Types of Pattaya Bars

There are multiple types of Pattaya Bars:

• Open-Air Beer Bar Complexes
• Open-Air Stand Alone Beer Bars
• Gentlemen's Clubs
• Go Go Bars
• Hybrid Bars
• Live Music Venues
• High Class Places

First, a Bit About Beer & Drinks

A nice tap beer in served in a chilled glass

Beer is in the name, but to the Thais, beer encompasses beer and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

You can go to any bar in Pattaya and get a drink other than beer...mixed drinks, liquor straight, liquor on ice, single shots, water, soda or some other non-alcoholic drinks.  Some may have wine.  

Many Pattaya bars are run on a shoestring budget and are not going to have a massive selection of liquor or beer.  You may have to stand up by the bar and scan the shelves to see what they have to offer if you want something different than normal Thai beers.  They may have to run out to get more beer if they are busier than normal.  There are hundreds of bars all over Central Pattaya.

Normal Beer Options Readily Available:

• Chang.  Green bottle with an elephant on the label.  It’s ok, but it’s very heavy and filling.  Probably Thailand’s most famous beer.
• Leo.  Brown bottle with a lion on the label.  Less filling than Chang.
• Tiger beer.  Brown bottle with blue label with a Tiger.  I don’t think I’ve tried it.
• Singh beer.  Brown bottle with a brown label.  Less filling than Leo.
• Singh Light beer.  Brown bottle with a BLUE label.  The Thais usually call this “My Beer.” I'm not sure why.  Not all bars have it.  It is the lightest beer in Pattaya and my personal favorite.
• San Miguel Light beer.  It’s light, but not as light as Singh Light.  Served with a lime in the mouth. This is my backup beer if Singh Light is not available or I temporarily lose my taste for Singh Light.
• Heineken.  This seems to be the main non-Thai beer that is normally available.  I have never seen any US beers.

Some bars have tap beer, but most beer will come in a bottle.  I have not seen beer in cans.

The bottle of beer will almost always be served in an insulated cooler to try to keep it cool.  You can also ask for ice in a glass to pour your beer into.  This dilutes the taste but it is refreshingly cool. You will notice lots of older ex-pats nursing beer in a glass with ice (they keep asking for refills of ice) for hours, stretching out their beer budget.  I do this too, but not often, preferring to move from bar to bar and drinking my fill.

Liquor Typically Available:

• Whiskey
• Rum
• Vodka
• Tequila
• I’m not sure about Gin.  I would think so since there are so many British ex-pats.  I'll look next trip.
• Sansome is the main Thai liquor.  I am a little unsure if it is whiskey or rum.  It is the cheapest liquor and frequently offered at happy hours and specials.  I like it with club soda when I'm bloated from beer or I want a change of pace.

Mixers for the liquors:

• Regular Coke
• Coke Zero
• Club Soda
• Water
• Red bull
• There may be others, look what they have behind the bar.

The Thai bars compete for customers by offering happy hours and specials, usually in the afternoon and early evening.  Look around the bar for signs or ask the staff if there are any specials.

My delicious and refreshing bottle of Singh Light in an insulated holder right next to the check bin in one of the Pattaya Bars

Types of Pattaya Bars

Open-Air Beer Bar Complexes

The open-air beer bar complexes are classic nightlife in Pattaya Thailand.  These Pattaya bars have no walls, so no AC.  With the heat, the overhanging building roof provides shade, and with big fans blowing it makes for comfortable afternoon drinking.

In order to economize on building construction and maintenance costs, multiple bars will be under a one common roof, sharing a common restrooms with some of them not having any walls at all between them.  This all looks like one big bar.  But if you study this (before you've drank a lot) you'll see that each has it's own area to serve drinks, it's own stools, tables, pool table, staff and even it's own personality.

They are surprisingly comfortable.  There will be a lot of fans blowing to keep it breezy, but if you need full AC, you won't like these.  Being out in the open, I have not noticed insects at all. 

With the extent of the roof overhang, you are protected from rain and will rarely get wet sitting under the roof unless it is a severe rain with blowing wind.

Usually there will be a lady or 2 sitting or standing by the edge of the bar trying to charm you to you to come in for a drink.  If you decide to stop, there will be plenty of bar stools and chairs and some small tables scattered about. 

