Pattaya City Guide
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Pattaya has a special place in our hearts, as SPICE! Magazine and the Pattaya Times Media Group is based here. Transportation is very easy and convenient. Just hop a ‘songtaew’, (a modified pick-up truck with seats in the back) which will shuttle you in circular fashion around Pattaya or to the Jomtien beach area for ten baht. Pattaya has the feel of a larger cosmopolitan city with its international restaurants, upscale shopping malls, cinemas, cabaret shows and an astounding number of entertainment venues to suit everyone’s taste.
Long a city associated with neon-lit streets and go-go bars, See what lures everyone, from Thai families on weekends looking for beachside fun, to expats & Thais wanting to get away from their cities, to the assorted tourists and every type of party-goer imaginable. The coastal city is now a smooth two-hour bus trip from Bangkoks Eckamai or Morchit bus stations.
Pattaya has hundreds of restaurants, bars and other venues catering to westerners and most of the signs are in English and prices here are still quite reasonable. Pattaya dining offers from budget to a “splurge”, as there are plenty of dining choices—just refer to our recommendations.
Walking Street, at the foot of Beach Road, is always an attraction and features dozens of go-go bars, beer bars and discotheques, primarily straight, with the exception of a couple of ladyboy bars. There are also many ‘straight’ beer bars and go-go’s along Central Pattaya’s Second Road, Sois 7 and 8 and some have ladyboys there that are available for drinks.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
• Sri Racha Tiger Zoo and Crocodile Farm is worthwhile to visit. It’s about 45 minutes from Pattaya.
• The Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theater & Restaurant is an interesting and unique attraction. Located in at Pattaya Citywalk (between Beach and Second Roads and adjacent to Royal Garden Plaza), you can enjoy the best example of the traditional Thai art of puppetry and see one of Thailand’s treasures.
• Two of the world’s best transvestite cabaret shows are presented at the Tiffany Show and Alcazar theaters, both on Second Road.
• Alangkran Extravaganza’s laser-light shows, historical Thai dramas, acrobatics and elephants meld the best of Thai tradition with special effects. Tickets can include a good buffet dinner
• Nong Nooch Botanical Garden boasts its own elephant show with cultural performances and large beautiful gardens.
• The newer Pattaya Floating Market rivals Bangkoks and you’ll find many shops, cultural shows and have a very enjoyable time there.
• Underwater World Aquarium is educational and entertaining.
• Pattaya Park and Water Slide Park on Pratamnak Hill is great fun. High atop the Pattaya Park Tower is a revolving restaurant.
• Shop in one of the ultra-modern shopping malls, such as the new Central Festival Pattaya Beach and Royal Garden Plaza. The new night market located at The Avenue Shopping Complex on Second Road opens nightly at 4:30. Tukcom IT City on Pattaya Tai offers seven floors of computers, software and mobile phones. The open-air market on Soi Buakhao, off Pattaya Tai, is open Tuesdays and Fridays. The Thepprasit Road weekend night market is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 pm. These markets operate on margins so low you won’t believe the bargains!
• During the day, visit the Jomtien Beach. Relax on a beach chair, indulge in water sports, get a massage or manicure and, of course, enjoy the passing parade of beauty.
THE GAY SCENE
During daylight hours, visit the gay beach located in the Dong Tan Beach section of Jomtien. Hop on Jomtien bound Songtaew (Baht bus) that makes a circle route around designated areas. It is still only 10 baht! The starting point for the Jomtien route is at 2nd road & South Pattaya road (alongside the School yard), get off when you spot the sea (Jomtien Beach road), and walk toward the right past the 7-1, follow the foot path and continue past the Avalon Resort. The gay beach area is just past the public toilet kiosk and you’ll see various deck chairs groups. Pick out a section, select a chair, relax and you can order food and drink too!. Of course the main attraction for many are the young men who strut up and down the beach. There are also lots of young men who for about 200 baht will give you a one-hour massage right on the beach (at your chair or lay down on a towel behind the chairs). You can buy all sorts of food and merchandise from vendors who pass by.
