Best Cocktails for a Night Out: Southern Edition

Island hopping and creative cocktails go hand-in-hand. Discover the ultimate tropical getaway by diving into this list of cool bars in the south where talented mixologists serve up innovative drinks with reimagined twists.

(Hero image: The ‘World’ at Dara Cuisine Phuket; Featured image: ‘Fishing in Paradise’ at CoCoRum)

DARA CUISINE PHUKET
Contemporary Thai restaurant Dara, at the Anantara Layan Phuket, offers guests a magical evening to remember featuring sublime local cuisine, constellation-inspired cocktails, and a guided stargazing experience at its sky observatory. Their extensive drinks menu features visually striking standouts including ‘The Universe in a Nutshell’, a rum, amaretto, pineapple cordial served inside a smoky stack of books, as well as ‘The World’, a tequila, blue liqueur, cacao blanc, lime sherbet mix, presented in a globe-like glass. There’s also Thai-inspired artisanal cocktails such as the citrusy signature ‘Dara Martini’, a blend of gin, sous vide basil leaf, orange liqueur, and vanilla syrup, and the ‘Mieng Kum’, made up of rum, herb liqueur, coconut juice, and almond milk served with a piece of the titular Thai snack.

COOLIES CLUB
Located in a refurbished traditional Sino-Portuguese shophouse on Soi Romanee, in Old Phuket Town, the recently launched Coolies Club bar and restaurant is the brainchild of two unstoppable creative forces: Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, owner of The Slate Phuket hotel, and acclaimed architect and designer Bill Bensley. The eye-popping interiors include Chinese Baroque furnishings, rich decorative materials, and other embellishments that create an alluring “opium den” atmosphere. The venue stretches over two floors, with the lavish upstairs rooms available for private get-togethers and intimate events. The themed cocktails at the main floor bar, meanwhile, include ‘Miner’s Whisper’ and ‘Courtesan’s Kiss’, and nicely complement a sophisticated dining menu where many dishes are cooked over open flame.

WOOBAR
This year, the luxurious W Koh Samui introduced a collection of new signature cocktails at Woobar, designed to enhance the already breathtaking beauty of the surrounding coastline. The ‘Spice Bottle’ is Woobar’s boldly sweet and herbal take on the Negroni, adding to the mix a bevy of dates, orange liqueur, goji berries, and bael fruit, along with a dash of rosemary and thyme for a complex flavour profile. Spending time with a special someone? Order up the refreshingly vibrant ‘Love Woo’, with its mix of white rum, lime juice and three kinds of berries – raspberry purée, strawberry, and blueberry – all topped with prosecco. Or, for something decidedly different, opt for ‘The Pineapple Express’, a tequila-pineapple-lime mixture with a spicy and savoury kiss of kaffir lime leaf, salt, and chili.

COCORUM
CoCoRum bar, at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, boasts awe inspiring views of lush green hillsides, a premium rum selection, and cool tiki-inspired cocktails. In fact, they recently introduced new cocktails to both the daytime ‘Safe Haven’ and nighttime ‘Jewel of the Tropics’ menus. The ‘Fishing in Paradise’ (pictured) is a new take on a mojito, using a tequila-pandan vodka mixture balanced with peppermint and cucumber. Or, for the perfect poolside concoction, order up the ‘Anchor to Shore’ which features a bouquet of gin, vermouth, tonic, butterfly pea, guava, tangerine and a sprinkle of basil. Finally, for a truly sanook night, indulge in the signature ‘Koh Wua Talap’, a nutty and spicy junglebird using three different kinds of rum, complemented by cocoa, sansho pepper, calamansi, and tangerine.