You might think that Phuket is all about beaches and beer bars. Although at first you may not see it, Phuket has a social scene filled with trendsetters and the islandâ??s well-to-do sorts. If you want to live the high life in Phuket, you have to follow the socialite trail and wine and dine in all the right places. Soon enough, youâ??ll become a familiar face and will be able to meet the right people, darling.

First of all, you have to look the part. Weâ??re not talking sandals and Beer Chang vests here. Phuketâ??s social butterflies are snappy dressers. If you want to fit in, ditch those tired clothes and head to Central Festival or Jungceylon to buy yourself some new threads.

When it comes to dining out, Phuketâ??s butterflies flutter to a variety of places. Baba Dining Lounge at Sri Panwa has been vogue for a while thanks to its secluded location, snazzy décor and a great menu. The owner is something of a familiar face around the island, so there are regular parties at Sri Panwa where people go to drink, dance and mingle.

Another popular haunt at the moment is White Box just before Kamala Hill. White Box is a jazzy restaurant that has great views out over Patong Bay. Itâ??s a little out of the way for tourists, so itâ??s generally only frequented by Phuketâ??s socializing residents. White Box also hosts a number of parties with the music policy focused on hip hop or house.

Another hip restaurant is Ratri Jazztaurant in Kata. The steep climb up a hill is worthwhile because of the magical views youâ??re treated to from the restaurant. Great food and jazz music make for the perfect combination.

On the subject of parties, if you want to be seen in all the right places, youâ??re going to have to closely follow the party circuit. BYD Lofts is a chilled-out place at the Club Andaman Resort. Itâ??s a great spot to grab a bite to eat and a few drinks while listening to the live music. A lot of people visit BYD before heading to Club Lime.

Club Lime is just about the hippest venue in Phuket. The music ranges from house and electro to techno and breaks. Donâ??t expect to hear any pop or cheesy dance tunes. At weekends, people dance the nights away at Club Lime until well into the morning. The drinks are expensive and thereâ??s usually a cover charge. The venue looks fabulous, however, and it attracts a fashionable crowd from week to week.

If you want to win some kudos points with the â??itâ? crowd, youâ??re going to need to find a way to get into the islandâ??s biggest parties, which usually happen as part of Phuket Raceweek and the Kingâ??s Cup Regatta. The final party of the Kingâ??s Cup is always particularly memorable. Making friends in the right places will help you get invited to Phuketâ??s many parties throughout the year.