What to Do at Central Phuket?
Central Phuket is one of the biggest malls on the island, split into two massive wings on either side of a wide road: Festival and Floresta. If you’re just exploring, it can feel like two different malls, but it’s actually one big complex. We don’t usually include shopping malls as one of the best things to do in Phuket, but on a rainy day or when you just want to escape the heat, it’s not a bad place to spend a few hours.
These days, malls in Thailand feel more like places to hang out, eat something, catch a movie, maybe grab a shirt if something catches your eye.
If you’ve come across names like Festival and Floresta and wondered what they mean, they are just two parts of the same Central Phuket mall, located in Phuket Town.
- Festival Wing is the original side, opened in 2004.
- Floresta Wing came later in 2018, built across the street on the old Thai Naan Restaurant site.
There’s a large glass sky bridge connecting both sides, so you don’t have to cross the road. If you’re in other parts of the island, there’s also Central Patong, Jungceylon, and Porto de Phuket up in Bang Tao.
1. CENTRAL PHUKET FESTIVAL WING
The older wing still gets the most foot traffic, especially on weekends when something’s going on. It’s built in a wide loop with a central courtyard that often becomes a beer garden or event zone. It’s louder at the end of the month when there are car shows or sales events, but quieter on weekdays.
Central Phuket Shopping Gallery
The main shopping gallery is immense, often hosting loud commercial events on the weekend, and it gets even louder at the end of the month, such as motors show and property shows. The rest of the time, the area is a vast display of discounted items. Surrounding the central areas are the usual fashion and cosmetic shops: Sephora, Guess, Zara, Esprit, and Mango (MNG), Zara, Mango, Esprit, H&M, and other franchise restaurants like Pizza Company, Hachiban Ramen, Sizzler, and Black Canyon.
Central Food Hall
The 1st floor is where you’ll find the supermarket, everyday fashion, and the first food court.
- Central Food Hall – Good mix of imported groceries and deli items.
- Fashion stores – Jaspal, CC-OO, Uniqlo, and other Thai mid-range brands.
- Food court – Easy and cheap meals.
Studio 7
Studio7 has reopened on the second floor of Central Phuket’s Festival Zone in the new Apple Premium Partner format, the first in southern Thailand. The shop stocks the full range of Apple devices—iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods—and official accessories. Customers can try the products in-store and join free training sessions run by Apple specialists. Extra services include VAT refunds for visitors from abroad, instalment plans through UFUND for Thai customers, trade-in discounts on old devices, and an on-site iCare service centre for repairs.
Sports & Lifestyle
On the second floor of the Festival Wing at Central Phuket, you will find a large selection of sports shops. The highlight is SuperSports, a massive store offering equipment, shoes, and apparel for almost every sport and brand. In addition to SuperSports, there are dedicated shops for popular brands such as Under Armour, The North Face, and New Balance. These stores offer the latest collections and exclusive items, making it easy to find quality gear for fitness, running, and outdoor activities.
SFX Cinema
3rd Floor – Fast Food and Cinema
- Mostly food and entertainment here, with a second food court and the mall’s cinema.
- Food Court #2 – A fast-food zone with more Asian options.
- SFX Cinema – Movie theatres, including VIP sofas.
4th Floor
4th Floor – Beauty and Hair Salons
- The uppermost floor is all about beauty. Haircuts, nail salons, skincare — this is the salon level.
- Beauty zone – Haircuts, nails, brows, slimming clinics — the usual suspects
2. CENTRAL FLORESTA WING
Central Floresta Phuket sounds like another mall on the island, but it is just a massive extension of the original Central Festival. The two wings combined cover an immense surface on three and four levels. With an ever-growing population, the Phuket Festival was getting too crowded, parking was impossible, and weekends were seriously packed. As it is on the outskirts of Phuket town, it somehow appeals more to the locals than tourists.
The first year was confusing because many of the original shops were relocated to the new building, and it was a little quiet. But Central knows its customers well; the balance is back, and both sides are starting to be busy. In addition, the new branch placed its bet on food and new ambitious entertainment venues.
1st floor and luxury shopping
Like in all malls, the first floor is mostly dedicated to luxury flagship brands with the usual names: Gucci, Hermès, Bvlgari, Prada, Dior, Balenciaga, Coach, Michael Kors, etc. These big, bright shops always seem empty, and it is always a bit of a mystery how they survive with so few customers. The first floor is also where occasional car sales and seasonal events are held.
