What Soi 6 is
Soi 6, officially Soi Pattaya 6, is one short lane between Beach Road and Second Road in the north of central Pattaya. Small bar frontages run almost unbroken along both sides, each open to the street. Staff sit outside and call passers-by in.
It is known as a “short-time” bar street, the bluntest expression of Pattaya’s boom boom reputation. That directness is the whole appeal for some visitors and the reason others find it overwhelming.
Which end to start from
Soi 6 is one straight lane, about 360 m long, from Beach Road at the sea end to Second Road inland. Walk in from whichever end is nearer and out the other, and you’ve seen it all. Meeting someone? Say “Soi 6, Beach Road end” or “Second Road end”.
When to visit
Our pick for a first look is the afternoon or early evening: you can see the lane in daylight and decide if you want to stop for a drink. For clubs and a longer evening out, compare Walking Street.
Inside a Soi 6 bar
The bars are small: a counter, a few stools, loud music and a handful of staff. Sit down and someone will come to chat, and before long ask you to buy them a drink. Say yes and that’s a lady drink, which costs more than your beer; a friendly no is completely normal.
The slip for each drink usually goes into a small cup on the bar in front of you. Check it before you pay, and settle up before you move on to the next bar.
Walking through if you just want to look
You don’t have to stop anywhere. A smile and “mai ao, khrap” (no thanks) is the polite way to decline; keep walking. If the attention isn’t for you, the beer bars on Soi Buakhao are far more relaxed.
Money
Drinks cost less than on Walking Street, and many bars post their prices. A local beer typically costs about 80–120 baht, less at happy hour. A lady drink, the drink you buy for a member of staff, costs about 140–200 baht. Ask before you accept anything.
Keep control of the bill:
- Check the price before you order anything.
- Pay as you go instead of running a tab.
- Ask for an itemised bill.
- Bring a fixed amount of cash and leave the cards at the hotel.
If a bill is disputed, stay calm, ask for it itemised, pay what is clearly owed and call the Tourist Police on 1155 if you need help.
Dry days
On the five Buddhist holy days most bars stop selling alcohol, so expect a quiet lane. Buddhist holy-day alcohol restrictions have exemptions for qualifying hotels and licensed entertainment venues. The nightlife guide lists the Buddhist holidays affected.
Photography
The street and the signs are fine to photograph; the people working there are not.
Getting there
Soi 6 runs between Beach Road and Second Road, north of Central Pattaya Road. If your hotel is nearby, choose the closer end; otherwise compare a ride. Shared baht buses following the main loop pass the two road ends: southbound on Beach Road, northbound on Second Road. The distances below show how it relates to the rest of the city.