The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (July 9-12)

Can’t decide between big-room energy and underground house? Tony Romera gets it. The France-based DJ, producer and remixer has built a sound that sits somewhere between main-stage impact and club-floor credibility, with releases on Defected and tracks including ‘Back & Forth’ to his name.

Expect a late-night set leaning into French house, disco loops, filtered funk, boogie touches and the sort of pumping groove that keeps things moving without tipping into autopilot. Romera has picked up support from names including Tiësto, Fatboy Slim and Carl Cox, which should give you a fair idea of the territory. Catch him at Illuzion for a night that bridges polished EDM muscle with proper momentum.

July 11. B500. Tony Romera at Illuzion Phuket. 8pm-4am

Mirror painting sounds more intimidating than it is, which is exactly the point of this sunset session at Etna Restaurant Bangtao. Hosted by Wasted Art Collective, Paint, Sip & Connect gives you a mirror, acrylic paint and enough guidance to turn a blank reflection into something floral, dreamy, abstract or wildly overambitious.

No experience is needed, and the lakeside golden-hour setting should help loosen up anyone worried about making a mess. The forgiving part is the real selling point: acrylic paint can be wiped away once dry, so mistakes become less ‘disaster’ and more ‘try again with confidence’. Go for blossoms, water, butterflies, a moody little landscape or whatever your reflection happens to suggest.

July 12. B350. Reflections at Sunset, Paint, Sip & Connect, Etna Restaurant Bangtao. 4.30pm-6.30pm

Wine tasting gets a techy twist at The Green Man Pub in Rawai, where QR Wine lets guests scan their way through catalogues, videos, prices and food-pairing notes from a smartphone. Happily, this is not a ‘good luck, figure it out yourself’ situation. Host Howard will be there to pour, explain and steer the conversation away from wine jargon overload.

The line-up includes lesser-spotted grapes and bottles such as Refosco, the deeply coloured Italian red known for its dark fruit notes, alongside Roter Veltliner, Rondinella and a sweet Riesling. The catch is that places need to be reserved in advance, with guests asked to let Howard know their preferred grapes by July 6. For curious drinkers who like a bit of context with their glass, this is a low-pressure way in.

July 11. Free entry. Wine tasting with QR Wine at The Green Man Pub. 8pm-11.30pm

For a quieter but no less impressive night out, Phuket School of Music hosts The Latsos Piano Duo for a one-hour concert for two pianos. The husband-and-wife duo are known for sensitive performances of Schubert’s four-hand works as well as lighter arrangements of film music, including pieces by John Williams.

What makes the format special is the precision. Two pianists, two instruments and one shared musical conversation, with the best duo making the whole thing feel almost telepathic. Phuket School of Music founder Gladwin Pantastico puts it neatly: play softly and the piano can sound sweet; play harder and it rings out brightly, almost like a bell. In other words, this one is for anyone who likes their weekend with a little polish.

July 12. B1,500. The Latsos Piano Duo, Concert for Two Pianos, Recital Studio, Phuket School of Music. 6.30pm-7.30pm

Lazykay is back at Café del Mar Phuket, and despite the name, this one is not built for standing still. Also known as Kevin Lecompere, the Thailand-based DJ has more than two decades behind the decks and a sound that moves between house and techno with plenty of French house texture in the mix.

Expect filtered grooves, rhythmic effects and a steady four-on-the-floor pulse, the kind of set that works particularly well when there is a beach club, a late slot and a sea breeze involved. Lazykay has played everywhere, from Bangkok’s Sing Sing Theater to Phuket’s Illuzion and Koh Phangan’s beach and jungle parties, and he is joined here by Ekanan for a night of groove-led house, techno and melodic build-ups.

July 11. B300. Lazykay and Ekanan, Café del Mar Phuket. 10pm-3am

Harking back to the good old R’n’B days? Head to Mrs B Bar & Table this Friday evening for a night wrapped in non-stop hits. The Bangtao bar and co-host R’n’B Society bring back the golden-era ’90s and ’00s mood of romance and nostalgia, with DJ Lildew and Pele (not the footballer, sadly) at the forefront. There is no actual dancefloor at the open-air bar & restaurant to shake a leg and retry those two-step moves, but Bobby Valentin’s romantic Slow Down and other classic R’n’B slow jams add ambience to the crackling sounds from the wood-fired stove.

July 10. Free entry. The RNB Society Takeover, Mrs B Bar & Table. 8pm-late 

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