Most gay tourists come for the vibrant nightlife. Most of the gay venues are clustered in three specific areas. Pattayaland Sois One to Three (Soi Three is the original Boyztown) in South Pattaya that has lots of gay bars and a variety of guys for every taste. In Boyztown, you’ll want to try Boyz Boyz Boyz, the original Go Go club that offers a late night cabaret show; and The Copa Showbar that has a cabaret and an erotic swimming show starting at 10:30pm nightly. At Funny Boys, you’ll find low key music and a “living room atmosphere” with a selection of friendly go-go dancers. Wild West Boys, on Pattayaland Soi 2, presents two nightly boy shows at 10:30 & midnight, sometimes a bit naughty, but mild compared to some of those in Bangkok. For a different perspective, try the lounge shows at Café Royalé, which has a piano bar & the popular singing duo,“El Duo”, who are from the Philippines singing their popular favorites. The D2 Hotel on Second Road on Friday evenings presents “deep splash” for gays at their Deep Bar featuring an upscale intimate atmosphere with music videos and changing performances & events.
Another area that has a large cluster of gay and gay friendly venues is the Sunee Plaza-Day/Night area in South Pattaya (see article this issue). It has many go-go clubs and open-air host bars.
Jomtien Complex is a lower-key alternative to Pattayaland You’ll find a variety of nice restaurants, host bars, entertainment venues and massage parlors. Some establishments such as Question Mark stay open late. There are many popular host bars like Two Faces, Dolce Vita, Panther Pub and Question Mark (some offer massage services) with cute and friendly guys. Other venues worth a look are Monty’s (sexy man show) and the fabulous “The Venue” with continuous Cabaret shows & entertainment nightly from 9:30pm. There is good live entertainment from CAZZO Music and at the Bondi Beach Bar. Pattaya offers all this and several late night Discos or “After-Hours” Thai-style dance venues with sexy Coyote boys and cabaret acts to help you enjoy your wild Pattaya nights, including the mixed Disco X-Zyte on 3rd road and two Man clubs the Dave & the popular new entry, NAB Man Club.
A place to meet young men, not necessarily Thai, and not money boys, is Sansuk Sauna & Guesthouse, (Pattayas version to Bangkoks Babylon) off Thappaya Road. Pattaya offers more variety and is easier to get around than any other city in Thailand.
Pattaya has hundreds of restaurants, bars and other venues catering to westerners and most of the signs are in English and prices here are still quite reasonable. Pattaya dining offers from budget to a “splurge”, as there are plenty of dining choices—just refer to our recommendations.
Walking Street, at the foot of Beach Road, is always an attraction and features dozens of go-go bars, beer bars and discotheques, primarily straight, with the exception of a couple of ladyboy bars. There are also many ‘straight’ beer bars and go-go’s along Central Pattaya’s Second Road, Sois 7 and 8 and some have ladyboys there that are available for drinks.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
• Sri Racha Tiger Zoo and Crocodile Farm is worthwhile to visit. It’s about 45 minutes from Pattaya.
• The Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theater & Restaurant is an interesting and unique attraction. Located in at Pattaya Citywalk (between Beach and Second Roads and adjacent to Royal Garden Plaza), you can enjoy the best example of the traditional Thai art of puppetry and see one of Thailand’s treasures.
• Two of the world’s best transvestite cabaret shows are presented at the Tiffany Show and Alcazar theaters, both on Second Road.
• Alangkran Extravaganza’s laser-light shows, historical Thai dramas, acrobatics and elephants meld the best of Thai tradition with special effects. Tickets can include a good buffet dinner
• Nong Nooch Botanical Garden boasts its own elephant show with cultural performances and large beautiful gardens.
• The newer Pattaya Floating Market rivals Bangkoks and you’ll find many shops, cultural shows and have a very enjoyable time there.
• Underwater World Aquarium is educational and entertaining.
