Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [188]
La Baguette French Bakery (Map; 0 3842 1707; 164/1 Th Naklua; crêpes from 120B; breakfast, lunch & dinner; ) Part of the Woodlands Resort, this cool, sleek cafe has yummy pastries, good espresso, and even better crêpes. You can also link into its wi-fi network.
Tequila Reef (Map; 0 3841 4035; Soi 7, Th Hat Pattaya; dishes 220-310B; lunch & dinner) Mexican cantina meets Californian surf shack in this buzzy restaurant that dispenses Pattaya’s best margaritas. It’s popular with the lads from the United States Navy who probably know a thing or two about a good burrito.
Mantra (Map; 0 3842 9591; Th Hat Pattaya; dishes 240-800B; dinner Mon-Sat, brunch & dinner Sun; ) Ceilings several stories high and staff that memorise your name: Mantra is fun even if you can only afford a classy cocktail. The bar is swathed in raw silk and the expansive dining room is cloaked in dark wood. The menu combines Japanese, Thai and Indian flavours, and there’s a big cocktail list and more than 20 wines by the glass.
Drinking
Despite the profusion of noisy, identikit beer bars, go-go bars and nightclubs in this town, there are still some good places for a no-strings-attached drink.
Hopf Brew House (Map; 0 3871 0650; Th Hat Pattaya 219; 3pm-1am Sun-Fri, 4pm-2am Sat; ) Moodily authentic in dark wood, the Hopf Brew House is a haven for middle-aged beer aficionados and splurging Scandinavian backpackers. A very drinkable pilsner and a wheat beer are brewed on site, and you can smell the hops when you walk in. Huge wood-fired pizzas and only slightly smaller schnitzels are recommended to soak up the liquid hospitality.
Gulliver’s (Map; 0 3871 0641; Th Hat Pattaya; 11.30am-2am; ) The classy ornamental pool outside belies the laid-back sports-bar vibe inside. At the northern end of Pattaya, cavernous Gulliver’s has free wi-fi internet and a big Thai and Western menu. Before 7pm, take advantage of happy hour with discounted beer and cocktails.
Green Bottles (Map; 0 3842 9675; 216/6-20 Th Pattaya 2; 11am-2am; ) Charmingly cosy and retro (you can even request your favourite songs from the band), Green Bottles has been on the scene since 1988 and is one of Pattaya’s more traditional pubs. The dim lights mean it’s good for easing into another night’s carousing with an early evening hair of the dog.
Entertainment
Merry-making in Pattaya, aside from the sex scene, means everything from hanging out in a video bar to dancing all night in a south Pattaya disco. The best place to start is Th Hat Pattaya. At its southern end, this main drag becomes Walking St, a semi-pedestrianised area with bars and clubs for every predilection. Nearby ‘Pattaya Land’ encompasses Soi 1, 2 and 3 and is packed with go-go bars. The many gay bars on Soi 3 are announced by a sign reading ‘Boyztown’. Around Hat Dongtan at the northern end of Hat Jomtien there is another burgeoning gay scene.
CLUBS & CABARETS
Tony’s (Map; 0 3842 5795; www.tonydisco.com; 139/15 Walking St; admission free; 8.30pm-2.30am; ) You’ll either love or hate this supernova monument to nocturnal nirvana. A pumping neon-saturated disco complete with white plastic benches, karaoke and pool tables blend with a good-value buffet, strong cocktails and live music.
Tiffany’s (Map; 0 3842 1700; www.tiffany-show.co.th; 464 Mu 9, Th Pattaya 2; admission 500-800B; from 6pm; ) Established in 1974, Pattaya’s leading transvestite cabaret is a remarkably chaste affair, oozing old-school showbiz charm and covering the globe in a fast-paced show lasting 75 minutes. The absolutely fabulous parade of sequins, satin and surprises begins at 6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm.
Blues Factory (Map; 0 3830 0180; www.thebluesfactorypattaya.com; Soi Lucky Star; admission free; from 8.30pm; ) Off Walking St, Pattaya’s best venue for no-nonsense live music features at least two bands every night, and a hassle-free atmosphere just metres from the heavier hype of its close neighbours.
CINEMAS
Royal Theatre Cinema (Map; 0 3842 8057; shop C30, 2nd fl, Royal Garden Plaza, Th Pattaya 2; admission 200B) Get away from the stall