Entertainment Guide to Langkawi

What more entertainment do you need on an idyllic island that offers sun-drenched beaches, windsurfing, sailing, and jungle trekking as well as sightseeing and good bargain shopping? Langkawi ofers plenty of options to relax at the end of a busy day.

Light and Easy Most of the star-rated hotels and resorts on Pulau Langkawi are surrounded by various outlets offering a good meal and a place to enjoy a mellow evening drink. Many of the smaller concerns also have attached restaurants, where you can dine and drink late into the night. Not all places serve liquor, however, so bear this in mind.

Kuah, the heart of the island, offers various food outlets and hawker stalls where food and drinks are cheaper, and people friendly. Mingle around to feel the pulse of the local life. Good company is all you need to have an evening to remember.

For some glamour and luxury, you can mellow out with the resident band of Woodpeckers Lounge or the Flamingo Coffee House at the classy City Bayview Langkawi. Perhaps you will have just enjoyed a sumptuous oriental seafood delight at its Phoenix Restaurant. The Someplace Else and Bayu Lounge at Sheraton Perdana Resort also have live music to offer.

If your idea of entertainment is a leisurely evening when doing nothing is everything, stroll down to the western coastline stretching from Pantai Cenang down to Pantai Tengah. From the extravagant and glamorous to the low-key and unpretentious resorts, hotels, motels, food and drink outlets abound and you are bound to find a niche to suit.

At Pantai Cenang, the grove atmosphere of Champor Champor is alluring. The terrace restaurant of AB Motel and the beachside bistro of Beach Garden Resort, known for its German touches, can be a good place to dine. For a touch of luxury, choose between Niyom Thai and The Spice Market for a meal and from Pelangi Lounge, Horizon Pool Bar, Cascade Pool Bar, and Cenang Beach Bar for a drink at the village setting of Pelangi Beach Resort.

Over at Pantai Tengah, the two patio restaurants of Fat Mum and Sheela's Restaurant & Café offer good food and an light atmosphere to while away your evening. The former is known for its home-cooked Chinese seafood while the latter provides options of traditional Malay dishes or pizza and pasta. If you prefer a beachside setting, the restaurants at Sunset Beach Resort and Charlie Motel, or the colourful bar of Oasis are recommended. The romantic may want to check out Safari Restaurant & Bar, or the various outlets at Langkawi Holiday Villa Resort and Langkawi Langkawi Village Resort, any of which will surely add a little glamour and glitter to your mellow evening.

With three large luxurious resorts, there is also no shortage of good spots for a relaxing evening around Pantai Kok and Burau Bay. The Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort has two bars and a poolside snack bar to choose from. Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort, apart from its Sunken Pool Bar and Beach Bar, offers live entertainment at its Lobby Lounge and 24-hour service at Dayang Café.

Burau Bay Resort's Telaga Tujuh Bar can be an option; another interesting and more economical one lies in Indaman Bay Resort. Overlooking the pool, its restaurant serves tasty hot and spicy Thai dishes and has an interesting bar.

On the northern coastline, more remote and quiet, evening activities are largely confined to the facilities provided by high-living resorts. Set in a rainforest canopy, the Pavilion at The Datai Langkawi serves exotic Thai food in a refreshingly wild yet delicate setting, while its Beach Club offers alfresco dining by the sea. At its Lobby Lounge, you can have the cool Andaman Sea as your drinking partner for the rest of the evening. Various top-notch dining and drinking outlets can also be found at the Andaman Datai Bay and Tanjung Rhu Resort. A venue for English tea or coffee, the Reading Room of the latter is a leisurely place for a quiet and blissful afternoon leading into a fulfilling evening.

Wild and Groovy If you are game for some action, the Pantai Cenang-Pantai Tengah stretch provides various spots where you can break loose into the wee hours.The Coco Jam Fun Pub at Langkawi Village Resort and the Sunset Karaoke & Discotheque at Holiday Villa Langkawi are arguably the most popular among tourist party animals. The Music Room Discotheque is another favourite.

To the north of Pantai Cenang, apart from the Burau Beat Pub of Berjaya Langkawi Beach & Spa Resort and the Black Henry Discotheque of Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort, the rest of the coastline is relatively low key. In Kuah, you can swing and swirl at the Top Ten—an independent discotheque popular among the locals—or croak and croon or shoot some pool at Sea View Hotel. Late owls can groove at the Eagle Nest Fun Pub at Sheraton Perdana.

Fun and Fascinating The island is not without enjoyable day time activities. Take a trip up north to Langkawi Crocodile Farm near Datai, where you can be entertained by more than 1,000 alligators of many species. Amazing shows starring man and reptiles are featured daily. Fun can also be sought at the Aquabeat, a modern indoor water theme park located to the north of Pantai Cenang. Its wave pools and water slides will give you a splashing and thrilling day with the kids.

At Pantai Cenang, Underwater World Langkawi is where you can be lost in the dazzling wonders of the marine empire. Alternatively, you can escape into the world of the silver screen by taking a trip down to the southwestern coast near Star Cruise Jetty. Other than a cultural complex, shops, and fascinating sea views, the vicinity offers a small cineplex that features two screens, and the Genting World Bowling Alley that provides 16 lanes for you to roll into a fun-filled day.