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Nightlife on Koh Tao

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Nightlife on Koh Tao: Your comprehensive guide to all the best Koh Tao parties and the general nightlife scene.

A few quick FAQs for those looking for the bare essentials about the Nightlife on Koh Tao scene:

1. Are there lots of bars and clubs on Koh Tao? Yes, and there’s plenty of variety to suit all preferences when it comes to music, DJs, and dancing.

2. Is Koh Tao a party island? Yes, but nightlife on Koh Tao isn’t always focused on hardcore partying. So there’s plenty to do for those looking for a more relaxed pace of life too.

3. Is there a full moon party on Koh Tao? No, but there are several alternatives – some of which many visitors tell us are better than the real thing!

And now for the longer version…

The Koh Tao nightlife scene is a big drawcard for many visitors. So, where are the best places to party? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for. All of the party bars on Koh Tao have their own vibe. There are lots of entertainment options that include fire shows, live music, and DJs. Many are open daily, but others are only open on set nights or for organised party events. Here’s a full rundown of nightlife on Koh Tao to help you plan your party calendar.

The 5 Best Bars on Koh Tao to Party

If you’re just here for a few days, you’ll want to pack in as much as possible. So it helps to know what’s going on and when so you can plan your bucket-induced hangovers around your other holiday activities.

The Queen’s Cabaret

You’ve heard of that old saying ‘when in Rome’? In Italy, that might mean a trip to the Colosseum. But, in Thailand, it means taking in a cabaret show! A firm favourite on the Koh Tao party scene, nothing compares to the atmosphere at The Queen’s Cabaret. The venue is open every night from around 8 pm for ticket sales, with the show starting at 9.30 pm. Featuring a mix of fast, fun, and witty performances, no trip to the Queen’s Cabaret is ever boring. The dancers switch up the show each night. If you want to go again, you’ll see a different routine every time.

The Local

The Local has become one of the ‘must visit’ venues on the list of Koh Tao bars catering to a party crowd. Regular events include quiz night (weekly), Karaoke (2-3 times per week). There is Rock and Roll Bingo (weekly), and general party nights with DJs and live bands. Plus, the team arranges a heap of special events throughout the year on international days of celebration like Australia Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Independence Day, etc. Any excuse for a party on Koh Tao, and there’ll be something going on down at The Local!

Fishbowl

One of the original Koh Tao parties and still a reliable place for late-night fun and dancing. Fishbowl Beach Bar hosts live music most nights. When the sun goes down, the inside restaurant area becomes home to beer pong tables. There are also beanbags and Thai cushions down on the beach (at times of the year when the tide is low enough). Whilst seated there you can still enjoy the vibe while taking in the nightlife on Koh Tao in a more relaxed way!

Lotus Bar

One of Koh Tao’s original beach party venues, Lotus Bar opens for sunset and keeps the beats pumping through until the early hours. Drinks are available by the glass, by the bottle, or by the bucket, and after the sunset gazing is over, the evening fun begins! There’s a nightly fire show featuring some truly amazing skills by local artists, and guest participation is often permitted – and encouraged! A Koh Tao nightlife spectacle not to be missed!

Leo Evolution

Nightlife on Koh Tao takes on a whole different meaning at Leo Evolution. When you think of clubs on Koh Tao, most people imagine sandy beach bars or busy pub-style venues. But Leo is different. It’s the only traditional nightclub on the Koh Tao party scene. Fully air-conditioned inside, with a spacious outside courtyard and live music and DJs playing every night, this is where you come to party on Koh Tao if you’ve still got the energy for a few more drinks (or several buckets!) after all the other late-night venues have closed.

The 5 Best Bars Koh Tao Party Events

Koh Tao nightlife doesn’t stop at the regular bars, beach clubs, and pubs. As we mentioned earlier, there’s no Koh Tao full moon party. However, there are a few dedicated parties running anything from a few times a week to a few times a month that can rival our neighbours in Koh Phangan.

Koh Tao Pub Crawl

It’s impossible to fully embrace nightlife on Koh Tao without joining the pub crawl at least once! Koh Tao Pub Crawl runs four times a week – every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The meeting point is Choppers Bar in Sairee, with sign-up at 6pm. Attendance guarantees you an awesome night out, and you also get an official pub crawl t-shirt, a welcome bucket, special deals on selected drinks at every bar, and a discount card for use at participating businesses on the island.

