Whitening the night

White Box

It's a box, it's white and it's a bar. But the owners of Phuket's five-month-old White Box have got more than just the name right. This place satisfies holidaymakers' hungers for kicking cocktails, groovy tunes and cool sea breezes nightly until 1am.

Located right on the edge of the Andaman Sea, the petite wooden house has been turned into a den of fun - the ground floor has Thai and Mediterranean fine dining while the openair lounge upstairs serves ice-cold drinks and fancy tapas.

All dressed in white, with a few light touches of blue and red, the bar is a secluded hangout away from congested Patong Beach. Come sunset, the lounge deck offers a stunning view of the orangeflushed sky above the Andaman Sea accompanied by soothing breezes. Raining? Don't worry, there's a retractable white canvas ready to roll when the dark clouds set in.

Sit back and enjoy the view, unwind with chillout tunes from live DJ sets and get yourself a drink. Try the bar's signatures, the tangy and refreshing Blue Moon (vodka, Blue Curacao, sour mix and tonic topping) and the sweet and creamy White Box (white rum, Baileys, milk and cocoa powder). The full bar serves standard cocktails at Bt 300, small beers at Bt150 and soft drinks from Bt 90. Thai-style snacks and a selection of tapas starting at Bt200 can be ordered 'til 11pm.

Though it looks sophisticated, the prices here are pretty much the same as you pay in the average street bar. And there, of course, the inflated taxi fare rips a hole in your wallet - White Box spoils its patrons with free transport. More good news: those expecting an expensive entry fee to such a swish joint will find their pockets go unmolested.

White Box

247/5 Prabaramee Road

Kalim Beach, Phuket

Call (076) 346 271

www.WhiteBoxRestaurant.com