With most of the tourists and ex-pats being aging, there are stools and chairs in all the bars everywhere.  Some will have a normal bar you can belly up to. 

Pattaya isn't like the US bars, where you have to stand holding your drink (like an exhausted idiot) for hours in the most popular bars.  You can rest your elbows and set your drink on the bar or a table next to the check bin (which is your running total of the drinks) you will need to pay for when you leave.

Most bars will have pool tables and bar games. I love bar hopping from one of these to another enjoying a cold one and seeing what happens.

An example of an open air bar. On Beach Road, looking out at the beach and ocean

Open Air Beer Bar Complexes

• Treetown.  Treetown is more of a place that has beer bar complexes as part of the total package.  The beer bar complexes are on the southerly side and another 2 areas on the westerly side.  
• Soi Made in Thailand.  Very old.  Starting at Soi Buakhao, north of Treetown.  Shares a restroom with Treetown.  The shared restroom is very old, very used and very marginal.  
• Mystic Myth Night.  Very new.  Fronting on Second Road, across from Central Festival Mall.  Extends easterly, halfway up the block towards Soi Buakhao.  You can get to it from Soi Made in Thailand.  It has it's own very new restroom.
• Las Vegas Beer Garden.  Very new, with live music 5 nights a week.  Uncomfortable metal stools.
• On Soi Pattayasaisong 13, down by the steakhouses on Second Road.
• Beach Road.  Near Soi 7 and Sou 8.
• Alley between Soi 7 & 8
• Soi New Plaza
• Bars leading into Pattaya Beer Garden.  While the Pattaya Beer Garden is a fixture in Pattaya, the beer bar area from Beach Road to the Beer Garden sometimes has beer bars and sometimes it doesn't.  Bars come and go all the time in Pattaya, depending on customers.

An open air bar on Beach Road, looking out at the beach and night sky over the ocean

Stand Alone Open Air Beer Bars

The stand alone open air beer bars have the same concept as the complexes, but they are separate from other bars.  If they are next to another bar, they will have walls.

They will usually have at least one side "open" with a railing to sit and look out at the street.

Some Stand Alone Open Air Beer Bars or where to find them:

• Five Star Bar.  On Beach Road
• Pattaya Beer Garden.  On Beach Road right where Walking Street starts.
• There are lots of stand alone beer bars lining Soi Buakhao.
• Soi 7 & Soi 8, down by Beach Road

Five Star Bar. This is an open air beer bar. Only open to Beach Road, with 3 walls separating it from other bars. Great place to watch the sunset

Closed Door Gentlemen's Clubs

These are fully closed in bars.  Some of these you need to knock to enter.  In most cases there will be no ladies out front trying to entice you in.  But once inside, there will be ladies.  There are rooms available.

Some GC's to get you started:

• Maggie May's.  On Soi Chaiyapoon
• Kings Club.  On Third Road
• Babylon Paradise.  On Third Road
• La Poste.  On Soi Lengkee
• Hunny Lounge.  On Soi Pattayasaisong 11
• Heaven Above.  On Soi Boomerang
• Excite.  On Chaloem Phrakiat 23 Alley, just past the Triangle Bar

Go-Go Clubs

Go-Go Clubs will be behind closed door bars with some gorgeous ladies outside trying to entice you in.  These are similar to Exotic Dance Clubs in other parts of the world. 

Once inside there will be a large number of very good looking ladies dancing in skimpy clothing up on a stage.  Typically the ladies will be in the prime of their beauty (early 20's).

There will be many Thai ladies up on the stage, not just one at a time like in the US.  The Thai ladies don't dance with the acrobatic and sexy gymnastic moves you sometimes see in US exotic dance clubs.  They kind of just move a little bit.

I love the Go-Go Bars, but do not go very often on a trip.  I get too excited and spend way too much money.  A lot.  

The Thai Go Go bars are crazy exciting with pounding music, many beautiful, prime of their life, scantily clad ladies dancing on stage, or siting near you, strolling around after their shift and smiling at you.  It's as intoxicating as the drinks.

The bar staff and ladies are all so accommodating. You will feel like a movie star inside.  I love how well I am treated.

