The G Beach Club in Phuket is a very different kind of beach club, and our team was intrigued by a place, particularly in this area, that is building its reputation on eco-consciousness rather than luxury amenities.
They say they produce their own water and electricity (solar), they protect local corals and marine life and shun plastic. They only source Thai produce locally and high-quality sustainable products, and look to work with other partners with a similar ethos.
So, our reviewers packed their bags and notebooks and went in search of a place that insists it’s more than a destination, it’s a seamless haven, and this is what they learned when they did.
Introduction – Getting To The G Beach Club, Phuket
Getting to Phuket is relatively easy, though depending on the time of year, direct flights may be abundant or you may need a stopover in Bangkok.
Once you’re in the area, you can easily get to G Beach Club in a tuk-tuk or ride-share or taxi within 30-60 minutes from most of the island.
However, once you arrive, it’s a walk down some fairly steep steps to get in the door here, and it’s not accessible to those with serious mobility issues.
Where Is The G Beach Club, Phuket? Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand
Online: G Beach Club
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, but it’s worth noting that hours may vary depending on Thai public holidays and elections; make sure to check before you travel to see if this club is open.
What’s Available At The G Beach Club, Phuket?
There’s no pool at this beach club, but they do have restaurant and bar facilities as well as some seating areas. In addition, they offer diving, free diving and snorkelling courses and trips, sailing trips, as well as yoga and meditation classes.
As you can tell by their opening hours, this isn’t a beach club for party goers, it’s a place to experience a different side of Phuket, the ocean, the beach and nature in all its glory.
Our Detailed Review Of The G Beach Club, Phuket
We utilise a uniform evaluation process for each beach club to ensure fair assessment of owners, management, and staff, and to offer reviews in a standardised structure that aids in venue comparisons.
The evaluation procedure is as follows:
- A review team is appointed to assess the venue.
- All members are required to visit the beach club, though they may do so separately and on different days.
- At the venue, each reviewer completes a scorecard, rating the club from 1 (lowest mark) to 5 (highest mark) across specified categories, while also noting their observations.
- Once all scorecards are completed, the team gathers to discuss their findings and settle on final category scores.
- A chosen team member then drafts the review, reflecting the team’s conclusions and scores, before it is uploaded to our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
The reservation process is basic, very basic. We understand that it’s nice to be eco-friendly, but we don’t think that a decent booking engine is going to use up any more of the planet than a contact us form from 1990.
Strangely, they don’t even ask for a date on their reservation page, just the number of guests, which must make for a fairly memorable experience for the staff trying to manage this place.
Then, you have to wait for them to come back to you or pick up the phone to call them and see if you can sort out a booking over the phone.
We confess, we find this lack of care and attention when it comes to booking at so many beach clubs baffling. This is when you have the best chance to win over a customer, and yet, this system just says “can’t be bothered”.
It’s also important to note that if you want a comfortable chair, you will have to pay an entrance fee (there are loungers without mattresses available for free) of around 300 Baht (less than $10 USD, which is not bad for Phuket,) with a minimum spend on top of around 200 Baht (about $6 USD). This is not specified anywhere in the booking form or on the website.
Ambience and Atmosphere
This is very much your old school beach bar vibe, and there’s no doubt that if you’ve been missing that authentic slice of Thai beach life, you can find it at this beach club.
It’s all about kicking back on the sand and embracing the natural world. There’s no loud music or constant chattering to interfere with your enjoyment of the sound of the waves lapping at the shoreline.
However, its remote location means that you have to leave fairly early in the evening, and there’s no means of carrying your good time through into the dark.
Location And Accessibility
The G Beach Club is in a lovely location on the oceanfront, far from the built-up areas of Phuket, and if we were only awarding marks for location, this place would get all of the points in this section.
But we also have to consider accessibility, and that’s a bigger issue here. This beach club is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill, and while there are some steps to get down to the place, we wouldn’t describe this as somewhere you’d want to try and visit with a wheelchair.
The staff is very kind and will be happy to help if you need assistance navigating the steps, but they can’t carry a chair down this hill.
Aesthetic And Design
It’s probably fair to say that the design at this beach club is minimalist. Things here have been selected for their eco-creds and longevity, as well as their eye candy appeal, and it’s been done on something of a budget, too.
