The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (September 3-6)

Known for bass-driven, bouncing house beats, Plastik Funk - billed as Plastik FVNK - is set to ignite Illuzion’s dance floor. The German artist may not be a household pop name, but he has made his mark on the house circuit with chart-topping tracks including  Dr Who, with Tujamo & Sneakbo, and Dare Me, with NERVO and Tim Morrison. His starry EDM CV also includes remixes for David Guetta, while recent interviews and gigs at Amnesia, Pacha and Ushuaïa point to a refreshing return to his tech-house roots. Catch him at Illuzion for a wicked night of groovy-heavy house with a tech-house edge.

Sep 5. B500. Plastik FVNK, Illuzion. 9pm-2am

Whether you want to raise your profile among boaters or simply mingle over a drink, all you really need for Grow Boating Phuket is an interest in yachting - however casual. The monthly get-together brings boaters, marine-industry professionals and fellow enthusiasts together to chat, hatch plans and swap cards. Free-flowing bubbly and complimentary canapés sponsored by Bluu Asian Kitchen & Bar add a little marina-side glamour to the low-pressure networking.

Sep 4. Free. Grow Boating Phuket, Royal Phuket Marina. 5pm-8pm

Never heard of Phuket’s Kod Thai Market? You’re not alone. Fresh from its successful launch on August 1, the spanking-new market takes over the courtyard at My Front Yard, feeling like a natural extension of the community mall. And in Thailand, where there are people, there’s food: expect stir-fries, curries, Thai-fusion dishes and craft chocolate made with local cacao. DJs spinning Thai EDM layer extra energy over the sizzle of live-cooking stations, while nail art, glitter and eyelash treatments amp up the youthful vibe. Add kids’ art workshops and this newcomer looks well worth plotting into your weekend itinerary.

Sep 5-6. Free. Kod Thai Market, My Front Yard. 4pm-9pm

No, Janis Joplin hasn’t risen from the dead - JOPLYN’s voice bears little resemblance to her famous rasp. Yet the Berlin-based house and techno artist’s fragile, airy vocals carry plenty of emotional power. Unlike bog-standard DJs who simply spin records, JOPLYN uses keyboards, synths, a vocoder and Ableton Push to manipulate beats live while singing her own lyrics. Releases on Defected and Crosstown Rebels, plus appearances at Coachella and Hï Ibiza, add heft to her CV. If slow builds, deep hypnotic beats and melodic choruses are your thing, make for Café del Mar this Friday.

Sept 4. B300 (entry only). JOPLYN at Café del Mar. 10pm-3am 

As the name suggests, Breathe’s Thursday Ladies Day is made for women who need to hit pause. Men can join too, although complimentary entry is reserved for the ladies. Even so, the B650 admission looks fair value given the facilities: steam rooms, pools and private recovery rooms with cold-plunge set-ups chilled to 3°C. This daytime wellness retreat offers an antidote to city burnout; once you’ve lingered over coffee and fresh juices by the pool, a guest DJ eases the venue into evening mode. A generous four-hour happy-hour runs from 4pm to 8pm. 

Sep 3. Free entry for women; B650 for men. Thursday Ladies Day, Breathe Phuket. 10am-11pm

Candle-lit ceremonies, lion dances, street food and an old town bathed in red make Phuket’s Por Tor Hungry Ghost Festival one of the island’s most atmospheric cultural events. Rooted in the local Hokkien-Chinese community rather than staged for tourists, the annual festival welcomes respectful visitors. Por Tor, or universal salvation, centres on the belief that the gates of hell open and spirits return to the human world. It is also a time to remember ancestors who died far from home, especially those without descendants to make offerings for them. Head to Seng Tek Bel Shrine and Ranong Road Fresh Market for Hokkien-Chinese merit-making, with incense, burnt paper money and food offerings including red turtle cakes. Visitors may also get to try the blessed hand-sized cakes – or see giant versions weighing up to 100kg, later cut up and shared once the rituals are complete.

Aug 19-Sep 6. Free. Por Tor Hungry Ghost Festival, Phuket Old Town shrines and Ranong Road Fresh Market. noon-midnight

Into spirits? The drinkable kind? Head to The Distillery Phuket for an insider look at how Chalong Bay Rum and other small-batch tipples are made, from raw sugarcane to snifter cup. This is no backstreet operation – this is a proper guided tour through the working distillery, with stops for tasting along the way. Sure, you can sip Chalong Bay at many bars along the beach, but sampling yet-to-be-bottled rums, gins and vodkas while learning the basics behind distilling and cocktail-making adds new ‘depth’ to the glass. Plenty of swirling and sipping happens here, and maybe a few ‘just one more’ moments to be found as well. 

 Daily. B1,290. The Distillery Phuket. 11am-10pm

Ladies, Thursdays in Bang Tao just got a little more glamorous. Dolly’s Night at Maya Beach Club is your weekly excuse to lean into refined beachside energy with a night dedicated to feminine vibes. Start off at sunset, with deep-house rhythms and an ultra-glam dress-code to match Phuket’s beautiful golden hour. By 7pm, things shift to smooth sophistication with DJ Marcella curating a soundtrack and a troupe of pink-cladded acrobats who take you from dinner to dancefloor in one fell swoop. If you’re skipping the food, get there before 9pm to make the most of free-flow Prosecco and catch up with those already a bottle or two deep. 

Every Thursday. Free for women, B1,000 for men. Maya Beach Club. 7pm-late