We would really like to see the term “beach club” get an official definition, sometimes, as M Beach Club wouldn’t quite make that definition in our book.
However, as they decided to award themselves the title of “beach club” and our team was in Phuket checking out the beach club scene, they decided they’d go and investigate this slightly mysterious addition to the local environment.
They grabbed their pens and papers, and loose-fitting trousers as they’d heard that this was the only beach smokehouse in Phuket and got to work. It’s a hard life reviewing beach clubs, eh? And this is what they learned at M Beach Club.
Introduction – Getting To M Beach Club, Phuket
If you want to get to M Beach Club, you’re going to need to get to Phuket first. This can be easy or challenging, depending on what time of year you want to go.
There’s an international airport in Phuket, but it’s poorly served in the off-season from Europe and further afield. So, you may need to bounce in Bangkok on your way there – this isn’t the end of the world, it’s less than an hour to fly from the capital to Phuket.
Once you arrive in Phuket, the area’s not huge, and it’s fairly compact, so you will find that it’s easy enough to get a ride share or tuk-tuk to M Beach Club in less than an hour, even in the worst traffic conditions from most places in town.
However, as with almost all beach clubs in Phuket, there’s not much in the way of parking in this area, and if you choose to drive yourself, you may need to hunt around for a parking spot. We’d skip that hassle if at all possible.
Where Is M Beach Club, Phuket? W Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa 231, Mai Khao, Talang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
What’s Available At M Beach Club, Phuket?
The M here stands for “Marriott”, and the M Beach Club is part of the larger Marriott Phuket Resort complex.
However, as beach clubs go, this one is a little limited. It has a smokehouse barbecue restaurant, a bar and seating facilities. It also has nightly fire dance performances (because this is Phuket, and this appears to be a mandatory part of running a beach club in this town).
What it doesn’t have is a pool, though it does have direct access to the beach. If you’re a hotel guest, there are, of course, pools in other parts of the hotel that you can use. Non-resort guests may be able to access these pools for an additional fee, but only if there’s enough room after hotel guests are catered to.
Our Detailed Review Of M Beach Club, Phuket
We adopt a standardised method for evaluating each beach club to promote equitable assessment of owners, management, and staff, and to present reviews in a consistent structure that aids in comparing different locations.
- The assessment process is detailed as follows:
- A review team is assigned to examine the venue.
- All members must visit the beach club, though they may do so separately and on different days.
- At the venue, each reviewer fills out a scorecard, scoring the club from 1 (lowest quality) to 5 (highest quality) across predefined categories, while also documenting their experiences.
- Once all scorecards are submitted, the team convenes to review their findings and finalise category scores.
- A selected team member then composes the review, capturing the team’s discussions and final scores, before it is posted on our website.
Reservation and Booking Process
Our frustration at the terrible beach club booking systems of the world continues at M Beach Club, and it’s all the more mind-boggling because this is a major hotel’s operation.
Sure, there’s some renovation work going on next door until the end of December 2025, so you may not want to visit right now, but surely you should have the option?
There is absolutely no booking facility for this beach club at all. You will need to call the hotel and try to make a reservation that way.
There’s no external service, no booking form, nothing whatsoever for M Beach Club, and frankly, that’s not good enough.
Ambience and Atmosphere
The ambience is a little on the subdued side here, but that’s because it’s more a restaurant than it is a club, and people come to eat rather than to socialise.
That’s fine, we don’t mind that vibe in a restaurant, but it’s not what we visit beach clubs for, and thus, we have to deduct some points.
Having said that, there’s nothing to put you off dining here; it’s got a pleasant if slightly corporate touch to things that will look nice in some Instagram photos.
Location And Accessibility
This is a relatively easy location to get to, and that’s true of most places in Phuket, in fairness. There’s no car parking associated with the beach club, but you may be able to leave your car with the resort, which is more than you can get at most beach clubs here.
However, if they have no room in their car park, you’re going to find it’s not the easiest place to find a space in Phuket, either.
The majority of this space is accessible by wheelchair, which is kind of unusual in Southeast Asia, and we have to suspect that Marriott Group has something to do with that.
Aesthetic And Design
There’s definitely a hint of corporate decorators at work in this beach club, but it’s not as blatantly overt as it is at some hotel beach clubs.
Without a pool, however, it lacks a centrepiece to draw your eye; the overall look and feel is pleasant, but it doesn’t wow you as it could.
