Just like the island itself, Koh Mak nightlife is laid back and friendly, with a handful of bars laying on top notch cocktails and cold beers, live music and some very decent tunes. From time to time, though, it feels the need to freshen things and throwing caution to the wind, instead hosts some fabulous full-on parties.
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Around the Beaches
Ao Suan Yai Beach
On Ao Suan Yai Beach, I-Talay by Koh Mak Resort Pier has a perfect location in the middle of the sand for watching the sunsets and a competitive happy hour to boot. Further down, Thai Sabai Bar @ Prompakdee, combines beach restaurant (Thai staples and some western choices) with bar (cocktails, beer) and a few times a week, a DJ from mid afternoon onwards. Both spots have also played party hosts when the festivals are on the island and at New Year.
On the cape between Ao Suan Yai and Ao Pra Beach (Mira Montra), Cococape has a unique thatch bar, Blue Pearl, at the end of its little pier – good for those socials as well as a drink but they do have an entrance fee of 200bt per person (including a drink of value up to 80bt).
Ao Kao Beach
At the start of the main central section of Ao Kao Beach, Monkey Bar, is the latest incarnation of Koh Mak’s long running, reggae-infused scene. It’s open till midnight, with live music most nights. Their original home is still going strong down by the sea – bar come restaurant (with a small menu), cannabis outlet and a few basic rooms.
Heading along the beach itself, Cha Cha Beach Club, bistro and bar has rapidly become one of the island’s hippest spots – happy hour from 16.30 to 18.00, open 09.00 till 22.00, frequent music nights (70s, 80s), pool table, seating out and in.
Next door and newly opened in 25/26, Little Bear Bar offers live music, a full bar and restaurant too – it closes at midnight. Completing the set, the now relatively long running boutique guesthouse, By The Sea, of course also has a beachside diner and bar – happy hour, live music from time to time.
Back on the main road and across the other side from By The Sea, The Riverside Bar (part of the small bungalow resort, The River Retreat) has live music, pool and darts. It’s open till late with food available too.
Top End
At the other end of Ao Kao’s main drag, past Makathanee, which incidentally has its own rooftop bar Head in the Clouds, you come to Sips. With their house speciality of gin, they open from around 16.00 till late (02.00 some nights) – DJs, happy hours, fireshows and parties. Baanyai, next door is a more muted affair, their happy hour from 16.00 to 19.00.
Other Areas
Back Road to Ao Suan Yai
Tucked away on the little back road running from behind Makathanee up to Good Time Sports Resort, Kok Mak Sportsbar comprises full bar, weed, German sausage and all the main football on a decent sized screen. Continue on up the street and hidden away behind all the foliage, Art House offers a full bar with great music in its laid back, bohemian setting.
Towards Laem Tukkata
If you take a left at the crossroads after Art House, you head off towards Laem Tukkata in the far west of the island, where you’ll find Hidden Beach – down a track on the left about 300 metres after Mira Montra.
It’s a lovely, quiet resort of 10 stilted, wooden boutique bungalows with its own essentially private beach and bar/restaurant on the sand. They do, however, throw parties from time to time (full moon, half moon, that kind of thing) with DJs and late nights – great occasions and there’s even a party area where where two on-shore wooden boats provide a 2nd bar and a seating area overlooking the dance floor (beach).
It’s also used by both the Thaibreak and in the past, Fly to The Moon crews for their party venues (see below).
South Coast
Meanwhile, The Coral Club over on the south east coast is a superb spot for sunsets as well as pool, live music, pizzas – settle back on their deck by the sea and have the camera ready. It has a pottery workshop too.
Ao Nid Road
Terraria on the Ao Nid road boasts live music, two pool tables with frequent killer evenings , a very decent line in cocktails – 100bt minimum spend at the bar to join the pool games, open till 02.00.
North Coast Road
At the start of the north coast road towards The Mak, Utopia – all decked out in vivid reggae colours and lit by fairy lights and candles – is an understated, homely bar, where the Swedish owner also puts on frequent live acoustic sessions and throws the odd party. You can stay too in the one-of-a-kind pod.
Festivals
Twice a year, the Koh Mak nightlife scene does break free of its shackles with the arrival of Thaibreak, a German clubbing collective and the party goup, Fly To The Moon, from Bangkok.
Running for around 12 days in the middle of March, Thaibreak brings together top European DJs from the Berlin label Moon Harbour (deep house) with big name Thai Djs to throw nightly parties (often till sunrise) at a host of different venues around the island. Thai Sabai @ Prompakdee, Hidden Beach, I Talay @ Koh Mak Resort, The Mak and Seavana were all hosts in 2026.
Fly to the Moon, meanwhile, holds an annual New Year festival over 4 days, with leading Bangkok Djs from the hip nightclubs and bars of Thonglor, Ekamai and Kolour in Phuket. Venues are similar to above, with the 25/26 at I Talay @ Koh Mak Resort, Sabai @ Prompakdee, Cinnamon and NYE itself at Little Moon Villa (one of the co-organisers). Daylight hours are set aside for yoga and there is always one boat trip (club on the sea), as there is with Thaifun.
Note: the festivals above and their events are ticket only.
Otherwise, on all the major holidays, you can also safely assume that there will be a proper party on at least one of the beaches – late, loud and bacchanalian.
