The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (October 1-4)

Oktoberfest began with a Munich royal wedding in 1810 and eventually shifted into September for warmer weather. Phuket, conveniently, has that part covered. Im En Ville, the all-day restaurant inside Porto de Phuket, is channelling Bavaria with folk dancing in lederhosen and dirndls, long-table conviviality and plates of sausages, pretzels and herb-roast chicken. Draught beer comes by the bucketful, with Helles and Chalawan among the choices.

Sep 9-Oct 10. From B459. Oktoberfest at Im En Ville, Building 1, Room 101, Porto de Phuket, Cherngtalay. 10am-10pm

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