Running from Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya Road) to Pattaya Tai (South Pattaya Road), this 1.7km stretch of bars, restaurants, shops, and budget hotels has become one of Pattaya’s most popular tourist spots.

Soi Buakhao, for a long time, was known for its various night markets, cheap eateries, budget guesthouses and hotels, as well as a host of small beer bars dotted along its path.

Amidst the pandemic, when many of Pattaya’s other streets, such as Walking Street or Soi 6, experienced a significant decrease in visitors, Soi Buakhao came into its own. Restrictions on alcohol sales and rising operating costs forced larger bars to suspend or cease operations entirely. However, numerous bars along Soi Buakhao managed to stay open, primarily because they offered food and were categorized as restaurants.

The rise of Tree Town, particularly its open-air evening food market, further contributed to Soi Buakhao’s appeal during the pandemic restrictions.

Today, Tree Town stands as one of the highlights along Soi Buakhao, drawing crowds and enhancing the area’s popularity. Its proximity to LK Metro and other entertainment venues makes Soi Buakhao a self-sufficient hub within Pattaya, eliminating the need for visitors to venture elsewhere in the city.

What sets Soi Buakhao apart from many of Pattaya’s other well-known streets is its remaining traditional charm, and we’re not talking about ornate wooden houses or temples, but how life just continues as normal amidst all the bars and nighttime partying.

During the day, the markets are open selling fresh fruit, veg and meats, all manner of street foods on offer plus some of Pattaya’s best English breakfasts. It’s a popular spot for an afternoon beer, to just sit and watch the world go by or grab a massage to get out of the heat.

In contrast, areas like Walking Street and Soi 6 primarily come alive after dark, with limited activity during the day.

Walking Street is not much more than the quickest way to the pier before dark! 

Although the pandemic gave Soi Buakhao its opportunity to step out of the shadow of Walking Street, Soi Buakhao’s popularity was subtly on the rise for quite some time before the pandemic.

Due to ever-increasing visitor numbers along Walking Street, which led to ever-increasing rents and in turn drink prices and bar fines, many long-standing repeat visitors to Pattaya and resident expats had already made the shift to LK Metro, which for some time has been home to some of Pattaya’s best GoGo Bars.

Ironically, Walking Street’s own success and popularity turned into its biggest burden during the pandemic yet provided Soi Buakhao with everything it needed to shine.

One of the biggest factors to Soi Buakhao’s success following excessive rents in Walking Street and its pre-pandemic hidden gem status are the side sois that branch off of the main Soi Buakhao.

Many of these sois have such a history and so many bars that line them that they have become destinations in their own right.

Streets like Soi Made in Thailand, which is known for its small beer bars, or Soi Pothole with its collection of Gentlemen’s Club-style bars, and of course LK Metro, with the second-highest concentration of GoGo Bars after Walking Street.

Along Soi Buakhao, we have listed over 90 bars, but including all the adjoining sois, we have more than 300 bars currently listed. Which is over 100 more bars than we have for Walking Street and Soi 6 combined!

So if you’re planning a trip to Pattaya in 2024, you may well consider staying on or near Soi Buakhao.

For travelers planning a visit to Pattaya, Soi Buakhao offers a range of accommodation options, transport accessibility, and a vibrant atmosphere. However, potential downsides such as late-night noise and traffic congestion should be considered.

All in all, the number and variety of bars that are located along the soi, from sports bars to music bars, GoGo bars, and Beer Bars. Breakfast spots, afternoon options from aircon coffee shops to traditional and not so traditional Thai massage establishments. A generous selection of Cannabis Cafes and pretty much 24hr food options, all within 800 – 900 meters of the beach at any given point, Soi Buakhao is a great option.