Where to stay in Chalong bay

Chalong bay hotels

If you are only coming to Phuket to dive for a few days then Chalong bay is the perfect place to stay as most Phuket local dive boats depart daily from Chalong pier.

Ao Chalong lacks a nice beach so it’s not the place for a beach vacation but if you’ll be on the boat all day and just need a nice dinner and a few beers at night then staying in Chalong is ideal.

For accommodation we like the Pier 42, a stylish boutique hotel with a small pool within a stones throw of the pier. It has a nice little cafe for coffee in the morning.

Even closer is the Orange Pier Guesthouse. The seaview rooms look out to the bay. This hotel can be a little noisy in the mornings through as all the tourist buses arrive to drop off day trippers.

A little further back up soi Sunrise is the Chalong Sea Breeze which has good clean rooms at around 1,000 baht per night.

Chalong facilities

Chalong bay is Phuket’s dive shop hub so you can find all your diving needs here including equipment sales and servicing.

There is a 7 Eleven under the Orange Pier guesthouse for all your essentials and a couple of ATM’s. Motorbike taxi’s can also be hired from this area.

If you walk up Sunrise road to the roundabout (referred to at Chalong circle or Hayaek Chalong) an turn right you will find banks, more shops and a local market.

Chalong bay restaurants

We like the Kan Eang @ Pier for dining next to the bay.

If you need western food Happy Days does burgers and the Sunday roast is very popular.

The best pizza is at Agli Amichi’s on soi Jaofa 39.

There are several options for cheap Thai eats along soi sunrise (the road from Chalong circle to the pier). The small shop next to Aquamaster does a large plate of Khao Pad gung (shrimp fried rice) for 100 baht.

Or on the main Chao Fa East road next to SCB bank is a little alley with a few tables where you can get Khao Man Gai (chicken on rice). It’s a great little place that usually sells out by lunchtime. The rice is steamed with the chicken broth and pandanas leaves giving it a slightly green hue. Worth checking out for authentic local food.

Chalong bay bars

Plenty to choose from here. In the early evening we like the Lighthouse or the Tamarind bar. Both look out over the bay.

Sunrise Road has it’s fair share of beer bars, most of which have sprung up over the last 5 years (15 years ago Sunrise road was a dirt track). Which one is best depends on which night you go in but the ATM bar is consistently a fun and friendly place.