As green season eases into the busier months this October, Friday evenings at Boat Avenue are filling up again. The Boat Avenue Friday market is where Bang Tao’s week ends, and where a good part of Phuket’s international community turns up to eat, drink and catch up. If you live on the island, or you are about to, this is the weekly date to put in the calendar.
Friday night at Boat Avenue
Boat Avenue sits at the entrance to the Laguna area in Bang Tao, Cherngtalay, a short drive from the beach. It is an open-air village of restaurants, bars, boutiques and a well-stocked supermarket, built around a lake.
Every Friday from around 4pm until 9pm, the pedestrian plaza between the supermarket and the lake turns into Fun Friday, the area’s weekly market. Food stalls, small boutique traders and a little stage fill the space, and fairy lights take over as the sun drops.
The busiest stretch runs from about 6pm to 8pm. That is when the plaza feels most like a neighbourhood night out.
Why the community comes out
Plenty of markets on the island are built around shopping. This one is built around people.
“Some of the best Thai food is there, but for me, it’s really about the community,” says Asa Marsh, a Bang Tao regular who has called Phuket home for 15 years. “On a Friday night, everyone seems to come into Bang Tao. You’ve got people living around Laguna, in villas and branded residences, and people coming across from other parts of the island.”
The crowd is a mix of long-stay residents, families, digital nomads, professionals and visitors staying along the west coast. Prices are marked on the stalls and the traders speak English, which makes it an easy first outing for anyone new to the island.
“It’s just a really good mix of people,” Marsh says. “You grab some food, have a drink, bump into people you know and inevitably meet somebody new.”
What to eat
Thai street food is the backbone of the night. Expect grilled meats and seafood, skewers straight off the coals, fried noodles, meatballs and fish balls, with international bites and drinks sold alongside.
The best approach is to walk a full lap first, then come back for what caught your eye. Order small, share, and go round again.
Marsh has one non-negotiable stop. “Even if I’m only passing through, I’ll stop for the dumplings,” he says. “I think they’re some of the best in Phuket. I haven’t found better yet, and I’ve lived here for 15 years and been coming to Phuket since I was 12, so I’ve eaten my way around quite a bit of the island.”
That is a strong recommendation from someone who has had a long time to compare. Find the dumpling stall early, before the queue builds.
Music, lights and the lake
Local artists and young performers take turns on the small stage, and there is outdoor seating close by. The sound stays soft enough to talk over, which suits the crowd.
By 7pm the lake reflects the string lights, children are running between the stalls and the tables are full of people who all seem to know each other. It is a very easy place to lose an evening.
How to do it like a local
Find it on Google Maps, at the entrance to Laguna on the Bang Tao side of Cherngtalay. Arrive before 6pm if you are driving. Parking behind the plaza and near the lake is free, and it fills quickly once the evening crowd arrives.
Marsh’s ideal Friday starts at the beach. “Ideally, I like to catch sunset at the beach first and then head over,” he says. “We’ll grab a couple of drinks, walk around and pick up whatever looks good.”
Leave room for a second lap, and plan to stay longer than you meant to. Most people do.
Bang Tao beyond the market
The Friday market is a good window into why so many people choose to live around Bang Tao and Laguna. The area has grown into one of the island’s most popular places to live, and its price point reflects what it has become.
“I’m a massive foodie,” Marsh says. “I want fresh food, good ingredients and somewhere I can comfortably bring my family. Around Bang Tao you’ve got loads of healthy options, great restaurants and, when you want to be unhealthy, some dangerously good cookies and desserts as well.”
He describes the area as family-friendly, with a real focus on health, fitness, good food and community. “It’s a very easy place to live. People are friendly, there’s always something going on, and it’s one of my favourite places in Phuket to bring my family or meet up with friends.”
Make it your Friday
If you are new to Phuket and want to understand the west coast quickly, spend a Friday evening at Boat Avenue. Eat well, talk to the people at the next table and find those dumplings. By the end of the night, Bang Tao will feel a lot more like home.
