Lima Bar

Right where the village road spills onto Sai Kaew Beach, Lima Bar is the sandy pit stop you end up calling home for a few nights. Low tables and beanbags are staked right on the sand under a tangle of lantern-lit trees. By day it’s shade, sea breeze, and easygoing drinks; after sunset the beach glows, the music turns up just enough, and you’ve got a front-row seat to the nightly fire shows flickering up the shore. Order a proper cocktail — locals rave about the margaritas — or grab an icy Chang and take it slow. There’s a pool table tucked just off the beach if you want a break from the sand, and most nights a troubadour with a guitar slides between Thai singalongs and 2000s Britpop. Staff are friendly and quick, the vibe is come-as-you-are, and it’s an easy meet-up spot if you’re staying anywhere along Sai Kaew. Find it next to Buddy’s BBQ & Grill, a few minutes’ walk from the village side of the beach. Doors open late morning and run through to 1am, so you can drift in for a lazy post-swim drink and end up closing it down. If you’re bar-hopping, start here, wander up to Ploy Talay, and circle back when the sand cools and the stars come out.