Editor’s note: We hope you enjoyed our Songkran Survival guide from last week. If you missed it you can view it here. Next week we’ll shift from what’s new on the island to one of the bigger Phuket decisions: the six questions you need to answer before buying a condo here.
NEW IN OLD TOWN
Old Town’s High-Fidelity Shift
Old Town’s evolution continues, and Coolies Club is a good example of where it is going. Set inside a carefully restored shophouse on Soi Rommanee, it feels less like another photo-stop venue and more like a serious hospitality project.
That matters because Old Town has increasingly split into two tracks: places built for passing tourist traffic, and places trying to create a more durable standard of food, drink, and atmosphere. Coolies looks closer to the second category.
If you’re hosting friends who want the character of Old Town without the usual street-level clutter, this is one to know.
NEW KID ON THE SOI - CHALONG
LUDUS PHUKET COMES OUT SWINGING ON SOI TAI-IAD
The real story is not the machine count. It’s that the soi keeps getting more polished and more integrated. What was once a strip of hard-core training camps is gradually becoming a more complete wellness district, with products built for longer stays and broader lifestyles.
If Ludus delivers on operations as well as branding, it could become one of the more visible anchors on the soi.
5000 m2
sports facilities, food hall, spa, shopping and hotel - a perfect complex for productive time
8 training zones
cardio, strength, functional, stretching, boxing, CrossFit, TRX, cycling
55 hotel rooms
including 6 junior suites
13 spa massage rooms
3 steam rooms, Harnn cosmetics, a rain room, hammam, herbal sauna, Finnish sauna, а 25-meter swimming pool.
Soi Ta-iad has no shortage of gyms, so a new opening needs to be more than just large. Ludus appears to be aiming for the “all-day athlete” market: train, recover, eat, and stay in one place.
NEW IN BANG TAO
Cherng Talay / Bang Tao is getting deeper, not just busier. New arrivals like Renew Sauna & Ice Bath Club and DOPA Wellness suggest the area is becoming a real recovery and longevity cluster rather than just a resort zone with fitness branding.
For people living in the north, that matters. Chalong still owns the island’s training identity, but Bang Tao is building a version of wellness that feels more residential, more polished, and easier to fold into daily life.
WHAT'S NEW IN RAWAI
Two worth knowing about if you're in the south.
Bartels is now in Rawai. If you know the Cherng Talay or Bangkok branches, you know what to expect: proper sourdough, good sandwiches, coffee that feels built for regulars rather than passers-by. Rawai has plenty of cafés, but fewer places that feel like they belong in a weekly routine. bartelsthailand.com
Fairtex now has a retail store in Rawai. That’s practical more than flashy. If you train, need gear, or want a gift that isn’t Elephant pants, it’s worth knowing it’s there. fairtex.com (https://www.fairtex.com/)
Who has the Best Burger on Phuket?
We’re still working on one of Phuket’s more important public-interest questions: who actually has the best burger on the island?
Nominations are complete. Voting is live. Cast yours here: https://bracket.phuketintel.com
Photo courtesy of Smash Brothers Burger - Rawai
That’s it for this week.
Have a safe and happy Songkran. Thank you for being a subscriber. See you next week!