Looking for a haven of familiarity (no promise of peace and quiet), with more than a touch of good old hospitality, entertainment, an amazing variety of food – not to mention some great beers – thrown in?

If you’re in Patong, brother and sister Irish pubs, Molly Malone’s and Scruffy Murphy’s, are waiting to welcome you.

Don’t get it wrong! These well-established and eternally popular venues are not exclusively for twenty-something partygoers. Just like their counterparts back home in Ireland, Molly’s and Scruffy’s are true family places. Grandma and Grandpa will feel just as at home as the kids – and, of course, Mums & Dads are allowed in too.

Irish pubs have become wildly popular throughout Asia, and Phuket is no exception. Why? Well, maybe you came to Thailand for a tropical experience; to laze away your days on the beach; to explore the beauty of your destination; to sample exotic foods and rub shoulders with exotic people. But isn’t it sometimes great just to get back to familiar things? To feel at home?

You know that feeling of relief – after a morning on the beach in the blazing heat, a sweltering round of market shopping and a whole bunch of new experiences – when you walk into somewhere cool, somewhere you’re greeted by friendly folk in a language you can understand, and where things are wonderfully ‘normal’.

That’s part of the secret of Molly Malone’s and her younger brother, Scruffy Murphy’s.

The other part is that you’re in for a jolly good time. Live entertainment every night. Irish bands and solo entertainers with energy and vitality that’s infectious. Artists whose performances are appreciated by the old, the young and the in-betweens too. An atmosphere that’s a combination of many things: traditional – and truly entertaining – music, a mixed crowd (it’s not just westerners who love the experience), and staff who seem to be having almost as much fun as you.

A good night at Molly Malone’s or Scruffy Murphy’s is one of the best parties you’ve been to. And good nights are the norm, not the exception.

And, if you’re hankering for a drink of something dark and smooth, these pubs – as you’d expect – have the answer: pints of draft Guinness or draft Kilkenny’s. If, on the other hand, lager is your thing, you’re lucky. Long, very happy hours, mean you can enjoy pints of draft Carlsberg at incredibly low prices.

Wouldn’t it be a pity if you had to leave all this to find somewhere to eat? Of course, you don’t. Whether you fancy a delicious fry-up, a traditional roast or are health conscious in what you eat, Molly’s and Scruffy’s both offer excellent Thai and western food – with great choices for vegetarians too!

Traditional Cottage Pie topped with mashed potato and cheese, baked golden brown just the way Mum cooks it, is great value at just 199 Baht. Or there’s Beef stew with veggies in red wine at 249 Baht, Bangers and mash at only 229 Baht and – if you only want a snack – try BBQ chicken wings or Soup of the day at 99 Baht.

Ask the staff about the daily specials if you want to stray from the regular menu. Molly’s and Scruffy’s chefs use their imagination to put on some great selections.

There are many places you may want to try while you’re in Phuket. But there are two you must visit. Whether you need somewhere to dive into after browsing the beach road (Molly’s) or maybe the mayhem of Soi Bangla’s nightlife is wearing thin and you need a break (Scruffy’s), make sure you try them at the beginning of your stay. You’ll want time to go back often. That’s guaranteed.