Pura Vida Sundays at Rava Beach Club, Phuket’s New Beachfront Brunch Ritual

Where fire, sea, and sound find their rhythm on Bang Tao Beach. A brunch that feels unhurried, inclusive, and distinctly Phuket, writes Neetinder Dhillon
Hero image: Sunset ritual at Rava Beach Club, Phuket

There’s a certain light that hits Bang Tao Beach in the late afternoon, the kind that slows time. By then, the sea turns from a deep azure to golden, the DJ leans into a softer tempo, and you realise you’ve been here since noon without meaning to.

At Rava Beach Club, the new Pura Vida Brunch isn’t served, it’s discovered. You graze, drift, return. There’s a rhythm to it: oysters and sashimi at one turn, charcoal-grilled prawns, lobsters and slow-roasted meats at another, each station alive with sound and smoke. At the heart of it all, Chef Joshua Gray, Australian by origin and temperament, works the Coba grill with quiet precision. His food is unshowy but full of intent: local grouper, tender roast beef, handmade pasta, some Thai classics – all flavours that speak more of balance than bravado.
The design mirrors this rhythm. The open kitchen, a sculptural curve of stone and steel, frames the heart of the space, with the Coba grill glowing at its centre. The bar and DJ area that sit just ahead of it, turn the entire space into a theatre of sound and fire. The architecture invites movement: guests flow between the kitchen’s warmth, the bar’s shimmer, and the sea’s horizon, all held in a soft, golden light.

The name Rava comes from the Sanskrit word for sound, a fitting allusion to its beachfront rhythm. It’s a place where wind, wave, and music move the day forward. Laughter drifts between zones, conversations ripple across tables, and the mood stays fluid, social yet unforced. Helped along by the friendly, yet unobtrusive service.

Though the newest entry in the island’s beach club scene, it already feels assured. Set within Laguna Phuket, Rava stretches across 180 metres of uninterrupted beachfront, where sand meets the edge of three infinity pools. It’s the kind of place that invites you to move slowly, to stay a little longer. Unlike the party beach clubs, Rava feels inclusive – not in a forced, family-friendly way, but in spirit. There’s space for everyone. Couples linger over Champagne, groups gather by the pool, families drift easily between plates and waves. Children never intrude on the mood; the space absorbs their laughter, softening it into the soundtrack. Rava is less about spectacle and more about flow. Everyone and everything, finds its own rhythm.

What truly distinguishesPura Vidais its understanding that memorable experiences extend beyond food. Through October, live DJs and percussionists create an atmosphere that moves with the tide. From November, the experience expands to immersive performances, dancers, and parades that promise to turn each Sunday into a beachfront celebration. The rhythm of the day shifts naturally, from relaxed afternoon lounging to vibrant social energy as the sun begins its descent. Beachfront sunbeds invite you to stay… to move from dining to the sea, from conversation to stillness, from day to night without leaving the moment.
For those who prefer their Sundays with a little sparkle, there’s theVeuve Clicquot Edition:a bottle shared between two, best opened when the mood strikes. It’s indulgent, yes, but in the way a perfect day already deserves to be.

It’s this integration, this culinary rhythm, seaside ease, and unhurried joy, that makes Rava feel singular. Phuket has long chased the idea of the perfect Sunday.Pura Vidamay have found it; not fine dining, not fine drinking, just fine living.

Thankfully, RAVA understands that comfort comes in degrees. There’s the air-conditioned dining room with its tables cooled from the midday sun, others under the open verandah, and more set by the pool’s edge. Shaded loungers tend to attract families, where children drift easily between swims, while quieter sun beds just steps from the water appeal to couples or friends. Those seeking privacy slip into the semi-private poolside cabanas – shaded, spacious, and attended with quiet intent. Along the shore, beachside day beds catch the breeze, offering unbroken views of the sea and the soft pulse of the afternoon.

Everywhere, the atmosphere feels unpressured, a delightful blend of leisure and belonging that few beach clubs manage to sustain. Banyan Tree Phuket has a winner in this beach club.

Book the experience HERE. Live in the Flow!