You will get some decent Instagram shots before you leave, but they won’t be the most memorable snaps of your time in Phuket for certain.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
The joys of having access to a 5-star hotel’s training team are that they can ensure your people maximise their capacity for professionalism, and there’s no doubt that the service staff here are very good.
They know the menu, the area and enough about Thailand to be able to offer some sensible input into your decision-making processes.
We’d also note that this is the Land of Smiles and thus, friendliness is almost guaranteed and they don’t disappoint in this area either.
Service Speed and Efficiency
The staff are also briskly efficient, which is a nice change from the slow pace of many Thai businesses.
You will find that they often neatly anticipate when you will need their assistance and materialise by your side like they just beamed down from the Starship Enterprise.
Then, once your order has been taken, checked and rechecked, it will be prepared swiftly in the kitchen or at the bar and brought to the table with the minimum of fuss.
You’ll also get the check easily enough when you’re ready to leave.
Food Quality and Variety
It’s a smokehouse beach barbecue, and that means there’s not as much variety on the menu as you find at other beach clubs, which serve wider choices of cuisine.
However, there’s no doubt that the menu is attractive and big enough that you won’t get bored while you spend an afternoon or evening here.
The food is also excellent quality, and while it may be the only smokehouse on the beach in Phuket, we can believe it would be the best even if there were others to compete with.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
Similarly, this is a restaurant and not a beach club where you’re expected to spend the entire day, and that means the beverage selection doesn’t need to be huge; it just needs to be well curated.
And we felt that it was. The cocktails are also strong enough and attractively presented so that they look good in your Instagram feed.
Wine is always expensive in Thailand, and it’s even more expensive when there’s a 5-star hotel premium involved, but it’s not a rip-off; it’s just the way things are.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
As you would expect from a major international hotel chain, cleanliness is a major priority at the M Beach Club, Phuket and everything we could see was kept immaculately clean.
The toilets were superb, and we think that’s always a good sign of how seriously a place takes its hygiene.
Overall, we don’t think there’s anything of concern in this category at all.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
The furniture is more than adequate for the task in the M Beach Club, and it’s comfortable enough.
When you’re running a restaurant, it doesn’t really need to be designed for luxurious lounging all day long, and it’s not.
But you’re not going to find yourself leaping up mid-mea,l cursing your fortune for a sore bottom, either. It’s got a job to do, and it’s competent.
Music and Entertainment
The music in the M Beach Club is piped in, and there’s really not much ot it except to say it’s the kind of bland, corporate beach club music that you can hear all over the world, and it’s all instantly forgettable.
However, the evening fire show (particularly if you haven’t seen one before) is very good and more than makes up for the boring music.
This isn’t a party spot, so it’s not going to take top marks in this category, but it’s not a complete chill-out in silence place either.
Seasonality
In theory, there’s no real seasonality to worry about in Phuket because it’s in the tropics, which means it’s hot all year round, and certainly M Beach Club’s hours don’t change at any time of the year.
However, the rainy season in this part of the world is challenging, and there’s no doubt that when it rains, it pours, and it can do so for days or even weeks, pretty much non-stop. That’s why we avoid Southern Thailand at this time of year.
If you need to hit up Southeast Asia in the rainy season, it’s better to go to Bali, where the rain is for a couple of hours a day and rarely for two or more days in a row. We’d also note that Bali tends to offer better value for money than Phuket, too.
Pricing and Value for Money
This is a 5-star hotel beach club, and that means you’re going to pay two premiums. The first is the premium for being in a beach club instead of a local beach bar or restaurant.
The second is for being in a 5-star hotel property rather than at an independent one; however, neither premium here is unreasonable.
While it’s not a “beach club” as we’d see it, there’s no doubt that this is a good restaurant that serves delicious food and drinks and delivers good value for money.
Beach Access and Quality
The sand on the beach is kept clean and tidy by the beach clean-up crew from the resort, and there’s no doubt that there’s enough powdery sand to make a romantic stroll on the beach or building sandcastles good fun.
However, you can’t swim in the sea here as it’s terribly polluted and you do risk being dragged out to deep water by sudden riptide currents.
If you really need to swim, either choose a different beach club or pay to use the pool in other areas of this hotel complex, but don’t risk your life in the ocean.
Sustainability Practices
We have to say we’re not entirely surprised to learn that this beach club has made no formal commitment to sustainability or to report on any progress they might have made towards this.
