Quick answer
Evenings in Pattaya start with sunset, between 17:45 and 18:50 depending on the season, on the beach or Pratumnak Hill. Night markets open from about 17:00 to 23:00, hotel rooftop bars from 16:00 or 17:00, and cabaret shows from 17:00. A local beer costs 100 to 180 THB in a bar and a rooftop cocktail 300 to 500 THB. Baht buses cost 15 THB and run until about midnight.
Pattaya faces west across the Gulf of Thailand, so the whole bay turns towards the sunset and the evening begins on the seafront. Beach Road follows the bay from the Dolphin Roundabout in the north to Walking Street and Bali Hai Pier in the south. Pratumnak Hill rises behind the pier, and Jomtien's long beach runs south from its far side. Most of what follows sits along that line.
What time is sunset in Pattaya and where should you watch it?
| Months | Season | Sunset | Be in place by |
|---|---|---|---|
| November to January | Cool and dry | 17:45 to 18:15 | 17:15 |
| February to April | Dry, turning hot | 18:15 to 18:30 | 17:45 |
| May to August | Hot, then rainy | 18:30 to 18:50 | 18:00 |
| September to October | Rainy | 17:50 to 18:30 | 17:20 |
- Pattaya Beach promenade: free and always open. The northern end, near the Dolphin Roundabout, is the quietest. The posted rate is 50 THB for a deckchair and 100 THB for a lounger.
- Khao Phra Tamnak viewpoint on Pratumnak Hill: the classic view over the curve of the bay and the city lights coming on. Entry is free. A Grab or Bolt car from the centre takes 10 to 15 minutes.
- Jomtien Beach and the Dongtan promenade: the sun drops straight into the sea, with space to walk and far fewer people.
- Clifftop restaurants on Pratumnak: The Sky Gallery, on the seaward side of the hill, is a clifftop garden restaurant facing west over the sea. Arrive well before sunset for a table at the edge.
The hilltop pairs with the temple described in the Big Buddha and Pratumnak viewpoint guide, close by.
Which night markets are worth an evening?
- Thepprasit Night Market, on Thepprasit Road near Sukhumvit Road: the largest, open Friday to Sunday from about 17:00 to 23:00. Clothes, accessories and household goods at the front, a long food section behind with grilled seafood, skewers, pad thai, papaya salad and mango sticky rice.
- Jomtien Night Market, on Jomtien Beach Road around Soi 9: open daily from about 17:00 to 23:00, with food stalls and tables across the road from the beach. An easy dinner after a beach day.
- Pattaya Night Bazaar, on Second Road in the centre: a covered arcade of fixed stalls selling souvenirs, clothes and luggage, open daily from about 10:00 to 23:00 and liveliest from 16:00. Useful in the rain.
- Runway Street Food, on Second Road in the centre: food stalls around a retired jumbo jet, open daily from about 16:00 to 01:00, with The View Pattaya observation wheel beside it.
- Tree Town, on Soi Buakhao: a covered market of food stalls and small bars with live music most evenings, at its liveliest late and aimed at adults.
Street food dishes cost mostly 40 to 80 THB. Carry small notes, as most stalls take cash or Thai QR payment only. Stall-by-stall advice is in night markets in Pattaya, and the dishes to look for in what to eat in Pattaya.
Where are the rooftop and beachfront bars?
Hotel rooftops give the widest views of the bay, and the two below are on Beach Road itself. Other tall hotels in Pattaya and Jomtien have sky bars of their own, some with an entry charge that is credited against drinks. Dress is smart casual, not beachwear, and open terraces close in heavy rain.
- Horizon, on level 34 of the Hilton Pattaya above the Central Pattaya mall: a rooftop restaurant and bar with a view over the whole bay, open daily from 16:00 to 01:00. Reserve a few days ahead for a sunset table at weekends.
- Rooftop Terrace at the Holiday Inn Pattaya, on level 25 of the Executive Tower at the north end of Beach Road: open daily from 17:00 to 23:00, with a happy hour from 19:00 to 21:00.
At sand level, Jomtien Beach Road has open-fronted bars and restaurants with tables facing the water. On the Pattaya Beach side, hotel terraces along Beach Road serve the same purpose. Menus at hotel bars usually add 10% service and 7% VAT to the listed price.
Where can you hear live music?