• Pattaya Park and Water Slide Park on Pratamnak Hill is great fun. High atop the Pattaya Park Tower is a revolving restaurant.
• Shop in one of the ultra-modern shopping malls, such as the new Central Festival Pattaya Beach and Royal Garden Plaza. The new night market located at The Avenue Shopping Complex on Second Road opens nightly at 4:30. Tukcom IT City on Pattaya Tai offers seven floors of computers, software and mobile phones. The open-air market on Soi Buakhao, off Pattaya Tai, is open Tuesdays and Fridays. The Thepprasit Road weekend night market is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 5:30 pm. These markets operate on margins so low you won’t believe the bargains!
• During the day, visit the Jomtien Beach. Relax on a beach chair, indulge in water sports, get a massage or manicure and, of course, enjoy the passing parade of beauty.
THE GAY SCENE
During daylight hours, visit the gay beach located in the Dong Tan Beach section of Jomtien. Hop on Jomtien bound Songtaew (Baht bus) that makes a circle route around designated areas. It is still only 10 baht! The starting point for the Jomtien route is at 2nd road & South Pattaya road (alongside the School yard), get off when you spot the sea (Jomtien Beach road), and walk toward the right past the 7-1, follow the foot path and continue past the Avalon Resort. The gay beach area is just past the public toilet kiosk and you’ll see various deck chairs groups. Pick out a section, select a chair, relax and you can order food and drink too!. Of course the main attraction for many are the young men who strut up and down the beach. There are also lots of young men who for about 200 baht will give you a one-hour massage right on the beach (at your chair or lay down on a towel behind the chairs). You can buy all sorts of food and merchandise from vendors who pass by.
Most gay tourists come for the vibrant nightlife. Most of the gay venues are clustered in three specific areas. Pattayaland Sois One to Three (Soi Three is the original Boyztown) in South Pattaya that has lots of gay bars and a variety of guys for every taste. In Boyztown, you’ll want to try Boyz Boyz Boyz, the original Go Go club that offers a late night cabaret show; and The Copa Showbar that has a cabaret and an erotic swimming show starting at 10:30pm nightly. At Funny Boys, you’ll find low key music and a “living room atmosphere” with a selection of friendly go-go dancers. Wild West Boys, on Pattayaland Soi 2, presents two nightly boy shows at 10:30 & midnight, sometimes a bit naughty, but mild compared to some of those in Bangkok. For a different perspective, try the lounge shows at Café Royalé, which has a piano bar & the popular singing duo,“El Duo”, who are from the Philippines singing their popular favorites. The D2 Hotel on Second Road on Friday evenings presents “deep splash” for gays at their Deep Bar featuring an upscale intimate atmosphere with music videos and changing performances & events.
Another area that has a large cluster of gay and gay friendly venues is the Sunee Plaza-Day/Night area in South Pattaya (see article this issue). It has many go-go clubs and open-air host bars.
Jomtien Complex is a lower-key alternative to Pattayaland You’ll find a variety of nice restaurants, host bars, entertainment venues and massage parlors. Some establishments such as Question Mark stay open late. There are many popular host bars like Two Faces, Dolce Vita, Panther Pub and Question Mark (some offer massage services) with cute and friendly guys. Other venues worth a look are Monty’s (sexy man show) and the fabulous “The Venue” with continuous Cabaret shows & entertainment nightly from 9:30pm. There is good live entertainment from CAZZO Music and at the Bondi Beach Bar. Pattaya offers all this and several late night Discos or “After-Hours” Thai-style dance venues with sexy Coyote boys and cabaret acts to help you enjoy your wild Pattaya nights, including the mixed Disco X-Zyte on 3rd road and two Man clubs the Dave & the popular new entry, NAB Man Club.
A place to meet young men, not necessarily Thai, and not money boys, is Sansuk Sauna & Guesthouse, (Pattayas version to Bangkoks Babylon) off Thappaya Road. Pattaya offers more variety and is easier to get around than any other city in Thailand.