Wining and dining in Pattaya
Pattaya sees its fair share of visitors as well as having a considerable expat population, ensuring the city has no shortage of demand for good eating and drinking venues. Western consumer demand aside, let’s not forget that food and drink play an essential role in Thai culture and that the locals were taking care of their own dining needs long before establishments catering to outsiders began to pop up.
Such places still exist and have not lost their share of the market to tourist-oriented bars and restaurants; rather the city’s selection of venues has increased significantly so that customers in Pattaya can now choose between traditional fare at economic Thai prices or a mix of higher priced international and Thai food at venues geared towards overseas visitors.
Few hotels offer anything other than breakfast as part of their packages, leaving most visitors seeking somewhere to dine at both lunch and dinner times. Lunch, for many, can be a relatively cheap and simple affair; a sandwich, a salad, some spring rolls or a plate of French fries. However, for those wanting to tuck into something a little heartier, there are plenty of options available.
Holidaymakers favouring English fare will find the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 a good bet at lunchtime, with traditional favourites such as ploughman's lunch and shepherd's pie gracing the menu. Equally attractive for a midday slap-up is Pat’s Restaurant on soi 3, where roast beef and Yorkshire pudding are up for grabs, alongside classics such as fish and chips and pie and chips.
For lunch with a more American flavour, head to Bob's BBQ & Grill, holder of the official record for the world’s largest cheeseburger and dishing up smaller versions of the same along with barbecued ribs and authentic Texas wagon wheel burgers. The City Grill restaurant on Walking street provides typical but tasty fast food fare along the hot dog and burger lines, while Subway on Pattaya Klang road dishes up some impressive chunky sandwiches.
As the afternoon draws on and sunset approaches, holidaymakers head out for evening meals. Choices are abundant, covering all budgets and tastes. It’s really a matter of what you’re in the mood for and how much you are willing to pay.
If it’s traditional Thai food that takes your fancy, then venues such as Somsak on soi 1 and Baan Thai on Central road present authentic cuisine at both ends of the price scale (the former being the cheaper). Adam & Eve’s at Sabai Jai Village on Sukumvit road and PIC Kitchen on soi 5 both offer good quality Thai food which can be enjoyed to the accompaniment of live entertainment at various restaurants. Recommended restaurants.
Going international for dinner is a good option for visitors needing a change from the intensity of Thai food, and with venues offering English, Belgian, French, Scandinavian, Mexican, Italian, German, Indian and Japanese cuisine, there’s certainly no shortage of choice.
A good bet for French food is Au Bon Coin on soi 5. Here visitors will find delicious French stews, charcuterie dishes and meats in wine-based sauces. Alternatively, Mon Ami Pierrot on Walking street is a safe option. For Italian cuisine, head to Little Italy opposite the Royal Garden Plaza or Duilio's on Central road, while for Belgian head for Klein Vlaanderen on the 2nd road opposite soi 7, or Patrick's Belgian at the Diana Arcade.
Visitors with a hankering for something Indian will find the Sher E Punjab on Beach road and the Ali Baba on Central road to be good bets, while sushi and ramen fans can enjoy the delights of Yamato on soi Yamato and Daidomon at Royal Garden. Mexican food is authentically prepared at the Blue Parrot on soi 2, Pattayaland and also at the Tequila Reef on soi 7.
Once the evening meal has had time to settle, many holidaymakers head off in search of a venue at which to partake in a few Thai brews, quaff a few glasses of wine or nurse a large whisky or three. Should an icy cold fruit shake or coca cola be more your thing, then you’ll also be well catered for.
Watering holes and evening entertainment venues in Pattaya are plentiful, although many are connected with the local sex tourist scene and perhaps not the kind of place that a married couple or lone female traveller would appreciate. There is however a good selection of establishments that are free of scantily clad Thai ladies, where those wishing to enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two can do so without intimidation. Pattaya nightlife guide.
Walking street is the city’s main drinking area and where you’ll find the majority of girly and go-go bars, but also where you’ll find establishments welcoming of the average tourist, such as the Bamboo Bar and Kilkenny's Irish Pub. Beach road is also a good place to head, with establishments such as the Hopf Brew House, Rosie O'Grady's and the famous Hard Rock Café.
More Irish action and a hearty welcome can be found at Shenanigans on Pattaya 2nd road, while the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 of the same road is a great place to enjoy a traditional English pub ambience as well as some well-known English beverages. At Jomtien Beach, an evening of pleasant drinking can be had at the Choc Dee Bar, a chilled out venue with none of the noise and raucousness often associated with Walking street and Beach road.
Visitors looking for something altogether classier and a step upmarket will need to head to the bars at the city’s classy and expensive hotels. These are the venues where you’ll find quiet music, refined clientele and a distinct lack of exposed Thai female flesh (as well as pricey drinks).
Try the bars located within the Royal Orchid Resort in North Pattaya, All Seasons on Pattaya 2nd road, Sheraton in Pattaya Hill and the Dusit Resort and Marriot on Beach road. Customers need not be guests of the hotel to make use of the in-house bar facilities.
Bear in mind that the same hotels are home to high class restaurants and it’s possible therefore to enjoy an entire evening with little more than a short walk from the dining table to the comfort of the bar. Such restaurants have excellent reputations and can get busy in high season, so it pays to book ahead.