My normal is to visit once a trip, spend about 30 to 45 minutes inside, buy some drinks for a few of the staff and enjoy a near rock star experience.  But I know my budget and right before I am tempted to buy another round, I tell them...I'm done.  They total up the check bin, I pay my big bar bill, leave a nice tip and leave to somewhere quieter and cheaper.

Some of the Go-Go Bars I've Visited:

• Tahitian Queen.  Beach Road , between Mikes Shopping Mall and Royal Garden Shopping Mall.  This is the oldest Go Go still operating in Pattaya.  I've enjoyed this Go Go multiple times.
• Sugar Sugar.  LK Metro, right on the corner of Soi Buakhao.
• Walking Street. (I can't recall the name of the place).

Hybrid Bars

Hybrid bars are a cross between open-air beer bars, gentlemen's Clubs and Go-Go Clubs. 

• There will be ladies outside trying to charm you to come in and buy drinks. 
• The front of the bar will be open with just fans keeping you cool.  
• The back will be behind some doors with the AC blasting.
• Once in the back, there may be some stages for the ladies to dance. 
• There may be rooms available.

You Will Find These Types of Bars on:

• Soi 6.  Just north of the Central Pattaya area, between Beach Road and Second Road.
• Soi Chaiyapoon.  Central Pattaya, off Soi Buakhao.

These 2 Soi's only allow a very limited amount of vehicles (maybe just for delivery), so they are quite safe for pedestrians.  But with no vehicles, it also allows the ladies to be out in the street working their charms on you to entice you to come in for a drink.

There are a lot of bars all adjacent to each other.  With all the bars, there will be a lot of ladies.  It's kind of overwhelming, like walking the gauntlet with the sheer number of ladies. 

Live Music Venues

There is live music at these bars almost every night of the week, maybe a day or 2 off.  But you should be able to find some classic music from the west, performed by Thai musicians, every night, for free.

The drink prices will be a little higher in these bars to help pay for the bands.

The Thais know western tourists love live bands, and we especially love it when we don't have to pay a massive cover charge to hear it.

During the high season, these bars are packed with tourists.  If you're traveling solo, and you don't stake out a good seat early, you'll have to share a table with a stranger and/or sit in a poor spot (right in front of the speaker or behind a post).

During low season, it's much easier to get a great seat.

I love to pop into 1 or more of these for a few songs, or a beer, or a set at some point in my night.  The music usually starts by 8 or 9 pm.

Pattaya Bars that Consistently Offer Live Music:

• Triangle Bar. On Soi Chaiyapoon.
• Rock Factory.  On Soi Buakhao.
• Mayfairs.  On Soi Buakhao.
• Candy Club.  Thai music, not western music.  On Soi Buakhao
• Rolling Live 3.  On Soi 8.
• Basileks.  In Treetown.
• The Las Vegas Beer Bar complex.  On Pattayasaisong 13.

A live music band can pop up from time to time in any bar. 

High Class Places

Fancy cocktail up on the 34th Floor Horizon Bar overlooking the city and beach

These Pattaya bars have a professional staff, much more comfortable seating, usually a view, much higher prices and some other good reason the prices are higher.

• Horizon Bar.  34th Floor of the Hilton Hotel, between Beach Road and Second Road and next to the Central Festival Mall.  The best view in Pattaya.  Also, extremely popular, you may need a reservation during high season.
• Hard Rock Cafe.  On Beach Road, between Central Pattaya Road and Soi 6.  A great place to quietly unwind after spending some time on Soi 6.
• Dynamite.  On Soi Buakhao, near Soi Boomerang.
• Area 51.  On Pattayasaisong 13, near Soi Buakhao.

Wrap Up on Pattaya Bars or What I Like to Do

I like to mix in many of the Pattaya bars each night.  I rarely stay in any one bar all night.  I find if I stay too long, I have too many drinks, spend too much money and get to drunk. 

I like to have one drink, see how I like the place and move on.

This does wear me out by the end of the night.  I do have quite a few drinks, but I have only been very drunk a few times.  I do a lot of walking around, supplemented by some baht bus rides and motorbike taxi rides.

But it is so much fun and so exciting to visit one more bar.  Have one more drink.  Pop into one more live music venue for a few songs.  Stop for a nice snack somewhere.  Sit at one more bar rail with a drink and people watch.