NIGHTLIFE
PAI NIGHTLIFE
You wouldn’t expect Pai, once the tranquil riverside realm of backpackers and ‘hippie’ residents, to have great nightlife, but it does. In this instance, size doesn’t matter: The nightlife in Pai is arguably better - and thrives much later - than the nightlife in Chiang Mai. Plus, your late-night stumble back to the hotel will be a lot shorter and easier.
The bars in Pai are low-key enough that you have to go looking for trouble to find it. Unlike other party places in Thailand, you’ll never have to worry about using earplugs to escape the thumping music. A midnight curfew shuts down 90% of the action in town, aside from a small handful of watering holes that choose to pay the fines rather than call it an early night.
Here are our top 3 picks to visit in Pai.
1 no cry
Located just across the river, this is the kind of reggae bar you thought you left behind on Ko Phangan. Soporifically chilled out, featuring both live music and a club, it's open until the last punter goes home.
3 yellow sun
Yellow Sun Pai is the perfect venue for meeting people as it is almost always crowded. The venue consists of two floors. The second floor is great for sitting and people watching and the first has a pool table, plenty of seating and a live band that plays reggae tunes.
2 sunset bar
A nightlife favourite tucked away from the main action in Pai. Equipped with a pool table, hammocks, and colourfully decorated, you definitely need to check out Sunset Bar. Believe it or not, it’s also a great spot to watch the sunset! If you’re lucky, you might even have a good laugh watching people enjoy their mushroom shakes!