We cannot get over what a clubbing wonder Stereo Lab has become. There are regular special events like Hed Kandi and there are a host of top DJs itching to get on the decks at Phuket’s most talked-about venue.

Expect to see the likes of Goldie, DJ Fresh, Fabio, Krafty Kuts, Joey Negro and local favourites. Stereo Lab has really picked up where Club Lime left off a couple of years ago.

The Stereo Lab beach club and lounge is also one of Surin Beach’s newest and hippest place to hang out and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset view out over the northwest coast of the island. There’s something for everyone, with a beach bar, games room, Moroccan lounge, wine cellar, tapas menu and al fresco seating on the beach.

You can walk to Stereo lab from the beachfront parking lot. Walking along the sidewalk by the beach, the place is only about five minutes away. You can’t miss Stereo Lab as it has a large sign. There’s a ground-floor bar and lounge, warm and cozy with white rattan chairs and tables complemented by blue cushions.

There is also a DJ booth and a bit of a dance floor. Upstairs there are private lounges with orange sofas and chocolate-colored pillows to crash out on — kind of Moroccan theme with a bit of beach jazz thrown into the mix.

The house DJ spins a standard blend of chillout and upbeat tunes for partygoers. The place gets very busy after 10, but it’s well worth squeezing in for. There’s even a chance for a boogie on the beach.

Open 11 am until 2 am.

Kargo is the perfect place to either to take your sweetheart after dinner or catch up with friends after work. The one-and-a-half storey bar, serving Kingfisher beer, a premium lager from India, is now open in Phuket serving a range of wines, spirits and cocktails. Dinner and tapas are also available.

Entering Kargo bar and restaurant, whether from the ground floor or upstairs, you can tell there’s definitely something about the place. The venue presents a chic mix of flair in design and architecture with new-age color schemes and décor. The dining area is a great place to share meals on a nightly basis. Looking up, there’s striking galaxy ceiling full of stars.

The lounge bar is in the middle and you can sit and chill after dinner. For something a bit quieter, there is also a VIP room on the second floor, along with comfy sofas and a DJ booth. The resident DJ spins a bit of everything, so expect to hear some pop, a few 70s’ numbers and lots of house music. A welcome addition to the Phuket bar scene.

Open 5 pm until 2 am every Tuesday to Sunday.

Located at Indigo Pearl resort in Nai Yang, Rebar is a hip little jazz bar made all the more special because of the awesome design work that you can see through the whole of Indigo Pearl. Being at Indigo Pearl, the place is a bit far from pretty much everywhere in Phuket, but it’s worth the trip just to soak up the ambience.

The drinks menu is pretty vogue, with a range of cocktails and spirits, all priced as you’d expect in a Phuket bar at a luxury resort. Music comes in the form of chill-out tunes spun by a DJ and jazz numbers by a great band.

Rebar at Indigo Pearl used to feature an extrovert jazz singer from the US, but sadly she left. Rebar is a romantic bar in norther Phuket that doesn’t get too busy most nights, so it’s a great place to drink and chill and listen to good music.

Skippers at Royal Phuket Marina in Phuket is a cool bar. Being in Royal Phuket Marina, it’s one of the more stylish and high-end bars in Phuket. It’s therefore not a flip-flops-and-vest kind of place. The people at Skippers are mostly expats and boat people, along with some classy girls in slinky dresses.

Skippers is supposedly a Phuket sports bar, so you can drink in comfort and watch the latest sports on one of the many TVs. Skippers is a pretty cool place that has something of a romantic ambience, being next to the marina. If you want to impress someone or you’re on a hot date, a stop at Skippers would be a suitable choice.

The drinks aren’t particularly cheap, but then you wouldn’t expect them to be. The team at Skippers bar work pretty hard to hold regular events and special occasions. Worth a look.

Surin Beach is a hip place with a number of small bars and pubs. Liquid Lounge is a favorite with a small group of expats and locals. As far as bars in Surin go, its pretty cool. They sometimes have guest DJs playing. Liquid Lounge is also a great place to catch live sports.

Drinks are a bit pricier than some of the other bars in Surin, likely because this place is a bit more trendy than some of the other nightsports nearby.

Liquid Lounge would be a great spot for pre-club drinks if there was more of a club scene in Surin, but as it is, you need to drive out to Patong or somewhere if you want to go clubbing in Phuket.

For that reason, Liquid Lounge is best used as a spot for a quiet drink or if you have your own transport and will be heading out to a Phuket club later in the night.