Simon Cabaret Phuket

Simon Cabaret is Phuket’s best-known kathoey (transgender) cabaret show, running three performances nightly — 18:00, 19:30, and 21:00 — in a 600-seat theatre on Sirirat Road in Patong, not Karon as some listings claim; the venue sits firmly in the Pa Tong area of Kathu District, a good 20 minutes by road from Karon beach. It’s operated continuously since 1991, which makes it one of the longer-running fixtures on Phuket’s nightlife circuit rather than a recent tourist-strip addition.

Each 80-minute show, performed with no intermission, moves through a run of costume changes and lip-sync numbers spanning Thai classical dance, pop standards, and show-tune staples, performed by a cast in elaborate sequined and feathered outfits. Tickets run roughly 700-900 THB for standard seating and 1,000-1,200 THB for VIP rows closer to the stage — pricing is the same for Thai and foreign visitors, unlike the government sites around Phuket that charge a foreigner rate. Rows fill by show time rather than a fixed seating chart in the cheaper tiers, so book ahead for the 19:30 slot especially, the one that tends to sell out first.

Watch out: After the show, performers gather outside the theatre for photos, and a tip — commonly somewhere between 20 and 100 THB per photo — is expected even though nobody will demand it outright. Agree on the amount before you hand over your phone or camera to avoid an awkward standoff; a few reviewers have reported tension when guests didn’t realise a tip was the norm.

The theatre is a short taxi or tuk-tuk ride from central Patong’s hotel strip, and most guests combine the show with dinner beforehand somewhere along Rat Uthit or Bangla Road rather than eating on-site. Smart casual is fine — plenty of guests dress up for photos, but there’s no enforced dress code the way there is at a temple site.

Simon Cabaret is Phuket’s own answer to Pattaya’s older, larger Alcazar (running since 1981) and Bangkok’s Tiffany’s Show — the three are usually mentioned in the same breath as Thailand’s best-known kathoey cabaret productions. Reviewers who’ve seen more than one are split: some rate Alcazar’s larger cast and 17-plus act variety above Simon’s, others prefer Simon’s smaller, more intimate 600-seat room. If you’re only in Phuket and not planning a Pattaya or Bangkok stop, it’s the obvious choice by geography alone rather than a clear best-in-class pick.

Insider Tip: The 18:00 show is the easiest one to combine with an early dinner and still be back at your hotel by 21:00 — the later 21:00 slot suits anyone doing a full night out in Patong afterward.

The Patong hub covers the wider nightlife strip, and Patong Boxing Stadium Sainamyen a short ride away is the other big evening-show option if you’re spending more than one night in the area.