For all that, you’re still going to get some lovely photos here with a bit of creativity because the star of the show is the natural world, and that’s absolutely stunning.
The shots you get here will scream “Thailand” rather than “beach club that could be anywhere on Earth”, and that’s a good thing, we think.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
We found the staff here to be the living embodiment of the Land of Smiles, and their friendliness was next-level even for Phuket.
Our team was also impressed with the level of professionalism; they seemed to know their offerings very well and could provide impressive levels of insight into the local area, too.
There’s a real feeling of teamwork and mutual respect and support throughout the venue, which is very nice.
Service Speed and Efficiency
It might be the fact that this is not a very big beach club, but there’s no doubt that the staff here don’t leave you hanging around when you need service.
We also felt that once an order had been placed that it was quickly dealt with by the bar and/or kitchen, and we didn’t find ourselves waiting too long for anything we wanted during the day.
Even the check and change materialised quickly at the end of the day, which made a much better final impression than our first impression had led us to believe possible.
Food Quality and Variety
The menu at this beach club is a touch on the limited side; however, much of that stems from the fact that they’re ensuring that all the ingredients are both authentic and ethically sourced.
We understand that this takes time and effort, and there’s something to be said for a narrower menu; it ensures that your chefs can really focus their efforts on mastering each dish.
Our experience here was that the food was excellent, very tasty, and it made us feel like it was an investment in the future, not just a quick, pleasurable bite on a holiday in Southeast Asia.
Though we do find ourselves wondering why the squid needs to come from Spain and the shrimp from Sicily? That doesn’t feel as eco-friendly as it might.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
It’s obviously going to be challenging to find an ethical source of alcohol, and we think they compensated for that by offering a fairly limited drinks menu.
Overall, the drinks were good and the non-alcoholic drinks were excellent, but there wasn’t a huge amount of choice, and they certainly didn’t spend much effort on making them gram-worthy.
They were reasonably priced compared to many of the other beach clubs in the area, though.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
We had no issues with cleanliness or hygiene in this beach club and would be happy to recommend it to anyone on this basis.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
We weren’t overly impressed with the free seating. Daybeds without cushions are not comfy at all. However, the upgrade fee isn’t huge, and once you have cushions, the furniture is comfortable enough; it’s not the best in Southeast Asia or even Phuket, but it will do for a few hours all the same.
Music and Entertainment
There’s only piped music in this venue, and it definitely isn’t allowed to dominate the airspace. The idea is that this is a place for relaxing by the sea rather than raving into the wee small hours.
However, the music that they do have is actually pretty good and has been carefully curated to give the club a certain atmosphere. Not all of our team loved the vibe, but some of them thought that G Beach Club had a unique style for Phuket, and they very much enjoyed it.
Seasonality
Phuket has no official seasonality, but in our experience, the rainy season here can see unremitting downpours that last for weeks at a time.
We wouldn’t recommend coming during that time of year. If you must hit up Southeast Asia in the rainy season, go to Bali – it only rains sporadically there.
Putting that to one side, the club is open all year round and they don’t close for any specific season or reduce their services at that time of year, either.
As with all clubs in Thailand, they may have an occasional need to change the hours or even close the club for a day due to public holidays or elections.
Pricing and Value for Money
This beach club represents good value for money, as you might expect from a slightly remote location. The food is a little on the pricey side, but then, the quality of the ingredients and sourcing explains that.
Overall, though, we found we spent less at The G Beach Club than at most beach clubs in Phuket, and we had a great time all the same.
Beach Access and Quality
You get direct access to the beach from this beach club; in fact, much of the furniture here is laid out on the sand.
However, the sand isn’t the prettiest in Phuket, and the beach is a sort of muddy colour. It’s kept reasonably clean by the beach club staff, though, as with every beach in the world nowadays, what washes up on the sand during the course of the day is beyond their control.
But we do have reservations about the water quality in this area, and we would be loathe to swim in the sea here.
The sunset view is lovely, though, and you’re perfectly positioned for a great light show in the sky as the day draws to a close.
Sustainability Practices
Phuket seems to be lagging a long way behind the curve when it comes to sustainability in its beach clubs, and we’re pleased to see The G Beach Club leading the charge in this area.