Cover bands are the standard: rock, pop and soul classics played well, from about 20:00 until late. Entry is free and you pay through the drinks.
- Hot Tuna and The Stones House, on Walking Street: two long-running live-music bars with rock cover bands, open to the street.
- Rock Factory, on Soi Buakhao: rock with rotating bands and tribute nights, and a kitchen.
- Lisa on the Beach, on Beach Road: an air-conditioned bar facing the sea, with several rock acts each evening.
- Tree Town, on Soi Buakhao: several small bars with bands under one roof.
What is Walking Street like, and should you take children?
Walking Street is a pedestrian street about 500 metres long that runs from the south end of Beach Road to Bali Hai Pier. It closes to vehicles every evening from about 19:00 until the early hours. It is lined with open-fronted seafood restaurants towards the pier end, live-music bars, clubs and street performers under neon signs, and from 21:00 it is crowded and very loud.
It is a nightlife street aimed at adults. A walk from end to end takes fifteen minutes and is something many visitors do once, early in the evening, for the spectacle and a seafood dinner. With children, skip it late at night: go before 20:00 if you go at all, or choose one of the family evenings below. Clubs check ID, and the legal drinking age in Thailand is 20.
What are good family-friendly evenings?
- Sunset on Jomtien Beach, then dinner at the Jomtien Night Market.
- The Pratumnak viewpoint at dusk, then a seafood restaurant on the hill.
- An early cabaret show: 17:00 at Alcazar or 18:00 at Tiffany's, out by 19:15.
- Thepprasit Night Market on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday for food and browsing.
- A mall evening in the rain: Terminal 21 or Central Pattaya, both with food courts and cinemas under one roof.
Show times, seats and prices are in the cabaret shows guide.
How much does an evening out cost in Pattaya?
| Drink and place | Price (THB) |
|---|---|
| Local beer in a bar or beach restaurant | 100 to 180 |
| Local beer in a convenience store | 40 to 60 |
| Cocktail, hotel rooftop | 300 to 500 |
| Street food dish at a night market | 40 to 80 |
| Deckchair or lounger, Pattaya Beach | 50 or 100 |
| Baht bus ride | 15, or 20 beyond 10 km |
| App car, short trip in the centre | 60 to 150 |
Happy hours in the early evening bring rooftop prices down. Read the menu before ordering, check whether prices include service and tax, and check the bill against what you ordered before paying.
How do you get home safely at night?
- Baht buses loop along Beach Road and Second Road until about midnight for 15 THB, or 20 THB beyond 10 km, thinning out after 22:00. Ring the bell to stop and pay the driver as you get off.
- Late at night, book a Grab or Bolt car: the fare is fixed in the app before you ride. Rides across town cost 60 to 250 THB.
- Motorbike taxis cost 40 to 80 THB for short hops. Agree the fare first, wear the helmet the driver hands you, and do not ride one after drinking heavily.
- Never drive or ride a rented motorbike after drinking.
- Keep your drink in sight, keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket in crowds, and carry your hotel's address in Thai.
- Tourist Police: 1155, around the clock, in English. Medical emergency: 1669.
More on fares is in getting around Pattaya, and on common tricks to avoid in scams and safety in Pattaya.
Frequently asked
- What time do bars close in Pattaya?
- Licensed entertainment venues in Pattaya's nightlife zones may stay open until 04:00, and ordinary bars and restaurants serve until about midnight. Hotel rooftops close earlier, between 23:00 and 01:00 depending on the hotel. Night markets wind down at about 23:00. For a quiet night's sleep, check that your hotel is not on Walking Street, Soi Buakhao or the south end of Beach Road.
- Is Pattaya enjoyable in the evening if you do not drink?
- Yes. Sunset on the beach or Pratumnak Hill, the night markets, the cabaret theatres, seafood restaurants in Jomtien and Naklua, and the malls on Beach Road and Second Road fill an evening without a bar. Fresh fruit shakes, coconut water and iced Thai tea are sold at every market, and hotel bars serve alcohol-free cocktails.
- Is it safe to walk around Pattaya at night?
- The main streets are busy and well lit until late. Use the normal precautions of any resort city: stay on lit streets, avoid the beach itself after midnight, do not carry your passport or much cash, and take an app-booked car for longer trips. The Tourist Police answer on 1155.
