Hello,

I'm new to Koh Samui and plan on staying here for 2 to 4 months and was hoping to get some help. All the bars etc I've seen so far seem to be either English imitation pubs or noisy dance music bars

I'm 30, English and I guess a bit of a hippie in some respects. I'm not into reggea, just looking for somewhere a bit more organic, alternative, relaxed or whatever you want to call it. Is there any good ex-pat hangouts like this?

Any suggestions welcome.

Many thanks in advance for any help!

Whereabouts on the island are you located?

Thanks for the response,

I'm in Lamai, but I'll travel to the other side of the island regularly for the right place.

Go explore the far south of the island....some good spots down there.

Maenam Beach

Maenam Beach

agreed the maenam beach area has many Goa types visiiting check out the hotel area bars on the beach.

Maenam Beach

agreed the maenam beach area has many Goa types visiiting check out the hotel area bars on the beach.

Maenam beach is very long ....several kms! To be more specific I would say around Soi 3, Soi 4 and a bit to the west of that possibly! Really a case of walking along and see what might suit the OP's taste....

Maenam beach was quite busy today ... this image is near Soi Maenam resort road.... not that many bars this far up .... but the beach is nice

Maenam beach is as far as the eye can see, looking east ....

This is looking west.... not a short walk!!!!

There is a bar at the far point, but it's usually Reggae music!

Maenam Beach

agreed the maenam beach area has many Goa types visiiting check out the hotel area bars on the beach.

where exactly, don't know one. The closest to Hippie style were the Rasta Baby Bars, no clue if they are still here

On the road from Maenam to Ban Tai, just before the school on the right, (beach side of the road), look for the sign for Freedom Beach. A bit of a steep incline, takes you onto a quiet stretch of beach with parking, a small bar / restaurant with chilled music, a few sun beds, and a massage sala. They will phone a masseuse if you want one.

There used to be a few hippie type places in fishermans village a whille back.

Good luck anyway traveling guy.

Try the Rock Bar in Hinta Hinyai.

...otherwise Pha Ngan is awash with hippies, if you fancy popping over. Why - I'm probably one meself.

Rasta bar southern Chaweng.

9°31'16.16" N 100°03'25.82" E

Rasta bar southern Chaweng.

9°31'16.16" N 100°03'25.82" E

Good recommendation. Nice bar, chilled place. Owner is a nice guy - Chan.

Just wanted to extend my may thanks. I'll be checking these places out!

/wai

Just for interest is Fharlarn inn still at that far point in the photo. I guess it has changed a lot since being the first of the places on MaeNam when Mr Moon opened it in the late 70s

...otherwise Pha Ngan is awash with hippies, if you fancy popping over. Why - I'm probably one meself.

did not think the term A Wash was commonly used regarding hippies by many on ThaiVisa

Just for interest is Fharlarn inn still at that far point in the photo. I guess it has changed a lot since being the first of the places on MaeNam when Mr Moon opened it in the late 70s

umm.... which end? First or second picture...?. on the second picture the bar at the far end is called Black Rose, (Raggae music) Crowds there really varies from young to old and week to week... it's been there 12 years.

Fharlarn not a name I have seen or heard of....

Problem with these bars the crowds vary from day time to night time .... so checking out places during the day may be a very different clientele with the night crowd.

I have never seen more than one or two people at Freedom Beach Bar, during the day, but it could be a different story at night... it certainly is a very steep road down, unless one accesses from Ban Tai beach and do some walking and know where the way over the rock out cropping when tide is high! !

Not seen real "hippies bars" at Maenam, but there are a few cosy bars by the beach. I think the Rock Bar at HinTa HinYai has been gone for some years, but yes, that was a real hippie style place. May still be one or some left in Fisherman's Village (Bo Phut). Otherwise, I believe there may still be some hippies left at Koh Phangan.

Freedom Bar and Rock Bar (very much still open but tucked away) are both 'Reggae Bars' but at least Rock Bar plays a few obscure tunes while Freedom has the obligatory 'Bob Marley's Greatest Hits' playing on a loop..........(at least it has every time we have been there).

Definitely potential for a tucked away beach 'shack' bar playing Cafe Del Mar type chill out tunes unless anyone knows one??

Freedom Bar and Rock Bar (very much still open but tucked away) are both 'Reggae Bars' but at least Rock Bar plays a few obscure tunes while Freedom has the obligatory 'Bob Marley's Greatest Hits' playing on a loop..........(at least it has every time we have been there).

Definitely potential for a tucked away beach 'shack' bar playing Cafe Del Mar type chill out tunes unless anyone knows one??

the "Hendrix Experience" in Chaweng near Starbucks, the owner used to run "the Doors" bar in the 90's and is an "oldie". There was always great music at the Safari pub at the southern end of Lamai, not sure for now, there 's a new owner since the end of last year.

Freedom Bar and Rock Bar (very much still open but tucked away) are both 'Reggae Bars' but at least Rock Bar plays a few obscure tunes while Freedom has the obligatory 'Bob Marley's Greatest Hits' playing on a loop..........(at least it has every time we have been there).

Definitely potential for a tucked away beach 'shack' bar playing Cafe Del Mar type chill out tunes unless anyone knows one??

the "Hendrix Experience" in Chaweng near Starbucks, the owner used to run "the Doors" bar in the 90's and is an "oldie". There was always great music at the Safari pub at the southern end of Lamai, not sure for now, there 's a new owner since the end of last year.

Hendrix has a great selection of music for sure.

I love Hendrix bar, walk in sober and it's dark.....leave hours later ever so slightly innebriated and with the sun beating down on you :-)

No boyband, teenybopper music in there thank god :-)

Agree with Hendrix - great place if you can stay up late and don't do school runs

Theres a place outside Lucky Mother guesthouse on the beach in Chaweng that retains a local traditional feel about it. Not necessarily hippie but it does have character unlike many of the other bars in the area. It's a few plots down before the ArkBar.

The OP said he was looking for somewhere alternative, and relaxed not that it had to be a "hippie bar" and there are plenty like this on Maenam Beach. Example The Satang Bar.