Soi Buakhao is a long, busy road that runs parallel to Second Road through the center of Pattaya. While tourists flock to Walking Street and day-drinkers settle into Soi 6, Soi Buakhao quietly operates as the social backbone for Pattaya’s resident expat community and the growing number of visitors who prefer a more grounded, less performative nightlife experience.
What Makes Soi Buakhao Different
The key difference is authenticity. Soi Buakhao is not a nightlife attraction built for tourists. It is a functioning Thai road lined with businesses, markets, restaurants, massage shops, and — most importantly — dozens of bars that cater to people who actually live in Pattaya. Prices reflect this. Beer starts from 59 to 89 THB at most bars, cocktails rarely exceed 150 THB, and there is virtually no tourist markup anywhere along the strip.
The crowd here is older, more relaxed, and more international than Walking Street. You will find retired expats on their regular stools, digital nomads taking a break from the co-working space, and Thai locals mixing freely with the foreign crowd. It is the kind of place where you can sit alone at a bar and leave with three new friends.
LK Metro
LK Metro is a compact nightlife zone tucked behind Soi Buakhao, accessible through several small sois between Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana. Think of it as a miniature Walking Street without the chaos. The area packs roughly 30 to 40 small bars, a few GoGo bars, and several restaurants into a tight grid of pedestrian-friendly lanes.
The GoGo bars in LK Metro are smaller and more intimate than their Walking Street counterparts. Venues like Champagne and Kiss are popular with regulars who prefer a low-key atmosphere over high-production stage shows. Beer bar complexes like LK Metro Plaza offer open-air seating, pool tables, and a social atmosphere that peaks between 21:00 and midnight.
LK Metro is an excellent alternative for anyone who wants the GoGo bar and beer bar experience without the sensory overload of Walking Street.
Tree Town and Three Town Market
Tree Town is the stretch of Soi Buakhao between Soi Diana and South Pattaya Road where the street becomes particularly dense with bars, restaurants, and street vendors. The energy here picks up in the late afternoon and carries through until well past midnight.
Three Town Market (sometimes called Tree Town Night Market) operates in this area and is worth a visit even if nightlife is not your primary interest. The market sells everything from Thai street food to clothing, souvenirs, and electronics. Food stalls offer pad thai, som tam, grilled meats, and fresh fruit shakes at local prices — 40 to 80 THB for a full meal.
Live Music and Entertainment
Soi Buakhao has one of the best live music scenes in Pattaya. Several bars along the strip feature resident bands playing everything from classic rock and blues to country and Thai pop. The quality is often surprisingly high, with Thai musicians who have been playing the Pattaya circuit for years.
Bars like The Venue and Retox are well known for their nightly live sets, drawing crowds who come specifically for the music rather than the typical bar scene. If live entertainment matters to you, Soi Buakhao delivers more consistently than Walking Street, where DJs and recorded music dominate.
Food Options
Beyond the market stalls, Soi Buakhao has a strong food scene. Thai restaurants serve authentic local dishes at prices that have not been adjusted for foreign wallets. Western restaurants offering burgers, steaks, and full English breakfasts cater to the expat crowd. Indian, Middle Eastern, and Russian restaurants reflect the area’s diverse resident population.
For late-night eating, the street food vendors along Soi Buakhao keep serving well past midnight, which is convenient when the bars close and hunger strikes.
Who It Is For
Soi Buakhao is for anyone who has done Walking Street and Soi 6 and wants something different. It rewards repeat visitors who take the time to find their favorite bar and become a regular. It is ideal for expats, long-stay visitors, and travelers who prioritize genuine social interaction over spectacle. If you are in Pattaya for more than a few days, Soi Buakhao will likely become part of your routine.
Getting There
Soi Buakhao runs north-south through central Pattaya. The easiest way to reach it is by baht bus along Second Road — ask the driver for Soi Buakhao or simply press the buzzer when you see the intersection. Grab rides from Beach Road cost 40 to 70 THB. From most central Pattaya hotels, Soi Buakhao is within walking distance.
The main nightlife activity concentrates between Soi Diana (north end) and South Pattaya Road (south end), roughly a 15-minute walk from end to end.
