The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (April 30-May 3)

If you like your house music with a bit of edge, Westend is worth showing up for. The New York DJ-producer – aka Tyler Morris – pulls from ’00s bloghouse and Brooklyn club culture, but doesn’t stick to any one lane. His sets move fast, layering playful, sometimes irreverent sounds over driving tech-house rhythms. It’s less about knowing the tracks and more about letting the momentum carry you. Expect a packed floor and a crowd that’s there to dance first, think later.

May 1. B500. Illuzion Phuket. 9pm-4am

After something smart, kid-friendly and with a bit of heart? Head to Junkyard Theatre this Saturday for The See-Saw Tree. Written by UK children’s dramatist David Wood, the play follows a centuries-old oak tree home to rabbits, cats and pitch-black crows – and the tension that builds as development moves in. It’s playful and dry in tone, but grounded in environmental themes that don’t feel heavy-handed. The irony lands well, too: a see-saw playground planned right where the ecosystem already exists. Expect a few laughs, a few pointed moments and a gentle nudge to look around on your way home.

Apr 30. B650 (B500 for students; free for kids aged three or under). Junkyard Theatre Phuket. 6.30-8.30pm

If your week’s caught up with you, this is where you hit pause. Dopa’s three-hour sunset session moves you from heat to cold and back again – saunas, onsens and ice baths, all guided so you’re not just guessing your way through it. Immersiv’s team leads breathwork and meditation, while a banya ritual adds a more intense, steam-heavy reset. It’s structured but not rigid, and the wind-down matters: tea, quiet conversation and a proper landing before you head back out into the noise.

May 1. B2,000 (B1,500 for members). Dopa Sauna & Wellness Club Phuket. 5-8pm. DM on Instagram

Dinner that turns into a dancefloor – that’s the rhythm here. Little Roma’s Ciao Bella evenings start slow, with wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta, before a live sax player threads melody through house beats as the room shifts gear. It’s polished without feeling stiff, and the timing’s deliberate: Prosecco flows 7pm-9pm, Aperol Spritz takes over after, just as the DJ pushes things further. Come early if you want a table, stay late if you’re in the mood to move. 

May 2 (weekly). From B499. Little Roma Phuket. 7-11pm

Heads up, house heads. Armania lines up a B2B set this Friday with Asal (Salvatore Angelucci) and The Element, bringing a slice of Ibiza to Phuket. Asal may be the newer name, but he blends melodic techno, afro and deep house with a restless, evolving style, shaped by sets at parties like Cadenza at Vagabundos Cafe. Alongside him, The Element brings decades of experience, including residencies at Sankeys Ibiza, known for its dark, warehouse edge. Together, they strike a balance between fresh energy and seasoned control, building a set that moves steadily and keeps the floor locked in.

May 1. B3,000. Armania Phuket. 10pm-4am

When you think of Phuket, it’s easy to dream about beaches and barbecues. Once you’re actually here, the relationship between people, art and nature becomes a lot more nuanced. In celebration of this (and because, where better?) Thailand Biennale Phuket has set up a secure spot along the beaches and backstreets of the island, showcasing the best art the region has to offer. And while the Biennale is the largest contemporary art event on the island, you don’t even need to cough up an entry fee. Exhibitions and artworks by over 60 international artists are spread across 20 locations, from ‘Silent Memories’, a burlap sack pavilion set up at Khao Rang viewpoint, to ‘The Labyrinth #2’, that blends with the landscape of Saphan Hin Park – there’s lots to be seen, touched and contemplated. Whether mangrove tunnels or street art murals are more your thing – use art as a compass and join this visual feast all the way ‘til April. 

Nov 29-April 30. Free. Locations across Phuket, details here at Thailand Biennale 2025-2026. Opening hours vary

 If you’re going to do a boat party in Phuket, you may as well do it properly. The VIP Sunset Catamaran Experience swaps cramped ferry decks for the pinewood levels of a luxury catamaran – five hours of island hopping, swim stops and rooftop-style dancing. Run with Shipfaced – the crew behind parties in Sydney and Zakynthos, plus collaborations with Cafe del Mar, Paradise Beach’s Full Moon Party, Circo Loco and even Tomorrowland – this is Phuket’s new premium take on the classic sea rave. The route cruises from Chalong Pier to Coral Island, with a swim stop at Banana Beach (yes, that postcard-perfect one), then on past Racha Island before parking up at Promthep Cape for a sunset session and final DJ set. Standard tickets include transfers from Chalong area hotels, welcome drink and full cruise access, while VIP upgrades score you priority boarding, a reserved top-deck table, bottle service and unlimited shots for you and your crew. Tickets are still available, but best sourced through third-party tour operators.

Every Thursday until April. From B1,800. Departs from Chalong Pier 2.15pm. Hotel pickup 1pm

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