For a tropical island, Phuket has surprisingly few beach bars. Stereo Lab is perhaps the best of the bunch. Indulge in a cocktail and chill out beats while watching the sunset before dancing into the night.

The space: Go for alfresco seating on the white and blue sofas on the beach or enjoy the Moroccan-style lounge on the mezzanine.

The music: Chill out tunes early on but it heats up later on. Well-known DJs often make an appearance.

The crowd: Mostly expats but it gets crammed for events.

Beach bliss: The true beachfront location and eccentric décor.

Beach bummer: It can be quiet on some nights and its out of the way location makes it difficult to get really drunk and still get home safely.