Bars and nightlife

Cha-Am is not Phuket or Pattaya! If you are into serious nightlife action, you may want to consider another destination, like Hua Hin or simply Bangkok. Cha-am is not a backpacker destination either, so you won't find even a quarter of a half "full moon vibe". However, there are bars in Cha-Am, so you can play a few games of pool with friendly ladies under pink neons. This is Thailand, after all!

Bars

Soi Bus Station

The soi where are concentrated most of the bars is on Cha-Am south, just before soi 1. It's a large soi with guesthouses, bars and a few shops on either side, and another row of bars in the middle. It is also known as "Soi Bus Station" because there are some buses departing to Bangkok. Even at night, most of the bars are quiet. But there are pool tables (you can play for free), TV screens, cold beer and friendly ladies (most of them from Issan, with very little English abilities), so you can still have a nice time. Closing time is 2:00 am, or earlier if there are no patrons.

Soi Bus Station

Your typical "hello-welcome" bar!

Chicken Coop

Another bar area is on Narathip Road, on a small soi on the left when coming from the beach (after the traffic lights). It has a few bars, pool tables and restaurants, and even the only go-go bar of Cha-Am, the infamous Chicken Coop (where you will probably be the only customer, and there will probably be only one dancer, and don't expect her to be nude).

Chicken Coop area

Cha-am's only go-go bar!

Other areas

On the beachfront, you can find a few bars here and there, like in the soi leading to the Golden Beach hotel or in the soi leading to the Cateriya condo. In the soi of the Long Beach and Tara Mantra hotels there is a Norwegian run bar called the Scandic.

Pubs, karaoke and disco

Baan Chang

Baan Chang is simply the best place to be on a Sunday night in Cha-am. That's what a lot of people think, and that's why the place is fully packed every week! Baan Chang is famous for its jazz and rock jam sessions, organized by Nissa Nyberget, a famous Norwegian musician. What makes this venue so special is that every session is unique, with different musicians and singers taking turns on stage. If Sunday nights are too busy for your taste, a smaller band is playing live every other night (except Monday). Baan Chang is at the end of soi 9 north, next to Methavalai hotel. Sunday night session begins at 8:00 pm.

Baan Chang fully packed on a Sunday night

Bob playing the sax, Richard on the trombone and Freddy Lindquist on the guitar

Rong Tiem

Rong Tiem (formerly known as Ban Pleng) is on Narathip road, not far from the Family mart junction. They have food and drinks, and a band playing live starting at 11:00 pm.

Rong Tiem

Sand Grain

Cha-am has only one discotheque, Sand Grain, which is on the second road running parallel to the beachfront.

Sand Grain discotheque

Karaoke

There are a few Thai style karaoke on Narathip Road. You can get drunk on Thai whisky and murder a song, or you can just sit and enjoy the show! Other small karaoke can be found on the hospital road. Mostly Thai patrons.