Lamai

Lamai is noticeably more spread-out than Chaweng and there’s much more to explore and discover in the general area of the town rather than just on the beach and its surroundings.

The ring road sweeps past Lamai leaving a broad swathe of land between the road and the sea that’s filled with side-streets and with houses, small resorts, shops, bars, restaurants and cafes. And there’s quite a lot of attractions actually on the Ring Road itself, too.

It’s quieter, more laid-back and less bustling then Chaweng and prices are lower - this is the area that attracts the majority of the long-stay visitors.

Lamai Location

Lamai is on the East Coast is the next bay below (south of) Chaweng. The coast in this area has more cliffs and is much rockier, leading to some dramatic panoramas from the several view point restaurants where the Ring Road between Chaweng and Lamai has been carved out of the rock.

Although you’ll still find the usual ribbon-development along both edges of the Ring Road, this seems to stretch for miles – with untouched areas sandwiched between patches of shops, cafes and small resorts every few hundred metres or so.

Lamai Beach

The beach at Lamai is noted for its variety, in that as well as stretches of white sand you’ll also find rocky patches that scatter downwards from the cliffs, producing rock pools and slabs that are ideal for sunbathing...For more information go to the Lamai Beach page.

Lamai Entertainment & Nightlife

There’s a lot going on in Lamai, but with the exception of the area around the Round Bars and the boxing ring near McDonald’s it’s to be found scattered over a wider area.

The main road through the centre of Lamai is lined with cafes, bars and shops, including Fusion Club and several-DJ-style chill-out lounges.

Up on the Ring Road, you’ll find the distinctive tall chrome and glass structure of Buddy Bar and its associated Buddy Samui Boutique and Shopping Plaza. Here you will find a nest of bars and shops together on a broad street-mall with it up-market bistros and restaurants.

But the main focus of nightlife in Lamai is in the region of the ‘Round Bars’. This is a collection of twenty or so round (literally) bars that are grouped around the ‘Lamai Boxing Arena’ in the middle. And Saturday night is the time to go, as the (free) boxing attracts a lively and boisterous crowd!

Lamai Dining

There’s exactly what you might expect to find, plus some surprises, too! You’ll find a hundred small and friendly Thai restaurants scattered along the main streets and there’s beach restaurants and bars a-plenty. But if you venture just a little way on the Ring Road outside the town, you’ll come across some of the finest dining on the island. All the top resorts have their own signature restaurants that are open to the public. And you’ll find the famous Rocky’s Resort towards the southern part of the area, near the Grandfather-Grandmother Rocks.

Heading north towards Chaweng, there’s the very chic Beach Republic that’s styled on a Mediterranean beach club, and The Cliff, where you’ve got a view as well as fine-dining. And if it’s the view you’re after, then keep going back to where Dr. Frog’s restaurant sits next to several others, all perched high over the sea.

Lamai Shopping

Lamai is similar to Chaweng, with possibly less of a selection but certainly with lower prices. There’s all the souvenirs, soap carvings and local crafts that you could want, together with a range of designer clothes, shoes bags and watches. As with all of these types of items, you’ll be expected to haggle. Aim for around half of the asking price and keep it all humorous and pleasant. It’s also to your advantage if you avoid wearing expensive clothes or jewelry!

You’ll also come across some very good supermarkets, a scattering of 7-11s and opticians and pharmacies – no haggling here please!

Lamai Accommodation

It’s almost the opposite of Chaweng – here there are dozens of small beach-bungalow resorts mixed in with three or four big beach hotels. And, looking around the Ring Road just a little way out of town, there’s even more small, neat and friendly family-owned bungalows and guest houses. Most of these aren’t on the map or the internet, but advertise their presence by means of boards attached to trees or lampposts!

Prices are universally lower than Chaweng and you can still find plenty of double rooms for 300 baht a night.