They have a set of concrete targets, which they have achieved; they’re constantly looking for ways to improve on this, and while we’d prefer more reporting and audited data, we feel that for this part of the world, The G Beach Club sets the standard that others should follow.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
You get access to a comfortable seat, and that’s about it. Given they don’t have a pool, they can’t really be expected to throw in a towel, and this is one of the few beach clubs in the world where you will need to bring your own towels if you want to swim in the sea.
If you sign up for the trips and tours, everything you need is provided as part of the package that you agree to.
Safety and Security
We don’t think there’s a lot of need for security at a beach club like this, given its target audience is mainly those who like to dwell in peace and harmony with the cosmos, but we like that they still do a basic bag check at the door, all the same.
Our team was also convinced that there are enough staff on duty to handle whatever mild issues might arise during the course of the day.
But we have to dock a point for the water activities, which in the filthy waters around Phuket, we just don’t perceive as safe.
Event Hosting Capabilities
As far as we can tell, this beach club isn’t in the market for private events, and that makes sense given its ethos and location.
The G Beach Club certainly makes no mention of private events on its fairly informative website. So, we can’t award any points in this area of practice.
Consistency of Experience
Our team has visited this facility several times now, and we’ve spoken to other regular customers as well as reviewed the feedback and online comments of many other guests.
We think it’s fair to say that they are very consistent in providing the kind of experience that they are looking to provide, and that’s a very good thing.
However, we don’t see signs of continuous innovation that would take this place to the next level; we suspect much of their efforts are focused on growing their local partnerships, etc., for the eco-side of things, instead.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
They have their own yacht, which is kind of awesome, and the onsite dive school is also a pretty high-end facility.
However, while they are pretty well stocked for amenities, if you need anything they don’t have, you’re going to have to climb those stairs again and go out and look for it, and there’s not much within walking distance, so you’re going to have to go for a drive.
Summary
We really like The G Beach Club. Sure, it’s not competing with the party-oriented or big relaxing day out beach clubs, but that’s a mark in its favour. This is a place with its own unique niche in Pattaya, and that means more choice for consumers.
You’re going to have a pleasant day by the sea at this place, and if you like the sports and other activities on offer, you’re going to have a great time of things.
Even for those looking to chill, the music’s decent enough, the drinks are cold, and the food is good. What’s not to like?
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At The G Beach Club, Phuket?
Yes, you can swim at The G Beach Club if you join a snorkelling tour organised by the beach club. There is no pool at this facility.
However, we have to note that the waters around Phuket are horribly polluted, and we’d be reluctant to swim in them.
While we appreciate that these tours go offshore and away from the worst of the pollution, we don’t think that we’d want to risk spending our holiday in the bathroom for a swim.
What Is There To Do At The G Beach Club, Phuket?
This is very much your old school beach bar with food and drinks available, plus some basic daybeds on the sand. They also offer a range of diving and snorkelling adventures, as well as yacht trips and yoga and meditation lessons.
You can’t do any partying at this beach club, mind you, and there’s no dance floor, DJ or anything along those lines.
Is The G Beach Club, Phuket, A Child-Friendly Venue?
Yes, G Beach Club, Phuket, is a family-friendly venue. Assuming your kids can hike down the stairs to get into this club, they will be very welcome inside.
There are some minor toys and things for kids to play with here, but there’s no pool, and we wouldn’t, given pollution concerns, let our kids swim in the sea in Phuket.
So, they’re going to need to be the kind of kids who make their own entertainment, and the beach is pleasant enough for that.
As with nearly all beach clubs in Southeast Asia, you will be expected to watch your own children for both their safety and to ensure they don’t annoy other guests.
It’s important to note that there is no lifeguard available at this beach club, so if they do go into the water, you need to be on hand to keep them safe.
Who Is The Owner Of The G Beach Club, Phuket?
The ownership of this beach club is not in the public domain, though it appears the owners are not native to Thailand.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of The G Beach Club, Phuket
If you want something different to do in Phuket, then you might want to check out G Beach Club. It may not have the glitz and glamour of some of the big-name beach clubs, but it does have heart and eco-credentials.
When you party here, you can be reasonably assured that you’re doing the right thing by the planet, and that’s always a positive.
We also like the emphasis on diving, snorkelling, yachting, yoga, etc., which means you can get in touch with nature and your inner self as you desire.
While we wouldn’t travel all the way to Phuket just for this beach club, we will be stopping in every time we pass through Phuket in the future.
