Pattaya Nightlife and Live Music

Pattaya nightlife and live music go together. 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.

I have heard all kinds of live music at multiple venues and did not have to pay a cover charge at all. It was all FREE live music!

We also love the classic, soft rock and hard rock hits from the 60's through the early 90's. With a bit of country music too. We aren't interested in some of the garbage that is created today.

During the high season, the live music bars are packed with tourists. Many times groups of traveler's get to these bars early to pack the tables and have a great time, partying hard, dancing and singing along.

If you're traveling solo, and you don't stake out a good seat early, you'll need a Thai waitress to guide you to a seat where 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).

Nobody minds and sometimes you can have a good conversation between sets.

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

There is always going to be some kind of table for you to set your drink, the check bin and your elbow.

Some Thoughts from one of My Trips and the Extreme Gratitude I Felt for the Pattaya Nightlife and Live Music Venues

I staggered out of a beer bar and into the Triangle Bar after spending some glorious time with a beautiful Thai lady. I needed some recovery beers and sat up front to enjoy the live music the Triangle Bar is famous for. The Triangle Bar is packed every night during high season, but in the humid August nights you can get a great seat up front with a fan blowing right on you.

All the pain, frustration, lack, humiliation and every moment of misery (from my bad marriage and poor showing with women early in my life) was washed away from my memory as I sat there with my ice-cold Singh Light, staring at the beautiful Thai lady singer as she sang emotional songs.

Feelings poured over me, like a wave. But instead of water, I felt satisfaction. Sheer joy. Elation. It was like reaching the summit of Everest. Exhaustion, satisfaction, immense pride.

I felt such extreme gratitude to be here in Pattaya, having one of the best Saturday nights of my life.

Pattaya Nightlife and Live Music Venues Offered Consistently Most Nights

There is live music at these bars almost every night of the week, with some taking a night or 2 off. But you should be able to find some live, mostly western type rock music, performed by hard-working and enthusiastic Thai musicians, every night, for free.

I love to pop into 1 or more of these for a few songs, a few beers, or even a full set at some point in my night. The music usually starts by 8 or 9 pm and goes until midnight or later.

Without a cover charge, it is easy to come and go as you wish.

The noise regulations seem to always be in a state of flux. Sometimes the bars will be open to the air with the loud music heard out on the street, where you can just stand outside of a bar listening without the cost of a drink. But sometimes they have the walls enclosed to keep the music contained.

Triangle Bar

On Soi Chaiyapoon just east of Soi Buakhao. The bar is shaped like a triangle where 2 diagonal streets come together.

You can get there by hopping on the baht bus that runs up and down Soi Buakhao. The baht buses are always running, you just may have to wait a few minutes sometimes.

This is one of the most popular bars in Pattaya and it is hard to get a seat. They always offer 2 drinks for the price of one. Of course, the price is a little higher.

There are bathrooms facilities to the left of the stage.

Triangle Bar

Rock Factory

On Soi Buakhao a little past Treetown.

Usually a little more of the harder rock to heavy metal. This is very popular and hard to get a seat as well.

I think the restrooms are a little to the right of the stage.

Matadore

On Soi Buakhao. Right near the intersection of LK Metro. There is usually some good looking Thai ladies dancing on the little stages near the band as they play a lot of hard rock music.

There are bathroom facilities in the back of the bar to the left of the stage.

Mayfairs

On Soi Buakhao.

Live music, but of a softer variety.

There are bathroom facilities in the back of the bar to the right of the stage.

Rolling Live 3

On Soi 8, closer to Beach Road.

This is another great option if you're bar hopping on Beach Road and in the Soi 7 and Soi 8 area.

There are bathroom facilities in the back of the bar to the far right of the stage.

Candy Club

On Soi Buakhao. They play all Thai music and none of our classic rock music from the US and Europe. This is very popular with the Thai ladies as a place that they love to go. The music is extremely loud but all enclosed.

It's a lot of fun to experience.

It's always busy and with the busyness you do have to pay for your drinks as you go, rather than the check bin process.

It can be a bit rowdier than other bars, so there are some Thai men at the door just in case.

I believe this bar stays open very late and keeps going with the music.

There are bathroom facilities in the back of the bar to the left of the stage.

Basileks

In Treetown at the back corner of the southerly road into Treetown.

The bathrooms in all the bars in Treetown are centralized between the most northerly Treetown Road and Soi Made in Thailand.

This is kind of a pain if you're drinking a lot of beer. You need to plan accordingly. I love Treetown but normally take a leak right before I go to the Treetown bars and don't usually spend a lot of time in any particular bar. For example, I might stop for a few beers at one place, then go to the restroom, then sample another bar.

Basilek's in Treetown

The Las Vegas Beer Bar complex

On Pattayasaisong 13.

This is quite a new beer bar complex. The seating is kind of poor because they only have hard stools with no backs. It's hard to just sit and relax.

There are new bathroom facilities in the back closer to the stage.

Las Vegas Beer Garden. There are small bars along both sides, seating in the middle and a stage at the far end

Hard Rock Café

This is located on Beach Road, north of Central Pattaya Road and south of Soi 6. I like to stop here to rest after I’ve spent a few hours on Soi 6. They will have all the drinks, have very professional high-end staff and live music. This is a place you’d bring a lady to. Fantastic air conditioning and comfortable seating.

They have nice restrooms up near the entrance.

Hard Rock Cafe

There are some other nice places along Beach Road on either side of the Hard Rock Café.

There will be some live music on any given night and any given bar. Just listen and walk towards the music. A live music band can pop up from time to time in any bar.

The drink prices in any live music venue may be a little higher in these bars to help pay for the bands. But with no cover charge it is a bargain.

The bands take requests. Some even have a binder with the songs they can play for you to pick from.

Of course, there will be a tip jar for the band. I love to give a nice tip to the band, especially if they play a song I requested.

The bands will really appreciate you.

The Staff at the Pattaya Nightlife and Live Music Venues

There will be a Thai lady hostess at the door to encourage you to come in and find you a seat.

There will be a handful of Thai lady waitresses hustling around serving drinks. Like most bars in Pattaya, you won't have to wait long for a drink.

There will be a few bartender's. With the number of people in these bars and the waitresses you will not really need to interact with the bartenders.

And there will be a Thai live band. All the normal instruments - lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, maybe an electric piano. Usually the instrumentals will be staffed with Thai men. There's usually a Thai lady lead singer and sometimes a male co-lead singer.

They happily play all our favorites. Some specialize a bit, for example playing much more heavy metal or some play more softer rock.

Pattaya Nightlife and Live Music Wrap Up

Get over here to enjoy the Pattaya nightlife and live music. You can enjoy more live music over the course of your trip than you have in years. And all for ZERO cost!

This is so different from the US where going to see live music at a concert or even a bar, costs and arm and a leg.