Soi Seadragon

Soi Seadragon is a lane off Bangla Road in Patong, in the Patong district of Phuket. It is the main gogo soi off Bangla, so you reach it by walking the pedestrian street and turning in at the soi. Staying in Patong puts it within walking distance of most hotels.

It is the main gogo soi off Bangla Road, so it is where the gogo bars are in Patong. Suzie Wong is one of the bars inside it. If you want stages, dancers and a proper gogo bar after walking the open street, this is the lane to head for rather than the busier beer-bar complexes.

The same way as anywhere in Thailand. You buy a drink, the dancers rotate on stage, and you can invite one to sit with you by buying her a lady drink. If you want to take her out, a bar fine goes to the bar and her own fee is agreed with her. Ask the staff for the current drinks list first.

Close by are Sugar Club Phuket, Tiger Club, Cocoon, Blow, Tai Pan and Tiger Complex. That is a cluster of nightclubs, a bar and a freelancer spot, all within a minute or two on Bangla Road. It is easy to move from the gogos to a club later in the night without a ride.

They are different nights. Soi Seadragon is gogo bars with stages and a set-up that rewards a longer visit, while the beer bar complexes off Bangla, around Soi Tiger and Soi Crocodile, are rows of loud touristy beer bars. Pick Seadragon if you want gogos, the complexes if you want a casual drink with a hostess.

Yes. Plenty of visitors walk through just to see it, and nobody will force you into a bar. A polite no thank you or a smile is enough for the doormen. Do not photograph the women without asking, and keep moving at a normal pace if you are only browsing.

Count lady drinks against the chits before you pay, and ask for the bill before you have had too much to check it. Do not ring any bell behind the bar, because it buys a drink for the whole room. Ignore touts on Bangla Road who push shows upstairs, and keep your phone in a front pocket.

Walk the lane once, pick a bar with open doors where you can see the stage, and stay for a drink before you decide. Chat politely, tip a dancer directly if she has been good company, and keep a clear head for the bill. If you want a club afterwards, Sugar Club Phuket and Tiger Club are a short walk.