What Soi Buakhao is
Soi Buakhao runs north to south, a few blocks inland and parallel to Second Road. You may see the southern stretch called Pattaya Tai 22, but everyone calls the whole road Buakhao.
It’s a working street rather than a pretty one. It has hotels and guesthouses, restaurants, bars, massage shops, laundries, pharmacies, tailors, gyms, minimarts and pool halls. It’s the functional part of town that serves residents and repeat visitors.
The street from north to south
Buakhao starts at Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya Road) and ends at Pattaya Tai (South Pattaya Road), bending as it goes. People give directions by the side sois, so it pays to know them in order.
The north end. From Pattaya Klang you pass Soi New Plaza, then Soi Made In Thailand. There’s a Buakhao market up this end.
The middle, Tree Town to Soi Diana. Tree Town is on the west side, just before Soi Honey. Then come the Buakhao entrance to LK Metro and Soi Diana, which runs west to Second Road, with Soi Lengkee branching off the other side near the Diana corner. This is the heart of Buakhao’s nightlife. If a hotel says it’s “near LK Metro”, this is the stretch it means; check the pin.
The south end. Past Buakhao 15 the road swings southwest, past the southern market, to Pattaya Tai. With a market at each end, say which one when you arrange to meet, and check the market days before you make a special trip.
For a ride, give the nearest side soi or your hotel’s pin. “Soi Buakhao” alone could mean anywhere along the road.
Nightlife on Soi Buakhao
- Beer bars line long stretches of the street. It’s everyday boom boom territory rather than a show.
- Tree Town, on the west side just north of Soi Honey, is a beer-garden-style complex: small bars, live-music stages and food stalls around a central walkway.
- LK Metro, off the middle section, adds the go-go bars and a denser strip.
What drinks cost
This is one of the cheapest places in central Pattaya for a drink. In the beer bars, a local beer typically costs about 70–90 baht and a lady drink about 150–180 baht. Happy hours bring beer lower still. On the five Buddhist holy days most bars stop selling alcohol; the nightlife guide lists the days.
A day on Soi Buakhao
Mornings are for the markets and breakfast cafés. Afternoons are for errands: laundry, pharmacies, tailors, a massage. By evening the beer bars fill up and Tree Town’s stages start. It’s one of the few Pattaya streets that works as well at 10am as at 10pm.
Staying here
It’s the value base: shops, food and services share the street with the nightlife, so everyday errands are close by.
The trade-off is noise: bars and live music can run late. Pavements are poor too, with high kerbs, obstructions and motorbikes. Ask for a high floor at the back.
Long stays
Soi Buakhao is a favourite with long-stayers. Many guesthouses and condos here rent by the month, and everyday costs are among the lowest in central Pattaya.
- Ask for the monthly rate. Compare the full monthly total with paying by the night.
- Check what’s included. Ask how electricity, water, cleaning and deposits are charged.
- See the room first if you can, and check the noise at night, not just at noon.
Getting around from here
- To the beach: choose a westbound soi towards Second Road, then Beach Road. Check the route from your own end of Buakhao.
- Baht buses run north up Second Road, a few blocks west, and cost 15–20 baht, depending on distance.
- At night, check a ride-hailing pickup point and fare before heading back from Walking Street.
- Other streets: the distances below show how far Soi 6, Walking Street and Jomtien are.