I was on a mission to find unique fashion, and I found it! While Old Phuket Town is dotted with souvenir shops, many hawking the same wares, there are a few stand-out spots where you can get one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories.
The shop/brand, Muchacha offered just that: one-of-a-kind clothing wrapped in style and elegance. Located between 56 and 58 Yaowarad Road between Thalang and Dibuk Roads (look for a yellow and brown awning!), Muchacha offers light, airy clothing that is colorful yet sophisticated.
A brief tidbit about Yoawarad Road: it connects the famous heritage streets of Thalang Road, Phang Nga Road, and Dibuk Road
I was immediately drawn to a lavender dress hanging on the rack. It was satiny, slinky, and sexy. I knew I had to have it! The owner shuffled me into a back room to try it on; it was everything I dreamed of and more!
Unfortunately, Muchacha doesn’t accept credit cards, and I didn’t have much baht (Thailand’s currency) on me to pay for the dress. I was in luck, though! She could run my card at her brother’s shop across the street; however, the shop was not yet open for the day. She also shared that she had opened her shop late that day because Team Muchacha had been celebrating her new collection the night before, as she should have. After all, the pieces were gorgeous!
I asked her to hold the dress for me. She agreed and even told me that she would steam the dress for me, a nice touch and that it would be perfect for New Year’s Eve. My friends and I decided to explore Old Phuket Town a bit more before returning to pick up the dress.
After hitting up a few shops and draining our wallets of more than a couple hundred baht on souvenirs for ourselves and loved ones, we returned to the shop. The owner hurried across the street to her brother’s shop, and the transaction ran seamlessly. Once my friends caught up with me, the skilled seamstress looked at us and asked if we were hungry. We’d just spent a couple of hours meandering in the hot Thailand sun, so the answer was a resounding yes! Again, we hurried back across the street to House, a cafe just a few doors down from Muchacha. There’s no missing House; the eatery is located at 54,2 Yaowarad Road (right on the corner of Thalang Road) and sports fantastic, lush greenery.
What I find very interesting in Thailand is that what they call a cafe is a restaurant. In my American mind, cafes are for a quick coffee and pastry, but in Thailand, these eateries offer authentic dishes and full meals. Once in House, we trekked upstairs into a very unassuming, minimalist space. Looks can be deceiving because House offered some of the best Massaman curry I’ve ever tasted. It was sweet… it was spicy… it was delightful. Massaman curry is one of my favorite Thai dishes; it’s one of my comfort foods. And House’s recipe satisfied me in every way possible. My two friends and I decided to cap off our delicious lunch with an even more delicious peach iced tea. I don’t usually like iced tea, but again, House did everything right regarding this drink: it was sweet, smooth, and refreshing!
And before I close this out, I also want to shout out this super charming accessories shop (which also happens to be a hotel!) right next to House called Karnvela. At Karnvela, you’ll find beautiful woven Birkin-like bags, colorful, flowy caftans, and sparkly, beaded bracelets… the perfect additions to your tropical wardrobe. Karnvela is located at 54,4 Yaowarad Rd.
One more thing! Take a break from shopping and stop at one of the few temples around town. Even if you don’t go inside, you can marvel at and draw inspiration from the beautiful architecture and bold colors. The other buildings around Old Phuket town also have a funky flair, as Phuket was a major trading route between Europe (check the Portuguese-influenced architecture!) and Asia.