We know that the Marriott Group makes some effort towards sustainability throughout its properties, but without any concrete details, we have to treat that as greenwashing.
And we think in 2025, big hotel chains can do better about communicating their environmental responsibilities.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
This is a restaurant, so you get to sit on a chair (there are some nice ones on the beach) and that’s about it.
That’s one big difference between restaurants and beach clubs, and there are no real extra perks that places like this can offer, either.
Safety and Security
It’s a 5-star resort complex, so you will be expected to subject your car to a search as you enter the compound in a vehicle.
They may also carry out spot bag checks as you enter. This is a good thing as it helps to promote a safe and secure environment for all customers.
Finally, there are always enough resort security staff on hand that, should any trouble occur (and we doubt that happens very often in this environment) that it will be dealt with without spreading to other guests.
Event Hosting Capabilities
This is a Marriott, so you can usually arrange to hold events at the hotel and any of its various properties.
However, this isn’t the biggest space and with resort guests requiring some of the space every day, you might choose to hold anything but a small event elsewhere in the resort or in Phuket.
Consistency of Experience
The joy of 5-star properties is that you can set your watch, as it were, by the experience. They deliver exactly the same experience every time you visit.
This is a good thing if you enjoy yourself, but it’s a shame they don’t put a little more effort into creating something even better and evolving the experience regularly.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
The restaurant has all the basic amenities and facilities that you’d expect, and if you need anything else, you can easily find it within a short drive of the resort.
Summary
The beach club scene desperately needs a professional body that develops a set of standards for a business to operate as a “beach club”.
We feel that part of the joy of a beach club is the ability to swim and enjoy the pool and/or ocean, and without that, it’s more of a restaurant than anything else. Particularly, when, as with the M Beach Club, there’s no “club” feel to it either, you don’t come here to party, you just come to eat and drink.
However, that doesn’t mean that we had a bad time at M Beach Club, far from it. The food was great, and the fire show, while clichéd, was more than good enough to be fun.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat with friends and family in Phuket, there are worse places to go. But don’t take a towel or your dancing shoes, it’s not that kind of beach club. It’s more a beach restaurant.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At M Beach Club, Phuket?
No, not really. If you are a Marriott Resort guest, then there are swimming pools elsewhere in the resort that you can use. Non-guests may be able to pay for access to these pools, but that’s not guaranteed, as it depends on how busy these areas are.
You should also avoid swimming in the sea anywhere in Phuket, despite the fact that you have direct access to the beach here. That’s because the water is polluted and there’s a real danger from riptides that can drag people out to sea, even very strong swimmers.
So, if you really want to swim, this isn’t the beach club for you.
What Is There To Do At M Beach Club, Phuket?
You can enjoy their smokehouse barbecue food, drink, sit in comfortable seats on the beach, take a stroll along the sand and at night, there’s a fire dancing display for you to enjoy.
This is not a party-style beach club, and there’s nothing in the way of live music and entertainment beyond the show. So, don’t turn up looking to drink until dawn, it’s really not that sort of place. It’s more geared towards family fun.
Is M Beach Club, Phuket, A Child-Friendly Venue?
Yes, as it’s part of the Marriott Resort complex, it’s very much a child-friendly place with children welcome throughout the resort.
However, there are no special facilities for children at this beach club, and they’ll need to make their own entertainment.
As with all beach clubs in Southeast Asia (and most of the world), you will need to watch your children to ensure their safety (and to make sure they don’t go in the sea) and to make certain they don’t annoy other guests.
Who Is The Owner Of M Beach Club, Phuket?
M Beach Club, Phuket, is part of the Marriott Group. That’s one of the world’s largest hotel groups, and it’s owned by an international collective of shareholders.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of M Beach Club, Phuket
M Beach Club is a strange experience, not least because without a pool or ocean that’s safe to swim in, we don’t really feel like it’s a proper beach club.
However, there’s no doubt that the barbecue here is extremely tasty, and they make good use of the catch of the day to tantalise your taste buds.
There is some construction work nearby at the moment, and you may want to delay your visit until that’s over – all credit to the Marriott for acknowledging this on their website, think how many businesses would pretend that it wasn’t happening until you were stuck there.
But we’d really like to see them sort out a proper booking system. In 2025, we expect to be able to make a reservation easily without having to jump through hoops to get one.
