Pattaya is Thailand’s famous red-light district city about 2 hours south of Bangkok. Pattaya nightlife consists mainly of strip clubs, go-go bars, and late-night clubs. If this is not your scene then it’s probably best to check out our other city party guides in Thailand.
There is a beach in Pattaya, though that’s not the main attraction, as there are much better beaches in Thailand. People mainly come here for the nightlife, parties and yes – to find a Thai girlfriend, prostitute or just to let loose.
The main walking street of the city is a vibrant nightlife district full of bright neon signs, loud music and full of tourists admiring the sights – not unlike Bangla walking street in Phuket. So if you’re coming here just to unwind or find a Thai wife – this is the only Pattaya nightlife guide you’ll ever need.
Where to Party in Pattaya?
Pattaya is not that big of a city, it’s more of a beach town, so finding out where to party isn’t that difficult, there is really only one main area along the Beach Road which turns into the Walking Street and to the east of it along Soi 7 and 8 and also along Soi Buakhao.
When you first arrive in the city you’ll most likely want to visit the Walking Street to get a feel of the vibe of the city. It’s impossible to miss with the bright neon lights, loud music and girls with signs trying to get you into their bar. Pretty much every business on both sides of the street are impressive nightclubs, go-go-bars, dive bars and cheap late-night food spots. You’ll find a younger, touristic crowd here.
If your senses have had enough of this sometimes overwhelming experience, we recommend heading north to Soi 7 and 8 where you’ll find a lot of bars and pubs along this street that are cheaper than the Walking Street, and more popular with backpackers and expats.
You’ll also find the interesting Pattaya Night Bazaar and Soi Buakhao which has lots of cool bars as well, though they tend to lean toward the go-go-bar types. This area is much more popular with older men and expats.
Pattaya Nightlife & Safety Tips
– Thailand is a very safe country, with a low crime rate. However, beach towns like this are known for their sex tourism can be unsafe late at night, so be aware of your belongings at all times. If a group of Ladyboys approaches you, be wary that they may be trying to pickpocket you or steal your things.
– Pattaya is a popular sex tourism destination, so if you do hook up with somebody, of course, practice safe sex and wear a condom.
– Be aware of scams such as being coerced to buy drinks for girls at a bar, or leading a stranger with a sign to a random nightclub.
– Like all of Thailand, drinking is allowed on the street, so save yourself some money and pre-drink at 7-Eleven.
How expensive is it to party in Pattaya?
The Pattaya nightlife scene is a little more pricey than other beach towns in Thailand thanks to the generally older crowd it attracts. Most people come here to look for love or lust, so they are willing to spend more money than say a backpacking spot such as Koh Phangan.
With that being said, it’s still a little cheaper than Bangkok or Phuket and you can find reasonably priced accommodation close to the main nightlife spots. You can get everywhere by walking, so don’t bother asking for a taxi.
The bars and clubs on the main beach street and Walking Street are going to be a lot more expensive, with beers rangings from 100-200 baht, whereas the bars around the smaller sois and around the Night Bazaar will be as low as 50 baht. Here is a basic overview of what you can expect to pay to enjoy the Pattaya nightlife
Bottle of beer: 50-120 baht
Big beer: 90-150 baht
Bucket: 150-300 baht
Cocktail: 100-300 baht
Best Bars in Pattaya
Pattaya Beer Garden
One of the coolest venues to start your Pattaya nightlife adventure, Pattaya Beer Garden is an open air bar and restaurant located right off of the walking street and has fantastic views of the Gulf of Thailand. Serving delicious seafood and ice cold drinks at competitive prices, this is one of our favourite go to bars in Pattaya.
Trench Town Rasta Bar
One of the most popular bars on Soi Buakhao, this is a great place to chill out listening to the live reggae band, or place to meet friends before starting the night.
Beers start at 80 baht and cocktails around 190 and the place does get crowded later on as it’s a little small, but that makes the atmosphere all that better! In our opinion it’s one of the funnest bars in Pattaya.
Bodega Bar
Located on Sai Song Road, this is a very popular tourist bar, more so frequented by the older expat crowd looking to get lucky. With cheap drinks, live music, pool tables, this open-air bar has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and is a great place to start the night.
Horizon Rooftop Bar
If you’re idea of Pattaya nightlife is something a little fancier and more upscale, then we recommend checking out the Horizon Rooftop Bar located on level 34 of the Hilton Hotel right on Beach Road.
With incredible views of the Gulf of Thailand, 2 for 1 drinks every day between 4 and 7 pm, delicious food, and high-quality drinks, there’s no better place to enjoy the sunset with friends in Pattaya. The prices are obviously higher than surrounding bars, but the atmosphere and vibe makes it worth it.
Hot Tuna Bar
Don’t let the name of this place put you off, Hot Tuna Bar is one of the best spots in Pattaya for live music. Located on the busy and hectic Walking Street, the bar is just as busy and, at times crazy, as the street outside.
Hops Brewhouse
If you’re craving craft beer, good food, and an overall pub-like atmosphere then you should check out Hops Brewhouse. Like many other bars in the city, they have live music and an extensive menu full of European food as well as a large variety of craft beer that is brewed on site!
Best Nightclubs in Pattaya
Insomnia Club
Perhaps the most famous club in Pattaya, Insomnia Pattaya is the little sister of the club of the same name in Bangkok but is just as good. With beers starting at only 50 baht, and around 120-200 for cocktails, the place gets very busy and lively after midnight where you’ll find people from all over the world enjoying the house and electronic music late into the night.
Republic Club & Lounge
Offering bottle service, multiple floors, a world-class sound system (which can be a little too loud at times), and very impressive decor and light shows, Republic Club & Lounge might be one of the best Pattaya nightlife spots if you’re looking for something a little more upscale.
RAAS Club
One of the biggest and most popular clubs in Pattaya, RAAS club brands itself as an “Indian Club” but we’re not entirely sure what that means. They play a wide range of music (including Indian) and are open late into the night until at least 4 am.
The place is quite pricey as it is located on the main walking street.
Mixx Discotheque
Recently re-opened, Mixx Discotheque is one of the best nightclubs on the Pattaya nightlife scene, recreating the success of it’s sister club of the same name in Bangkok. The first level features house and electronic music while the second floor tends to play Hip Hop music.
808 Night Club
One of the most classy and interesting designed clubs in all of Pattaya, 808 Night Club has a large main stage with DJ’s playing mostly EDM, house and sometimes Hip Hop music. There are many tables where friends gather with bottle service, which can be annoying to those who want space to dance.
Pattaya Nightlife Summary
Mostly famous for its popular sex tourist bars and clubs, the Pattaya nightlife scene can also be good if you’re looking to just party with friends, enjoy the sunset on a rooftop bar, or chill at a lounge listening to live music. There is something for everyone here – not just sex tourists.