Hua hin nightlife

In spite of Hua Hin being a city with quite a few of nightclubs, only one of them — Hilton/Hua Hin Brewing Company — can be compared to a western disco. Nightclubs in the “Thai” way is different to western clubs as Thai people normally prefer to sit or stand at tables while drinking beer and/or whisky and listening to a live band performing popular domestic songs. In fact, when Thai people hang out at nightclubs, it is usually not to dance themselves but rather to listen to music and follow the dance steps of professional singers and dancers. Hin Nam Sai Suay, Star Planet and Stepz are the largest Thai-style nightclubs in town.

Hua Hin is a small beach town that some often refer to as 'Little Pattaya'. The bar zone is small but lively enough.
The main zone of activity is Bintabaht, a real fleshpot of activity within stones throw of the towns main temple. Back in the day plenty of olde style teak buildings were scattered about the place but nowadays only a few remain.

Outside of the Bintabahn area the bar areas are pretty thin on the ground. The nightmarket is pretty decent and worth a look.
Thailands women working the bars typically head here after working the Phuket, Pattaya and/or Bangkok circuit. The Bar Girl scene in Hua Hin has a tendency for them to be on the hunt for for a farang boyfriend or husband to settle in with but there are exceptions. As a result, the age range tends to be older, as old as 40 in some cases, the attitude of the BGs in Hua Hin is said by some to be quite jaded for Thailand.
The expat population is, in-turn, somewhat older than other areas to suit this.

Hua Hin Brewing Company — Hua Hin’s only western nightclub (combined with a restaurant) is located next to the Hilton. If you are looking for cheap drinks, this might not be your first choice. However, if you can afford drinks that are a bit dearer than at other venues and if you are a keen listener to the latest music hits, then Hua Hin Brewing Company will not disappoint you. Here you can move to music mixed by local DJs or performed by decent live bands. The venue tends to get very crowded during weekends in high season. There is normally no entrance fee before 11 pm but if you come later than that there is sometimes a fee of 120 baht or more. However, in addition to access to the club, you also get a drink or a beer for this money. If you wish to dance during your stay in Hua Hin, the Hilton nightclub is the definite choice.

Among Thais that wish to party in Hua Hin, Hin Nam Sai Suay pub has become the trendiest place to go. This can seem a bit strange since the nightclub is located six kilometres from the city centre, at Soi 5 near the airport. Apart from a nightclub, the complex accommodates a number of smaller condo units. During the weekends, the area around Hin Nam Sai Suay tends to be crowded by cars and motorcycles. On nights when famous live bands visit the club, the not too spacious premises get extremely packed.

Star Planet is located on the ground floor of City Beach Hotel, in the very heart of of Hua Hin. You will here find another typical Thai nightclub with a bar, a scene and a large number of small tables. On the second floor of the nightclub there are a number of karaoke rooms (such rooms are extremely popular in Thailand). Most of the songs are in Thai. According to our understanding, Star Planet has become a bit less popular since Hin Nam Sai Suay made a name of itself.

Located just next to the Grand Market, Stepz is probably the first choice for local teenagers when it comes to hanging out. As at many other places in Thailand where music is played, the sound level of the music is deafening. Ear plugs of the highest quality might be your best friend if you want to try a night at Stepz. In line with the rest of the clubs in Hua Hin, Stepz closes around 2 am.

Bintabaht

Bintabaht is the heart of sin for Hua Hin. It's pretty tame compared with the outrageous excess and lust of Pattaya, but this gives it a more appealing, low-key, undercurrent for visitors. The bars are fairly loud, but not excessive, the girls play it fairly cool and don't pull you in like an ATM card.
It's still a pretty fruity place for the whole BG scene but closing times are, alas, another fly in the ointment. You'll be sat there having a blast at some bar when it suddenly the police will roll along and get the bar closed because it's nearly midnight. Since Thaksin has been booted out though lock-ins are becoming quite 'acceoted' by the PTB.
To list all bars would be repetitive so here's a selection of the bars from all areas in and around Bintabaht.

Billy's Bar: A low-key, tidy bar that is in the kareoke bar area adjacent to the Hilton Hotel. Popular with expats and with a laid back atmosphere.

London Lounge: A fairly edgy but interesting large bar opposite the irish pub.

Romantic Bar: The typical Bintaban bar, it's got the girls, the narrow bar space and music blasting. No pool or snooker here, just socialise and see where the night takes you

The Canal Road

Parallel to the main 'through road' of Hua Hin is a canal road running straight on. Already this is an area which caters to 'Thai Style' bars and kareoke. For the whole 'night scene' you really need to speak Thai to get anywhere, otherwise you'll be floundering all over the place. Hua Hin Bike Week usually gets held here.

Entertainment Venues - Hua Hin

There are a few discos and out of town clubs in and around Hua Hin. The Country Pub is a popular choice with the thai folk.

The one most people, after hitting up the bars go to is The Hilton. Part of the Hilton's hotel chain the bar/disco is really a money trap. Overpriced and overcrowded, the big plus point is that it's very close to Bintabahn and has plenty of BGs who go in after the bars shut. Worth a look for the 'Hilton Experience' if nothing else.

Hua Hin and Beyond...

There is big talk going about that in future years the zoning laws for Bintabaht will be changed to get rid of all the bars and stuff a bunch of touristy cafes and tailor shops their instead. The crazy talk goes on to say that the zoning for bars will be then relocated from Bintabaht (Central Hua Hin) to the west and north west areas of Hua Hin. There is a canal road here and this thinking would bring it into line with some other Thai cities policy on entertainment zones. Another reason for this is the Thai King has a palace nearby which seems to act as a catalyst for the police to enforce bar laws more strongly.

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