away from the more renowned Lamai Central Plaza, it consists of dozens of bars along 2 interconnected streets, all competing for the chance to make your night.

Shamrock Irish Pub has dominated Lamai's nightlife scene since 2005. It has 2 distinct areas: an outdoor terrace and a typical pub interior. It also offers pretty feisty live music 5 times a week (in high season) on a centrally located stage. The atmosphere is fairly peaceful in the early evening but usually gets a lot livelier when the band starts up.

Shamrock Irish Pub provides sports lovers with 4 separate satellite feeds on 6 large TVs. The place is big enough to absorb them all without descending into audio mayhem. If you’re after a game of pool, the pub has genuine slate pool tables. Expect a good welcome and happy faces in this family-friendly joint.

Lamai hosts Muay Thai schools and an original Thai boxing stadium that hosts great fights on Saturday nights. The originality of Lamai Boxing Stadium comes from the fact that female fights are organised here – participants usually work at the beer bars set all around the ring.

For those who would like to be initiated to the ancestral art of Thai boxing, the most popular place in the area is Lamai Muay Thai Camp. Other Thai kickboxing camps in Lamai are Wech Pinyo Muay Thai Gym (on Samui Ring Road, near Lamai Temple) and Jun Muay Thai (off Samui Ring Road).

Soi McDonald's (nicknamed after the famous fast-food chain) in Lamai is a small street with a handful of beer bars. These establishments follow the same general pattern as the bars in Lamai Central Plaza – a roughly round, roofed structure with neon lights, loud music, a couple of chrome poles and cheap drinks served by a small staff. The other side of the road has a spa and a couple of small restaurants.

Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill is a popular chain restaurant in Thailand. Its Lamai outlet occupies a long, 1-storey building that blends Thai (thatch roof) and contemporary (modern furnishing and lighting) styles.

This is a cool and lively joint at which you can follow Premier League football or other live sports on their flat-screen TVs. There's energetic live music performed by a local band on Fridays from 10 pm until late. Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill is diagonally opposite the busy Lamai Central Plaza, where you can find beer bars and an outdoor Thai boxing ring.

An ambitious beachside location, Beach Republic incorporates poolside dining (with sun loungers, sofas and cabanas), chilled-out music, very modern design, and pioneering tapas and mains menus.

The scene at Beach Republic is decidedly cool as it regularly hosts international DJs and movie nights. You can find it on the northern end of Lamai Beach, where you can relax with excellent views of the Andaman Sea.

Chill Inn Beach Cafe and Hostel is very popular for its relaxed atmosphere, chilled-out music and range of seating areas. It's located right on Lamai Beach, and you can choose to chill on large, comfortable bamboo chairs, swing in a hammock, or lie on the beach on a traditional mon (a Thai-style triangular cushion).

Chill Inn Beach Cafe and Hostel also serves food all day at fairly reasonable prices, along with a satisfactory drinks menu.

Kelly’s Tavern is a rather large venue in the centre of Lamai town. Blending a sports bar, a cosy lounge, and even a guesthouse (they have a few rooms for rent at reasonable prices in their backyard), this cool venue is stylish yet unpretentious.

Apart from the many TVs showing international sports events, the tavern has dartboards and a professional Brunswick pool table at the back of the bar. You can even enjoy an all-day happy hour and Friday cocktail nights. All in all, Kelly’s Tavern is a great place to spend a nice evening chatting and drinking with friends on Koh Samui.

Outback Bar & Grill is a fun venue on Lamai Beach Road. It's styled like an outback saloon without walls, with lots of bar stools for those looking to unwind and watch the world go by. It also has TVs airing live sports matches throughout the day.

If you're up for a filling meal, Outback Bar & Grill offers classic steaks, burgers, grilled lamb chops, meat pies, and chicken parmigiana. There's also a good range of Australian and Thai beers on the menu.

TawaNN at Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa is one of the island's best cocktail lounges. The bar seats about 30 and has a small but concise cocktail list and a fine wines and spirits menu.

The decor is an impressive mix of traditional Thai and contemporary design. As the bar looks out towards the beach, you'll be able to enjoy spectacular sunset and sea views. If you're visiting in the daytime, TawaNN serves delicious light snacks and a good range of afternoon teas and coffees.

Rock Bar is the image of a typical beach bar in South Thailand. Built from bamboo and thatch, driftwood and other recovered materials, this cool venue is right next to the famous Grandpa and Grandma Rocks (Hin Ta and Hin Yai) at the southern tip of Lamai Bay. The bar has a small terrace built between huge granite boulders, offering great sea views. Complete with Thai triangular pillows and low tables, the atmosphere is as laidback as you can get.

Rock Bar has a rather misleading name as the venue is more a Rastafarian temple than a rocking place. It hosts occasional live reggae performances, nightly fire shows (in high season), and a tattoo studio.