Jomtien: Jewel By The Sea

For a great experience start your day at Dongtan Beach (see SPICE! map). Buy your favorite English language newspaper (we like the Pattaya Times) or magazine at the Bookazine book store and rent a chair for a mere 30 baht all day. Spend an afternoon lazily lying under a beach umbrella maybe wading in the warm water, enjoying a massage or having a meal at your beach chair and watching the carnival of goings on around you. You can also take a nice stroll along the walkway and snack at one of the many restaurants along the beach access road.
Try Tui’s Restaurant (also a guest house). They supply the tasty food at many of the beach chair concessions and is also a favorite choice to sit and watch the comings and goings while having a delicious blended smoothie or tasty meal.

There are often interesting Thai guys waiting around to meet a nice foreigner. Invite him to sit with you and keep you company. If you hit it off he may be a keeper. If not, you are closer to finding the right one by process of elimination.
After your time at the beach, on the way out, you may want to stop in at the newly opened Bondi Beach Bar and catch a sundowner , enjoy the music and watch the world (and guys) go by. 



After dark join the locals and those in the know enjoying the Jomtien scene at night, as there are many choices being offered and a nice alternative from the central Pattaya venues. Prices are cheaper and the Thais you meet seem more relaxed and easier to talk with.
There are a number of fine-dining spots along Pratamnak Road which connects central Pattaya with the Jomtien area to accommodate every palate. Try Manhattan’s Steak House, Pan Pan Italian (great pizza & desserts), the venerable Bruno’s Restaurant (offers a set lunch menu and was the first fine dining option to come into the area many years ago). Next door is one of the best authentic Itallian restaurants operated by a lovely man named Guito called Gian’s Italian. Gian’s is beautiful, reasonably priced and has the best service in all of Pattaya. Also try the recently opened Alois Restaurant and Wine Bar on the site of the former Icon Show Bar.

Closer to the beach, you should walk around Jomtien Complex. Although by no means a strictly “gay enclave,” as Boyztown, the Jomtien Complex does contain more than twenty gay and “gay friendly” venues, in addition to businesses catering to “straight friendly” customers. There’s plenty to please visitors of all stripes.

When it first opened during the economic downturn, it looked like a ghost town with its empty shop houses and lack of pedestrian traffic. What a difference a few years make! Jomtien Complex has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several years and now has dozens of restaurants, host bars, massage parlors, the new Venue Cabaret and musical venues to suit just about every taste.



Why not start off the night with a delicious meal in one of Jomtien Complex’s assortment of dining spots? There are more than enough restaurants to satisfy every culinary desire and budget. I recently had a great meal at The Pagoda Restaurant & Bar (see mini review in this issue), which offers a big selection of European and Thai food served by smart-looking waiters in a air conditioned, attractive dining room or outside on the terrace. If you’re in the mood for delicious pasta and, in my opinion, the best pizza in Pattaya, there’s Pizzeria Italia in the middle of the complex. If you are on a budget the choice is ANTZ. They feature inexpensive meals, a large airy dining room and live music. Don’t miss their yellow curry with chicken.

Dick’s Cafe Jomtien, the Jomtien branch of this venerable Bangkok institution, is a great place to sit and watch the world go by, whilst enjoying an espresso, cocktail or a nice meal. The Poseidon Hotel & Restaurant under the management of the well known Casa Pascal and offers two, three and four course set menus, as well as, ala carte selections. Mignon’s, across from the Complex, on Thappaya Road, features delicious steaks and Thai food. Around the corner is another branch of the popular Shenanigan’s Irish Pub is attached to the Jomtien Complex Condotel and has Daily Specials and a Happy Hour.

For drinks and fun try The Venue, a large, beautiful show bar (also has beautifully decorated and well-appointed guest rooms) offering three nightly glamorous cabaret shows with reasonable drink prices. The handsome guys and alluring ladyboys feature Broadway show tunes, as well as, special tributes and theme nights including Michael Jackson and the Silver Screen.

Situated next door is Panther Pub, which opened last January. It’s a large, attractive host bar featuring reasonably priced drinks and offers live music during high season. Kasan, the proprietor, said that he felt that the Complex was now a viable alternative to Boyztown and Sunee Plaza.
Monty’s Bar and Cabaret offers low priced drinks and a nightly “sexy guy” show. Adam, Monty’s partner, said that this low season was the perfect time to experiment with new shows. Monty’s happy hour is from 5-8 pm, with drinks at just 69 baht. Great number!
Ganymede is a recently opened host bar (soon to add a lodging option), across from the delicious Pagoda Restaurant. You’ll love the Greek god-like bodies (the ones on the wall, as well as, the ones serving you). Dolce Vita is an open air bar featuring handsome lads. Cazzo Music and Restaurant has live music on weekends.

There are several venues in the complex that offer “man by man” massages. These include the popular Question Mark Bar and Two Faces¸ were happy endings are on hand.  They offer breakfast and snacks and live music.
In addition, Festival, Duo House and Derby Men’s Club, near one of our favorites Thai Blind Massage Institute , also offer massages. For a “authentic” massage, try the Thai Blind Massage Institute on the same street.
 
So remember Jomtien when you’re looking for a place to relax and chill out with friends, have a delicious meal, enjoy a massage, see a first rate cabaret show or maybe looking for the company of a handsome host.
You’re sure to find it in the Jomtien area of Pattaya!