What Soi Buakhao is
Soi Buakhao runs north to south, parallel to and inland from Second Road, connecting Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya Road) in the north to Pattaya Tai (South Pattaya Road) in the south. Its official Thai name for one stretch is Pattaya Tai 22, but everyone uses the local name, 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
Soi Buakhao joins Pattaya Klang (Central Pattaya Road) at its north end and Pattaya Tai (South Pattaya Road) at its south end. Use those two junctions to orient yourself: the road bends as it heads south, so “inland” and “towards the beach” are less useful than a named junction.
Pattaya Klang to Tree Town
Starting at Pattaya Klang and heading south, you pass the Soi New Plaza connection before the Soi Made In Thailand junction. Tree Town lies farther south on the west side of Buakhao, around the section north of Soi Honey. These are separate turning points; do not treat all the small lanes as entrances to the same complex.
Soi Honey, LK Metro and Soi Diana
Continuing south, Soi Honey branches west towards Second Road. Next comes the Buakhao entrance to LK Metro, followed farther south by Soi Diana. Diana also connects back to Second Road, while LK Metro bends between Diana and Buakhao. Soi Lengkee branches off on the inland side near the Diana junction.
This middle section is the useful reference point when comparing a hotel advertised as “near LK Metro” with one described simply as “on Buakhao”. Check the actual pin and room position before booking.
Buakhao 15 to Pattaya Tai
Farther south, Buakhao 15 branches towards Second Road. The main road continues southwest, bends by the southern market area and reaches Pattaya Tai. The map also places another Buakhao Market farther north, so ask which market a meeting point refers to. Check market days separately before making a special trip.
For a ride, give the nearest named junction or your hotel’s map pin. “Soi Buakhao” alone covers the whole road, not one drop-off point.
Nightlife on Soi Buakhao
- Beer bars line long stretches of the street. It’s everyday boom boom territory rather than a show.
- Tree Town is an open-air complex further along the street: a covered arcade of small bars, live-music stages and food outlets around a central walkway. It has the feel of a beer garden rather than a strip.
- 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.
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. Check which are close to the particular room you book.
The trade-off is noise: bars run late, and weekends are loudest. 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: Beach Road is under a kilometre to the west.
- Baht buses run along Soi Buakhao itself and cost 15–20 baht, depending on distance (since 10 April 2026).
- 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.