Fisherman's Village Koh Samui

An old fishing street on Bophut Beach

Fisherman's Village is what's left of old Bophut: wooden Chinese-Thai shophouses along the beach road, from the days when this was a fishing village and trading port. Today they hold restaurants, cocktail bars, galleries and small shops, with the beach right behind them.

It's the gentler side of Samui's evenings: dinner by the sea, a fire show on the sand and a walk through the old street, with the clubs of Chaweng a short drive away.

Ask Tanner to start your Friday here.

The Friday Walking Street

The Fisherman's Village Walking Street runs every Friday from 5pm, and it's the Koh Samui walking street I'd pick for a group. The beach road closes to traffic around 4:30pm, the stalls are going by 6pm, and it winds down between 10 and 11pm.

• Day: Friday, the one big market evening of the week
• Hours: from 5pm to about 10 or 11pm
• Busiest: 7pm to 8:30pm
• Parking: at the Wharf at the west end, and it runs out after 6pm

Tanner's take: Come by 6pm. You walk the stalls before the 7pm crush and still make the first fire show.

Ask Tanner to have the driver drop you at the Wharf.

Coco Tam's and the fire show

Coco Tam's is the beach bar in the middle of the village, open from noon to midnight, with beanbags and low tables on the sand and raised platform beds for groups of three or more. The fire shows are on the beach in the evening; ask Tanner for tonight's times.

There's no formal booking system, so phone ahead on a busy night or arrive early for a good spot.

Tanner's take: The platform beds are the group seats. Get there before the first show and claim one.

Ask Tanner to call ahead for your group.

Fisherman's Village restaurants and bars

The Fisherman's Village restaurants run from beachfront dining to casual Thai kitchens, most within a few minutes' walk. These are our picks, with their hours.

For the last drink, Karma Sutra, Garnish and Easy on Tam's are all on the strip, and Happy Elephant Square has live music most evenings.

Tanner's take: Chez François opens only Tuesday to Saturday, from 6:30pm, so book a Friday table early.

Ask Tanner to book the Friday table.

What else to do

Beyond the market and the fire show, the village has a few easy extras: The Frog & Gecko runs a quiz on Wednesday nights, and Cyan Spa is open until 11pm, cash only.

For a day on the water, boats to Koh Phangan leave from the Big Buddha pier, a short drive east. Ang Thong Marine Park is 45 to 60 minutes by speedboat, but it's closed 1 November to 15 December 2026; see Ang Thong and Koh Samui yachts.

Ask Tanner to put a boat day before the Friday market.

Chaweng or Bophut?

Chaweng is better for a big night out, with clubs open late; Bophut is better for dinner, the Friday market and the fire show. Most groups do both: an early evening in Bophut, then the car to Chaweng.

Tanner's pick: first night on Samui? Bophut first, Chaweng after.

Ask Tanner to have the car waiting.

When to go

Come on a Friday from 5pm, for the Walking Street, the fire show and dinner on the beach. On other evenings, come for sunset drinks and the evening fire show, when the street is much quieter.

Ask Tanner which evening fits your trip.

Getting there

Fisherman's Village is in Bophut on Koh Samui's north coast, 10 to 15 minutes from the airport and about 8 km from Chaweng, 20 to 25 minutes by Grab or taxi. On a Friday, parking runs out after 6pm, so come with a driver.

A luxury van for up to 4 runs from ฿6,500 for 10 hours, and a party van takes up to 10. Ask Tanner to keep the driver for the evening.

Fisherman's Village and Chaweng in one night

Bophut and Chaweng are 20 to 25 minutes apart by car: close enough to eat by the sea in the village, watch the fire show, and still be in a Chaweng club before it fills.

The Friday market in Bophut is the prettiest on the island, with the old shophouses and the sea at the end of every lane.

Ask Tanner for the club and the table after the show.

Staying near Fisherman's Village

Bophut is one of the calmest bases on Samui, with the beach and the restaurants close and the airport 10 to 15 minutes away.

Couples and small groups do well in the boutique hotels on the beach. A bigger group is happier in a pool villa in the hills behind; see Koh Samui villas and where to stay in Koh Samui.

Ask Tanner to match the villa to your group.

Fisherman's Village in short

• What it is: Bophut's old Chinese-Thai shophouse street on the beach, on Koh Samui's north coast.

• The Walking Street runs every Friday from 5pm to about 10 or 11pm, busiest from 7pm to 8:30pm.
• Coco Tam's puts on fire shows on the beach in the evening, and Google Maps showed it open daily from noon to midnight on 2 Nov 2026.
• Friday parking runs out after 6pm, so come with a driver.
• Chaweng is about 8 km away, 20 to 25 minutes by car.
• The airport is 10 to 15 minutes away.

Checked October 2026.

How I'd do a Friday with a group

The Walking Street from 5pm, the first fire show at Coco Tam's, dinner at a beachfront table, a last drink on the strip, then the car to Chaweng for the clubs. Your driver waits all evening.

See the whole island in our Koh Samui nightlife guide and the best bars on Koh Samui.

Plan it with Tanner.