What’s the number one thing on most Pattaya visitors’ mind? Why, Walking Street, of course! This once quiet section of town has been thrust into the international spotlight and is now THE place to be every night of the week.
Walking Street is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. The street is packed with seafood restaurants, pubs, go-go bars, clubs, live music venues and a whole lot of other places that’ll help you melt away your stress.
The famous Walking Street starts at the south end of Beach Road and runs down to the Bali Hai Pier. The entire strip is closed off to traffic from six at night until two in the morning- although many places actually keep the party going much, much later than that.
Ready for an amazing night out? Here’s a quick overview of everything that you should know before hitting the street.
Step One: Fill Your Stomach
The best way to start a great night out is with a meal. If you are feeling truly adventurous, your first stop is a street food stall on Walking Street. Grab a few deep fried cockroaches and scorpions then some sugar-dipped mealworms and beetles for dessert. Or a nice fish taco will fill you up too. If you eat streetside, you can easily fill up for well under 75 baht. While there are some amazing, authentic Thai street stalls out there, there is also a lot of crap. Don’t be shy about doing a quick visual inspection before you order. Some places are spotless and making a real effort to make delicious and safe food. Others don’t really care. Don’t be shy about walking away from a place that looks dirty.
If you are looking for a place to relax over dinner, head to the Beer Garden. It’s one of the most popular spots in town and is always ready with a lovely, affordable meal. They are open from ten in the morning until two in the morning so stop there for any meal and a lovely view. Swiss Food Restaurant European & Thai Kitchen is another new addition to town and a great spot to grab some familiar food. They are open from four in the afternoon until midnight and they’ve got free wifi so it’s a good place for break if you’ve been doing the tourist thing for a few hours already.
Step Two: Grab a Drink
There is no shortage of places to grab a drink on Walking Street but if you are looking for something more pub style, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled. The Blues Factory is a nice place to get away from the typical club music. There are big name Thai as well as international musicians there every night of the week playing a range of rock and blue music. For a different sort of vibe, get over to Goodfellas. The classic decor, pool tables and American atmosphere, make it a top pick for international visitors.
Step Three: Dance the Night Away
You couldn’t count the number of place to hit the dancefloor on Walking Street. While everything is worth a look and drink specials abound, some places are a bit better than others. The two most popular spots on Walking Street are Club Insomnia and Walking Street Club. For a seriously impressive lineup of international DJs, head to Club Insomnia’s iClub. When you are ready to relax with the locals, go down to Walking Street Club and party until the sun comes up.
Related: Nice places in Thailand
