Soi Buakhao - One of the Coolest Streets in pattaya 

Soi Buakhao is a street in Central Pattaya running north and south from South Pattaya Road to Central Pattaya Road paralleling 2nd Road and 3rd Road.

Soi is the Thai word for a street that branches off from larger street or road.

In the Central Pattaya area, the main roads include Beach Road, 2nd Road and 3rd Road running north & south and Central Pattaya Road and South Pattaya Road running east and west.

There are other Soi's branching off of Soi Buakhao.  It appears that Soi Buakhao in the old days, was a small road.  Now, it is really a main road itself.

Soi Buakhao is a north south running street between 2nd Road and 3rd Road

It's an awesome road to explore. 

If you're in Central Pattaya you will spend a lot of time walking and riding the baht bus up and down Soi Buakhao.  It is one of the party epicenter's of Pattaya and packed on both sides with all the things that makes Pattaya great:

• Countless Bars of various sorts
• Multiple Restaurants offering Thai and international food
• Handy Conveniences like 7 -11
• Baht buses providing cheap transportation
• Taxi and motorbike taxi stands
• Some Hotels
• A Hospital
• A weight training gym
• A lot of Massage shops
• Money Exchange Booths
• ATMs
• Shopping for trinkets and needs

Soi Buakhao is within the Central Pattaya area

What to Expect on Soi Buakhao

View of Soi Buakhao from Baht Bus. No sidewalks in this part

• Narrow 2 lane road with 2 way traffic.
• Parts of the day the traffic is intense.  It never really gets jammed but it does get slow.
• Baht buses run both ways.
• Only a bit of sidewalks.  You will be mostly walking in the street.  Walk against traffic if possible and tuck yourself up tight to the buildings or motorbikes parked along the edge.  BE CAREFUL when walking and crossing!
• Prices are a bit higher than on less trafficked areas.
• A lot of pedestrian's strolling about.
• Huge amount of motorbikes and scooters weaving in and out of traffic.
• The extent of bars taper off on the far north and far south ends.
• It's a great road to stop into a bar, and sip a drink at the bar rail and people watch.
• Some ladyboy bars
• Live music bars

View of Soi Buakhao. No sidewalks here either

• Sit down restaurants
• Quick snacks
• Street food vendors
• Retail shops
• Pharmacies

View of Soi Buakhao near north Treetown entrance road

• Some marijuana places.  I am not into it, so don't have any guidance.  The rules seem to be in flux. Do your research.  
• Roaming street vendors asking you to buy things.  Bracelets, snacks, watches, cigarettes, ED medication, roses, lottery tickets seem to be the main items.  I like to buy a bracelet or two.  I have no interest in the rest and just say No and kind of wave your hand back and forth with your palm down and go back to what you were doing, ignoring them.

View of Soi Buakhao near intersection of Soi New Plaza

It's a very exciting street to ride the baht bus, walk and visit the various establishments.  There is never a full moment.

Live Music Venues on Soi Buakhao

There is no cover charge to get in these bars.  If you are with a group, get there early. They get packed.  If you go in alone the staff will try to find you a seat, usually sharing a small table with a complete strange

Like any bar in Pattaya, you do need to buy a drink.  It does not have to be alcoholic.

With no cover charge there is no need to commit to staying a long time.  Often I stay for a few songs or a set.  

The Thai band members work so hard providing good music, it's special to enjoy it.  I always try to drop a tip in there jar.

Candy Club

East side of Soi Buakhao at the north Treetown road entrance.  Totally enclosed bar playing very (extremely) loud Thai music deep into the night.  Very popular and fun.  While I prefer classic rock, going into the Candy Club for a drink and listening to some loud and wild Thai music is an experience.

Rock Factory

West side of Soi Buakhao a block south of the Treetown area.  Classic normal to hard rock, sometimes very hard rock.  It's usually packed once the band gets going.  

I love to stop here when I hear them playing some of my old favorites.  

Mayfairs

East side of Soi Buakhao a block south of the Rock Factory.  Softer rock than Rock Factory.  It also get's packed.  

Matador Buakhao

West side of Soi Buakhao a block south Mayfair's.  A bit more of the modern rock.  A larger bar than Mayfair's or Rock Factory and a bit easier to get a seat.

Some Other Bars to Check Out on
Soi Buakhoa  

I love going into new bars in Pattaya and see what happens. 

But, I have gotten to know some bars and have the comfort of knowing what they're like.  They're good bars to just relax, chill, brag to your buddies at home about what you're doing by text and think about your next moves for the evening.

Beer Hub

East side of Soi Buakhao between the 2 Treetown entrance roads.  I find this a great place to recharge mid evening with a Guinness and some shrimp tempura relaxing on their comfortably padded chairs and cooling off in their powerful AC. 

Nan's Oasis

East side of Soi Buakhao between the 2 Treetown entrance roads.  Just south of Beer Hub.  A tiny open-air bar for a quiet drink to enjoy the view the hustle and bustle of Soi Buakhao. 

Towne Bar

East side of Soi Buakhao between the 2 Treetown entrance roads. Just south of Nan's Oasis.  A good sized bar with some pool tables in the back and a second story for bigger parties.  Some comfy couches between the pool tables and the bar rail stools facing Soi Buakhao.

