Barra Cuda Beach Club Phuket — Restaurant in Patong

Arrival Experience – A Major Disappointment

From the moment we arrived, the experience took a disappointing turn. At the entrance, we were greeted not with a smile or even a “hello” but with a curt demand from an extremely rude French staff member asking for our reservation details.

She informed me that I needed to pay the remaining portion of the minimum spend, which was expected. However, she claimed the amount was 10,000 THB, despite my WhatsApp conversation with the Barracuda team on 22 July, clearly stating the minimum spend for the center beachfront seat was 8,000 THB. When I politely asked when this had changed pointing out the message was recent her only response was, “Well, it’s different now.”

My partner and I decided to explore the option of VIP seats instead, so I asked if we could see both the VIP and center beachfront areas before deciding. To my shock, she flatly refused, saying I could not enter the premises without paying in full even though I had already paid half. It felt unnecessarily hostile and unwelcoming, as if I were being treated with suspicion for no reason.

Her tone throughout the interaction was condescending, as though she believed she was above me leaving me to wonder if my treatment was influenced by my skin color. After paying the remainder, she led us to a table positioned right next to the bar, which I found undesirable. When I asked if we could move further down, she immediately insisted all other tables were booked—without even checking. Only after I pressed her did she reluctantly look, discovering there were indeed available seats, including VIP spots.

This initial encounter set an unpleasant tone for the evening. For a newly opened venue, I had expected a much warmer welcome, especially compared to the many beach clubs I’ve visited around the world.

The Rest of the Night – Missed Opportunities

Thankfully, the food, waitstaff, and music were excellent, which helped salvage parts of the night. Still, my mood remained dampened by the poor welcome. We stayed because refunds were clearly not an option.

Later, before leaving, we tried to speak with the duty manager to share our experience. Shockingly, our waiter refused telling us outright there was no point because it would not result in freebies or a reduced bill (which we had never requested). We asked again after paying in full, but were still denied access to management. My partner was understandably upset, and it truly ended the night on a sour note.

Final Disappointment – A Forgotten Birthday Promise

To make matters worse, it was my partner’s birthday. The day before, I had messaged the Barracuda team via WhatsApp to let them know, and they assured me they would arrange a cake and a birthday song. I was excited for this surprise only to be met with nothing. No cake. No singing. No acknowledgment whatsoever.

Final Thoughts

Barracuda is undeniably a beautiful venue with great vibes, good food, and attentive waiters. However, the unprofessionalism, unwelcoming attitude, and complete disregard for promises left us feeling disrespected and unwelcome. I have never been treated so poorly in a hospitality setting, and it’s deeply disappointing that such a stunning place was overshadowed by such...

I just had to share my incredible experience at David, AI, and Aungr's establishment - it's truly a gem! As someone who's called Australia home for years, I was amazed at how effortlessly they made me feel like I was hanging out in my own living room, despite being oceans away.

Exceptional Service From the moment I walked in, David, AI, and Aungr set the tone with top-notch service that was both attentive and unobtrusive. They seemed to anticipate my needs before I even had to ask - it's like they had a sixth sense for hospitality!

Divine Drinks Their drink menu is a masterclass in variety and taste. Whether you're after something classic like a well-crafted Old Fashioned or something more adventurous, they've got you covered. I lost count of how many rounds we went through, and each one was better than the last.

Irresistible Shisha The shisha selection was staggering - flavors that danced on the palate, perfectly balanced smoke that lingered just right. It was like savoring a sensory treat crafted just for me. They clearly know their stuff when it comes to hookah perfection.

Electrifying Entertainment Now, the entertainment - WOW. Whatever they had going on (and I'm not sure I can put my finger on exactly what it was), it created this intoxicating vibe that had me and everyone else utterly captivated. It felt like the whole space was alive, pulsing with good energy.

Comfort and Ambiance What really struck me was how they nailed the ambiance. It wasn't just about looks; it felt genuinely comfortable, like slipping into a favorite pair of slippers. You know, that feeling where you don't have to think about being "on show" - you can just relax and be yourself. David, AI, and Aungr clearly put their hearts into crafting a space that's as welcoming as a warm hug.

The Aussie Touch Abroad Here's the kicker: I'm from Australia, and I didn't feel like I was away. Maybe it's because they somehow managed to bottle that laid-back Aussie spirit and serve it up with their hospitality. Whatever the secret sauce is, they got it spot on - I felt right at home.

Would I Return? In a heartbeat! If you're looking for a spot that checks all the boxes - fantastic drinks, incredible shisha, show-stopping entertainment, and service that's straight-up legendary - David, AI, and Aungr's is THE place. I'd sing their praises to anyone Down Under looking for an unforgettable experience abroad.

All up, huge kudos to David, AI, and Aungr for an experience I'll be raving about for ages. If you end up there, trust me, you won't be...

I was really looking forward to visiting this beach club. I had made a booking in advance and was excited since the weather looked great at first—but then it turned stormy. Before my booking, I messaged the club asking if I could reschedule due to the rain and lack of sun. At first, they said that would be fine… but shortly after, they changed their minds and said I couldn’t.

I get it—it’s low season and they want to keep business coming in. That’s totally fair. So we decided to come anyway. But when we arrived, we were told we couldn’t sit in the area we originally booked, and were informed there was now a 7,000 baht minimum spend for the party bed that we booked which is fine. But due to the rain Instead, we were seated at the beach bar, where the minimum spend was 1,500 baht—which is where we ended up staying. We spent quite a bit, even though we couldn’t enjoy the pool because of the non-stop rain, and couldn’t use the sunbeds we had booked. We tried to order shisha, but were then told it didn’t count toward our spend.

Again, I completely understand that it’s a business and there are rules. But if customers can’t use the space they booked due to weather and are seated elsewhere, then the spend should reflect that change. Charging us 7,000 baht for a spot we weren’t even allowed to use doesn’t feel right. We were happy to spend 1,500 baht in the section we were actually in.

Also, we had to awkwardly wait about 15 minutes to be acknowledged at the entrance while staff were having a dispute—definitely not the warmest welcome.

That said, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the food was amazing. Honestly, the best pizza and pasta I’ve had in Thailand so far. The drinks were also great, and prices for food and drink weren’t even that high—so setting the minimum spend so high feels like it’s just a push to hit a revenue goal, rather than matching the value of...