Secret Party Koh Tao

Secret Party is an international brand with a permanent base here on the island. The team also runs parties worldwide at several satellite and ‘pop-up’ locations. The only Koh Tao nightlife event focussing solely on techno and house music, Secret Party takes place in the jungle at the old Koh Tao campsite grounds on the road to Tanote Bay. Advanced tickets are available online and can also be purchased from select bars around the island. Free taxi transfers are available at set times, departing from the Seven Eleven on the main road opposite Factory Cafe.

 
Escobar Koh Tao

Located high up in the hills of Koh Tao on the road to Mango Bay, Escobar is a jungle party not to be forgotten. There’s a huge dancefloor, two stages featuring local, national, and international DJs, and even a mechanical bull. A variety of music preferences are accounted for, including hip-hop, R&B, commercial pop, techno, and house. Advanced tickets are available for purchase online and from several bars around the island. Taxi transfers can be organised from a handful of central pick-up/drop-off locations.

Real Moon Party Koh Tao

The Koh Tao full moon party equivalent – but a jungle version! Located close to Secret Party on the road to Tanote Bay, Real Moon Party Koh Tao features a huge dancefloor and sound system and hosts both local and international DJs. The music mainly caters to the techno crowd, with beats pumping into the early hours. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Taxi transfers are available from 8 pm onwards from pick-up points outside the Sairee and Mae Haad Seven-Eleven stores.

Backyard Party Koh Tao

One of the newest jungle parties jumping onto the trend of late-night reveling away from the beach bars on Koh Tao, Backyard Party is located in the centre of the island near Love Koh Tao Viewpoint. As with all of the other Koh Tao parties on this list, tickets are cheaper in advance than at the door. Taxi transfers are available every 15 minutes running from the main Seven-Eleven stores in both Sairee and Mae Haad.

Alternative Nightlife on Koh Tao: 4 Top Picks for an Epic Night Out

Want to have a fun time but not sure about swinging yourself fully into the Koh Tao party scene? No worries! A few bars on Koh Tao offer alternative – yet still epic – nights out to remember (i.e., a bit earlier in the evening and not quite as wild).

Maya Beach Club

Most people know Maya Beach Club as a sunset bar, as it usually closes around 9 pm when people filter off for dinner and head towards the later-night party venues. However, Maya also hosts regular ‘Beats on the Beach’ events that run later into the evening, with local and international DJs playing all manner of music ranging from classic cheese to techno and deep house.

Good Vibe Bar

If you love live music, Good Vibe is the place for you. Open every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday from around 8 pm – midnight, Good Vibe plays host to various local and international musicians and bands. Some music is scheduled, but there’s always an element of ‘open mic’ to this venue, making for many spontaneous performances and several impromptu Koh Tao parties to remember!

Arcadia Koh Tao

Open from 4 pm – 1 am daily, Arcadia is a relatively new addition to the Koh Tao nightlife scene. Popular with the sporting crowd due to its large screens showing all the international fixtures, Arcadia also hosts regular ladies nights, gentlemen’s nights, pool tournaments, and games nights. There’s even an air-conditioned room with air hockey, basketball, a punchbag, and more!

Choppers Bar

Fully renovated and newly reopened at the start of 2023, Choppers is the home to Koh Tao Pub Crawl and a popular entertainment venue in its own right. The bar plays a dominant role in Koh Tao nightlife for sports fans as it’s one of the few bars staying open to show fixtures at irregular hours. Any and every sport is accommodated. If they can stream it, they’ll show it!

So there you have it. All the info you need about where to party on Koh Tao in one place! We hope you have a great time and enjoy the nightlife on Koh Tao as much as we do.

Need more info? As the island’s one-stop shop for all things travel, visa, and activity-related, you can reach out to the team at Island Travel any time if you need more details or help with where to buy the best Koh Tao party tickets. Happy planning, and we hope to see you for a bucket or six soon!

choppers bar pub crawl nightlife on koh tao