Brands on the ground floor: Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Chanel, Kate Spade, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Hermes, Versace, Zegna, etc
Central Department Store
Further behind is the department store that has moved from the original building. Here, you can find all the cosmetic brands you are familiar with. Expect a lot of upmarket names but more mainstream names such as Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein, Diesel, and a lot of fashionable bags. The far end is where all the households have moved to, and this area is quite interesting as it often addresses people living here.
Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson is a famous Thai brand known for its superb silk products, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern designs. The brand offers a surprisingly wide range of silk items, including scarves, cushion covers, fashionable bags, and lightweight clothing for men and women, perfect for Thailand’s warm weather. One of the most popular items is the charming little elephant silk toys, which make ideal souvenirs to take home without breaking the bank.
Aquaria
Aquaria is a gigantic aquarium featuring Suvana, a high-end restaurant. Next to it is an interactive 3D museum where you can take funny selfies.
Open: 1.30 am – 7 pm
Price: Adults 981 baht, children 531 baht (3-11 years old)
AR Trick Eye Museum Phuket
The AR Trick Eye Museum Phuket is an interactive attraction located at Central Floresta near Phuket Town, on the way to Patong Beach. It features 3D artworks enhanced with augmented reality (AR) technology, allowing visitors to step into the scenes for creative photos and videos. Themes include underwater settings, fantasy worlds, dinosaurs, and ballet dancing.
3. RESTAURANTS IN CENTRAL PHUKET
Where to eat in Central Phuket? People used to shop first and eat later. These days, it’s the opposite — food is often the main reason to go. Our usual spots:
- Wine Connection – Good selection of Western and Thai dishes.
- HaidiLao Hot Pot – Known for over-the-top service and gadgets.
- Ootoya & Fuji – Classic Japanese comfort food.
- MK Suki, Oishi, S&P, Sizzler – Always busy.
Haidi Lao Hot Pot
Haidi Lao Hot Pot at Central Phuket is a well-known franchise famous for its quality ingredients and wide selection of soups and sauces. When it first opened, it was extremely popular, and there were often long queues to get a table. These days, it’s much easier to find a seat, but the food quality remains high. Many guests enjoy the acrobatic noodle performances by the staff and the cheerful birthday singing, which add a fun and friendly atmosphere to the dining experience.
Kaithong Restaurant
Kaithong in the Floresta Wing is one of those places that often gets missed, which is surprising considering how good the food is. The elegant design with its marble tables and soft lighting might make it look expensive, but the restaurant is actually quite approachable. The menu leans toward Thai-Chinese cuisine, with a focus on presentation and quality.
Location: 3rd Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
Food Court and Central Food Hall
The lower floor is popular with a vast and very well-supplied supermarket, including a wine cellar, a food court, and a selection of excellent local restaurants (actually, these are branches of local restaurants).
Maimorn Cuisine
Maimorn Cuisine in the Floresta wing is a large restaurant to enjoy local Thai and Phuket-style seafood dishes in a comfortable, modern setting. This restaurant is a branch of the well-known Maimorn Forest Restaurant in Phuket Town, which has been popular with locals for years. Here, the menu features a good variety of classic Thai favourites, fresh seafood, and Phuket specialities.
Location: G Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
Chilli Thai Restaurant
Chilli Thai Restaurant is a convenient place to enjoy modern Thai cuisine and some Western dishes. This is the Phuket branch of a franchise that has become popular in many shopping malls in Bangkok. The menu includes a wide range of classic Thai and Isaan dishes, with generous portions suitable for sharing. The restaurant’s modern setting and comfortable seating make it a good choice for families or groups looking for a meal before or after shopping.
Location: Ground Floor, Central Phuket Floresta
How do you get to Central Phuket from Patong?
You can smoothly go from Patong to Central Phuket by using the free shuttle that runs every hour or every hour and a half from 11 am to 7 pm from Patong and from noon to 8.30 pm from Central Phuket (see schedule).
Keep in mind that while the bus stop in Patong is easy to find near Bangla Walking Street, Central Phuket Town is a bit on the outskirts of town, so you will need a second bus ride if you wish to continue to Old Town (Old Town is about 3 km away).
If you drive a car, we strongly recommend parking at Central Floresta; it’s a lot easier and has a lot of space (for now).
More Photos of Central Phuket
Central Phuket Information
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 74-75 Wichitsongkran Road, Phuket 83000
Open: 10.30 am – 10 pm
Phone: 076 291 111
Distance from Patong Beach: 12 km
Distance from Airport: 31.7 km
Central Phuket Map
If you are on mobile, add the map here: https://goo.gl/maps/JqF6P92vMdCXWQvU6.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Phuket
