Eating, drinking and enjoying the nightlife in Thailand

Eating

The food in Thailand is nothing short of spectacular. Famous world over for its combinations of rich, spicy, fresh, creamy and tangy flavours, Thai cuisine takes you on an exotic adventure every meal time. Flavours including lime, coconut, coriander, tamarind and chilli blend together for some truly special dishes. Most of the hotels and resorts in Thailand make use of the fantastic cuisine and serve generally more decadent versions of local dishes. If you do get the opportunity to head out into town and find your own food there are a few things that you should definitely try.

Freshly-made curries are one of the staples of Thai cooking. Served usually in either a green or red sauce, they both use the same type of chillies, so either can be eye-wateringly hot. Therefore, it doesn’t pay to choose a green curry thinking it will be the milder option – if you prefer it mild, tell the waiter or chef. The nutty Massaman curry is a dish of Muslim origins. Noodle dishes such as the ubiquitous ‘pad Thai’ can be food extremely cheaply (often less than £1 for a main course sized portion). And suki restaurants are a unique style of communal cooking in which you buy ingredients to be added to a spicy broth in a pot at your table.

Drinking

Thailand is also famous for its unique range of drinks on offer. If you’re just looking for a thirst quencher, coconut water is a fantastic option. There are plenty of freshly squeezed fruit juices available too. Locally brewed beers such as Singha and Chang are extremely popular – they have quite bold earthy flavours. Lighter, European style beers include Leo, Archa and Phuket beer. You can also buy a number of varieties of Thai ‘whisky’. Mekhong whisky is available everywhere, but it’s a bit of a misnomer as it is mainly distilled from sugarcane and molasses, making it more of a rum than a whisky. Rice whisky is also available, and once again, wholly different to any single malt Scotch or Jack Daniel’s you’ll ever try.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Thailand can be whatever you’re looking for. If you’re staying at a plush resort then don’t expect anything more than a relaxed place to drink, alternatively you can usually find somewhere close by to party into the small hours of the night. The Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan is one of the top events in the Thai calendar. It happens (that’s right) every full moon. Areas of the country such as Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui are famous for their vibrant and frenetic nightlife. Here you’ll easily find any numbers of bars and nightclubs.