Ringing in the New Year in Phuket doesn't only happen once. Residents of Phuket celebrate up to four times each year due to the island's diverse population.
With Phuket’s multicultural mix of Buddhist-Thais, Muslim-Thais, Chinese-Thais, and westerners, this is a good excuse to celebrate everyone’s New Year.
1st January and the Thai New Year in April (3 days of water throwing and merriment) are both official holidays. In Phuket, the Chinese New Year is also a big event and many Chinese-owned shops and businesses close for one week. Festivities are centered around Phuket Town’s many Chinese temples.
Given the number of Thai Muslims in this part of southern Thailand, there are almost as many mosques as Buddhist temples. Therefore, the Muslim New Year is also an important occasion.
With the typical Thai sense of ‘sanook’, any chance to celebrate is a good reason to have fun. With the western commercial influences of Christmas and New Year having taken hold, Thais now place greater importance on this particular holiday.
For those vacationing in Phuket this New Year’s Eve the majority of Phuket’s hotels and restaurants have special celebrations. Elaborate public firework displays are set off at the stroke of midnight and local Thais release paper lanterns into the air, which continue to light up the sky for hours.
Wherever they are staying on the island, tourists will not be short of options. Rather than enjoying a set New Year Gala Dinner at a hotel, some travelers prefer to spend the evening with local expats, or rubbing shoulders with the Thais; providing a much more authentic way of celebrating their holiday in Thailand.
Firework Displays
Karon Beach
One of the best firework displays is at Karon Beach, between Patong and Kata. This long stretch of sand attracts both tourists and Thais, who set off paper lanterns at the stroke of 12, and watch them float serenely into the night.
The Karon beachside bars and terraces offer good views of the fireworks, and some even give its patrons free ‘bubbly’ at midnight. If holidaying with children, Karon beach is a good (and cheap) option.
Saphan Hin Park, Phuket Town
Local Thais flock to this public park to see in the New Year. Celebrations are an all day event, with food stalls, markets, handicraft and fruit carving demonstrations. At midnight the evening is rounded off with a big firework display. Saphan Hin is the place to go in order to sample a ‘real’ local festival.
Partying Around the Island
The Green Man in Chalong, a mock-tudor English country pub, is one of the most popular places for expats to celebrate the New Year. Its Fancy Dress Party requires patrons to come dressed as a celebrity, and join 'Tina Turner' in seeing in the New Year. Dine before the party begins, with a special 6 course Old Year’s Night Menu, including ½ a bottle of wine. Finish your meal before 7.45pm and receive a 50% discount.
The exclusive White Box Restaurant overlooking Patong Bay, is hosting its Hotel Costes CD “10” Launching Party (the last CD compilation of the Costes series from Blue Note Records), which starts at 10pm and includes an international DJ, jazz band and firework display. Price is 1,000 Baht net, including a vodka cocktail. There is also a 10 course New Year set menu available.
For those who want to be away from the main tourist resorts, the Silk Restaurant and Bar at the upmarket Plaza, near Surin Beach is a sophisticated elegant venue with alfresco dining. It offers a 6 course gourmet Thai dinner and champagne followed by late night dancing and live entertainment.
The “New Years Night Party on the Beach” at the Chandara Resort and Spa, on the remote north eastern tip of Phuket, is a quieter and more secluded venue. A sea food buffet, welcome drink, live music, cabaret show and fireworks is priced at 4,500 Baht ,with a 50% discount for children. For a location map visit their website.
New Year’s Day Hangover Brunch
For deluxe dining with a new twist, a New Year’s Day Hangover Brunch Buffet with oysters, salmon, duck,and a wide selection of meats is available at Floyd’s Brassierie at the Burasari Resort, Patong Beach.
This well known BBC celebrity chef, Keith Floyd only opened the brassierie earlier this year. In an interview with the Guardian Newspaper (Jan 6 07) British chef, Floyd says of his new venture, “I'm going to serve classic fare, dishes gathered from roaming the world over the last 40 years, as well as some Thai dishes - it definitely won't be fusion. You'll come in and you won't want to leave.”
In fact, according to the Nation' Newspaper's Explore Supplement 12/22/07, "Floyd's Phuket restaurant is the only place in the world you can sample his cooking. You won't find it in Europe - not even in his beloved Provence."
For these special New Year events, booking is essential. If holidaying in Phuket over the Christmas Period, The Green Man's traditional Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations are reknown across the island.