Usually a beer special of some sort even late at night.  I end a lot of nights here having a few more cheap beers deciding if I should push for more fun, get a late night snack or stagger back to my hotel. 

Dynamite

West side of Soi Buakhao near Soi Boomerang.  Quite a fancy upscale place with comfortable seating and powerful AC. 

Katesiree

West side of Soi Buakhao near the Soi Chaiyapoon Intersection.  This may be the main bar for older ex-pats and tourists to just sit and sip inexpensive beer. 

You will notice very old, quite frail ex-pats nursing beers here. I find it a great place to chill with a few very cheap beers and consider what else I'd like to do that night.

Honey Corner Bar

West side of Soi Buakhao at the intersection of Soi Pattayasoing 11. 

I like to have a quick beer and plan which way to go as this is right in the middle of countless bars both on Soi Buakhao and Soi's off Soi Buakhaho.. 

Venues to Be Totally Outside Sipping Drinks and Enjoying the Show

Pattaya, with it's year around summer weather, is perfect for drinking outside as long as you don't get burnt to a crisp, suffer from heat stroke or get drenched in a downpour.

The open-air beer bars provide the best of both worlds.  Many of the Pattaya bars provide the best of both worlds.  One or more  side of the bar being completely open (i.e. open air beer bar) with large overhanging roofs providing afternoon shade, multiple fans keeping the heat under control and protection from rain.

On Soi Buakhao, right between the 2 Treetown entrance roads there are 2 totally outdoor venues (i.e no shade and no protection from rain):

1. Immediately north of the south Treetown entrance road.  There is an old minibus converted to a bar with densely placed plastic chairs sitting out.  This area gets packed as the night wears on.
2. Halfway between the 2 Treetown entrance roads, just south of the Beer Hub.  Not as densely packed with chairs as the first one, but plastic chairs, right on the sidewalk.

Restaurants and Food Options

The one's I go to every trip a few times include:

Primeburger

I love to get here for lunch on my first full day.  I may even go back once or twice more. I find I need to eat enough beef over my holiday to make sure I feel vital, even though I love Thai food.·

Cafe Pitini

English or American breakfast and Thai food plus paninis and ice cream shakes. 

Bronx Pizza

Kebab Stand Across from The Rock Factory

Here are some other very good places on Soi Buakhao that I've been or know you'd like depending on your budget, tastes and needs:

• Jolly's
• Chill Inn
• Hungry Hippo
• Treetown Food Court
• Cheap Charlie's
• Sportz Lounge
• McDonalds.  Yes, there is American fast food in Pattaya.

Access to Other Bar Areas in Central Pattaya

As I mentioned, you will be up and down Soi Buakhao many nights of your trip going to the other streets packed with bars in Central Pattaya:

• Soi New Plaza
• Soi Made in Thailand
• Treetown
• Pattayasaisong 11
• LK Metro
• Soi Chaiyapoon
• Pattayasaisong 13
• Soi Lenkee
• Soi Boomerang

Shopping to Explore on Soi Buakhao

I'm not a huge shopper, but browsing in these interesting shops and markets is part of the experience I love in Pattaya.

Watches

Cool watch shop is located on the far north end of Soi Buakhao right near the Central Pattaya Road intersection.

Gold 

There is a gold shop on the east side of Soi Buakhao near the Soi Made in Thailand intersection.

There are a couple of retail gold shops on the west side of Soi Buakhao just south of LK Metro.

Fresh food 

Fresh food market on the east side 1 block north of the Soi Made in Thailand intersection (across from Sun Fitness).  It looks like this is where a lot of the Thai food cart vendors get their groceries.

Fancy Retail

Right next to McDonalds on the east side of Soi Buakhao.  High end shoes, bags and leather.  I can't recall if they had clothes.  I was shopping for a leather bag.

Trinkets

Some interesting shopping for trinkets and souvenir's right where Soi Buakhao has 2 hard curves about 2 blocks north of Soi Made in Thailand.

Buakhao Market

Far south end on both side of Soi Buakhao almost to the intersection of South Pattaya Road.

Tented market with dirt floors.  Inexpensive place to shop for souvenir's.  Very warm, but with fans blowing.  I usually go here for a face massage.  There is a coffee stand and food options too.  Very cool way to spend some time.

Soi Buakhao and Your Health

Frequent, inexpensive massages in Pattaya is a way many tourists revitalize their health.  You will feel great after an hour long massage.  Many of the Thai massage ladies will work on specific problem areas for you.  For me, I get my left shoulder worked on a few times over a trip.

Sun Fitness is on the west side a little north of Soi Made in Thailand if you don't want to miss any workouts on your trip.  They have a great selection of weight training equipment and cardio machines with decent prices.  It's very busy in the morning with ex-pats (some quite jacked).

The multiple pharmacies are close by for advice and specific medications to help you get past illnesses.

Pattaya City Hospital is on the east side a block south of Soi Lengkee if you need it.

Soi Buakhao Wrap Up

Explore Soi Buakhao.  All the places are welcoming to tourists and friendly.

You'll be up and down Soi Buakhao countless times on your Pattaya trip and get to know it and love it as I do.