Ska Bar

Ska Bar is Kata Beach's best-known beach bar, set on the sand at the far southern end of the bay, where the beach runs out into the rocks. It is built in the shade of an immense tree, said to be more than a century old, which forms the centrepiece of the bar. Nothing here is polished, and that is the point.

Reggae plays seven days a week and is the core of the bar's identity. Tables and stools sit directly on the sand under the tree's canopy, with more seats tucked among the rocks, so you can sit with your feet in the sand and a drink in hand. On some evenings there is a fire show on the beach; timings vary, so ask the staff during the day if you want to catch one. Even when the middle of Kata is busy, the atmosphere here tends to stay relaxed.

The bar is open from 10:00 to 01:00, so it works as a daytime refuge from the sun as well as an evening spot. Drinks are priced above those in the bars on the back roads, which reflects the beachfront setting. For food, the bar shares its beachfront with Kata Seafood next door, and dishes can be ordered to the bar's tables. Note that the tree and rocks screen much of the western sky, so you see the sunset mainly as colour reflected on the wet sand rather than the sun dipping into the sea.

Ska Bar suits couples, solo travellers and groups who want an easy-going evening rather than a club night. Wear sandals you do not mind getting sandy, bring insect repellent for the evening and keep phones and bags close when sitting on the rocks. Cash is useful for small bills.

The bar is at the south end of Kata Beach, a short walk along the sand from the main beach road and Kata's restaurants and hotels. Kata Noi lies over the headland to the south, and Karon Viewpoint is a few minutes' drive up the coast road. For a night out, combine sunset drinks at Ska Bar with dinner in Kata, or take a taxi to Patong for a busier evening on Bangla Road.