Stoned Bar

Railay West is the sort of beach that ruins other beaches for you, and this bar sits right on it, feet-in-the-sand casual, with the limestone walls doing the scenery work. No cars, no road, just boats. That shapes everything about the place, including the crowd: climbers coming down off the karsts, backpackers, and people who came for one drink at sunset and were still there three hours later.

It's a gathering spot more than a destination in its own right. Nobody's here for a cocktail programme. You're here because the sun is going down over the Andaman and this is where everyone ends up. The crowd skews international and chatty, so it works well if you're travelling solo and want company. If you want a quiet, polished beach club, this isn't it and doesn't pretend to be.