Coolies Club, designed by Bill Bensley, has opened on Soi Romanee, and is set to become the hottest destination in Old Phuket Town. Located within a traditional Sino-Portuguese shophouse on what has been named one of the world’s most beautiful streets, the new restaurant and bar celebrates Phuket’s rich tin mining history and pays homage to the area’s colourful past.
Soi Romanee was formerly the red-light district of Phuket, where tin miners would go to visit brothels, gambling houses, and opium dens. Today, the street is more famous as an Instagrammer’s dream, with its vibrant colours, colonial architecture, and beautifully styled shopfronts drawing visitors from around the world.
Bill Bensley, known as the “Star-chitect” and designer of Asia, says: “It was wonderful to work with Krystal again to create Coolies Club with its vibrant colours, rich stories, and bespoke craftsmanship designed to honour the spirit of the laborers who worked the tine mines of Phuket and the hedonistic pleasures they sought after a hard day’s work. More than just a place to eat and drink, it is an immersive experience that transports you to the pleasure palaces of the former red-light district, with a modern twist.”
Coolies Club is the latest offering from Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, the owner of The Slate Phuket hotel, whose family history is intrinsically entwined with the history of Phuket. Krystal’s great grandfather came from China in 1912, searching for fortune in Southeast Asia. He started working as a miner in Phuket, and as a reward for his hard work and loyalty, was given land parcels and mining rights by his employer. In those days, foreign laborers were known as ‘Coolies’ and the Club is named in honour of Krystal’s great grandfather and all the other hard workers who played a role in Phuket’s foundation. While Phuket was one of the top three tin exporters in the world from the 16th to the 20th centuries, tourism has since become the island’s top economic contributor.
Krystal’s father, Wichit Na-Ranong is hailed as the Father of Phuket tourism, having been instrumental in building the island’s reputation as an international destination and investing in its infrastructure and growth. Krystal is proud to share her father’s passion for constantly innovating the hospitality scene in Phuket and a signature club on iconic Soi Romanee is a dream come true.
“We have created a special place that embodies the melting pot of cultures for which Phuket is so famous. It is a reminder of the island’s Joie de vivre back in the 19th century, when sailors, gypsies and laborers flocked here from around the world ,” says Krystal. “Having lived in our family shophouse in this area, I wanted to create a modern pleasure palace that speaks to the high-end bars and gambling dens where tin miners would entertain themselves after a hard day’s work, while also bringing the concept into the modern day and honouring my great grandfather’s legacy.”
Krystal has brought her love of art, fashion, history, and storytelling to life in this latest project, which uses reclaimed tin pieces, bold colours, artworks and vintage furnishings to create a deep connection with Phuket’s tin mining past and the exuberance and bohemian ambience of the island’s former pleasure district.
Romanee, in Thai means pleasure, but the name also speaks to the famous Romanian mamasan who formerly worked on Soi Romanee. Residing in one of the street’s grandest shophouses, Coolies Club sits in a building constructed by Chinese workers in 1883. Krystal knew that Bill Bensley would be the perfect person to faithfully restore and enhance the building, with an emphasis on reviving the charm and elegance of its history and creating an opulent venue to provide a feast for all the senses.
The Club features typical Chinese Baroque architecture, with ornate wooden doors, intricate Chinese fretwork and a striking façade in white, turquoise and antique red. Inside, Bill Bensley has created a moody, sexy interior that harks back to the area’s famous opium dens using antique furnishings, rich materials, and gorgeous shades of coral, turquoise and jade green. Downstairs, guests can enjoy a themed list of creative cocktails including the Miner’s Whisper, Mama’s Twist, Spicy Maria, and Courtesan’s kiss alongside bar bites and bigger plates. Upstairs, the venue features two private bedrooms, where Opium Den dining experiences will be offered. Krystal also plans to work with local artists, DJs, performers, and musicians to bring themed events to the space. Regular performances will be staged at the Club to entertain visitors.
Coolies Club transcends the typical dining experience and is a grand fête of the senses, where meticulously crafted menus, soul-stirring music and unparalleled drinks come together in perfect harmony. Paying respect to the methods by which tin miners cooked their food, the restaurant uses smoking over an open fire for many of its dishes, the most primary and sensory of cooking methods. The result is a rustic but sophisticated menu that takes guests on a journey through time and tradition, complemented by an innovative cocktail list, fine wines, and artisan spirits.
Guests of The Slate Phuket, which was also designed by Bill Bensley, and which celebrates the family’s tin mining history, will be able to visit Coolies Club as part of their stay, but the venue is also open for non-hotel guests. It operates from noon to midnight seven days a week.