KOH SAMUI ISLAND -- area code (66-77)

• Boy Zone (mixed)
  Chaweng Plaza, Chaweng Beach Rd, South Chaweng (down the small walking soi opposite the ‘Jack Holt’ salon part of the Centara Grand Beach Resort), 087-881-4277. Gay-owned, very smart bar with a dance show. Free WiFi on their colonial-style terrace. Meet some friends, listen to relaxed music and sip tropical drinks. Open daily 2pm-2am.
• One of Us (mixed)
  Lamai (over the hill south of Chaweng), 084-192-7045, email. In Lamai go down the main one-way road past McDonalds on the left to Dr Frogs restaurant on the right, then down the small soi beside the restaurant. Gay-owned, relaxed bar with a pool table. Gay and lesbian-friendly.

Ruby Red Spa Bar
38/102 Moo 3 Chaweng Beach Rd, South Chaweng (opposite the main guest entrance to the Centara Grand Beach Resort), 077-413-837, email. The only "gay-only" bar on Samui is inside the Emerald Green Men's Club (see listing under Massage and Spas). If you just want to drink and meet guys, visitors and local Thai are admitted free to drink in their street clothes if they prefer not to use the spa/sauna (admission may be added if later you want). Don't miss their fun, naughty and popular Lazy Sunday Afternoon party with free snacks held every Sun starting at 2:30pm (most guys arrive by 6pm) and running until late. They also have a busy late Chill party every Fri from 6pm-2am. Open daily 2:30–11pm or later, every Fri 2:30pm-2am and Sun 2:30pm until late. Utopia Member Discount

• The Wave Samui (mixed)
  11/5 Moo 2 Chaweng Beach Rd, 077-230-803, email. A gay-friendly bar with great service and snacks. Rooftop garden and also guest rooms for rent. Everyone gets a warm welcome. Utopia Member Discount

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Best bar, K Club, is behind Starbucks. Also, Solo bar near Starbucks is mixed, but fun." -- GarthUK, Jan 16, 2008

  "Two stylish and beautiful discobars in Chaweng are Male Box and the brand-new Boy Zone, one in front of the other." -- Etrusko, Aug 9, 2007

  "Just Jonno's, next to the up-market Sala Samui resort (big red sign outside), is gay-owned, but not a gay bar. Music is funky and Jonno is a great host." -- musoq, Jul 9, 2006

Samui has a passion for "ladyboy" cabaret shows. There are three. Each has its own cheeky style of lip-synch show wrapped around some well versed routines. All the showgirls will be ladyboys and the audiences almost entirely curious straights. There is no entrance fee to these cabarets though the performers will pose for tips and encourage you to buy drinks.
• Christies Cabaret (mixed)
  Chaweng Beach Rd, Central Chaweng (down the soi opposite the Khaoasran Restaurant and close to Burger King). Popular "ladyboy" cabaret show and bar. Show starts at 11pm.
• The G Bar (mixed)
  Soi Colibri, South Chaweng (off Chaweng Beach Rd opposite the Central Samui Beach Resort and close to the Three Gems Project). On the right of the soi just over the small bridge. Gay owned bar, nightly cabaret show at 10:30pm. Open daily 6pm-2am.
• Star Club (mixed)
  Chaweng Beach Rd, Central Chaweng (on left as you head south, down the soi next to Sea Quest Bar on the corner). Popular ladyboy cabaret show starts 10:30pm.

• Green Mango (mixed)
  Chaweng Beach Rd, Central Chaweng (at the end of an extremely loud soi so you can’t miss it). This bar is something of an institution on Samui – it has been here so long and has never really changed. Most visitors go once. Very much a straight venue (at high season hoards of extremely drunk tourists), noisy, dirty, stinking toilets, curt service. Watch you wallet in your pocket. Even so, it is popular and can be fun. It used to be quite gay around the dance floor, however the Green Mango has been somewhat eclipsed by the gay and ladyboy partiers who gather in the loud, crowded street in front of Sweet Soul Bar which is on the left, right in front of the Green Mango as you walk up the soi from Chaweng Beach Rd.
• Male Box (mixed)
  Chaweng Plaza, South Chaweng Beach Rd (down the soi opposite the shops belonging to the Centara Grand Beach Resort), 081-083-1273, 081-282-7244. A stylish gay dance bar with quality exotic male dance show at midnight. Open nightly from 4pm until late.
• S Club (mixed)
  Not to be confused with "Solo Bar" which is a very straight bar on the corner of Chaweng Beach Rd and the soi beside the north Chaweng Starbucks, opposite Pizza Hut. S Club - at the end of the same soi – is also primarily straight but does attract the ‘party late’ gay crowd (beware of hustlers) because it opens at 2am and rocks until dawn.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "All these disco bars kick in for gays about midnight through to 3am. Sound Bar is smart and, while very much a straight venue, often attracts gays who go there late. " -- Only010, Oct 29, 2007