13 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

 

 

 

thaisabai where is Koh Lan?  Assume you mean Koh Larn.

 

 

anyone who actually stays in Pattaya knows the name koh larn or koh lan are interchangeable

Ignore the naysayers, rabid bashers, and Chicken Littles. Basically you can do most of what you could previously do but more selectively given the closures. And some things are better than they've been in a long time because of fewer tourists crowding in. These threads contain numerous suggestions:  When boredom starts to rule the day, I Love Pattaya, and Why live in Pattaya?. Ladies love shopping and since you're bring the gf, she'll love T21. Some good food there, too. Arno's has one of the best burgers.

     As others have said, there are island trips, the aquarium, and Tiger Park.  Silver Lake.  My partner and I had a very nice day at Nong Nooch Gardens last week--really beautiful and not crowded with tourists.   There is Legend Siam near Nong Nooch that looks nice but I haven't been to it yet.   Floating Market.  Terminal 21. Dolphinarium. 

    Cafe Pascal is good and there are other restaurants all over.  Chocolate Factory is fun by Cosy Beach.   Back Fabrik in Jomtien has breakfast selections and German and Thai dishes, as well as a bakery.   Lots of seafood restaurants by the ocean--including ones in Wong Amat and Naklua, not far from Dusit.  There is a new restaurant across the street from Dusit called Beach Quarters, next to Amari.  Have a nice trip.  

2 hours ago, kingstonkid said:

am going for New Years if they do not close the place with lockdown and will let you know.

If you look at todays news from the Pattaya mayor. You will see that he has canceled all new year celebration. That's on the internet Thai news. In English. It's still open as of today, but no fireworks ETC. Said it would be impossible to control crowds. There are other bits. That is on U/Tube fabulous 103fm. News flash. And before peeps say it's B/S go look.   

something is kicking off, all news agencies are converting a govt news release to English. My condo has received the news

Cafe Des Amis as other mentioned.

I live at Cosy beach...go to Pattaya reguarly...its definitely N O T a ghost town....if youve been there recently...

I dont know how you can say that....

Some areas much quieter,sure..

Soi Buakhou,is quite lively.

 

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

anyone who actually stays in Pattaya knows the name koh larn or koh lan are interchangeable

 

I don't know about that. I've only ever been to Koh Laan.

24 minutes ago, murraynz said:

I live at Cosy beach...go to Pattaya reguarly...its definitely N O T a ghost town....if youve been there recently...

I dont know how you can say that....

Some areas much quieter,sure..

Soi Buakhou,is quite lively.

 

My long time friend and Pattaya resident of at least 30 years took a dander around Buakhao and Chaiyaphum for the first time since in about 4 months and said it was "underwhelming" compared to the Pattaya of our hedonistic youth. It's probably awesome for those with a low threshold of excitement or live their lives vicariously through the stories of others.

4 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

My long time friend and Pattaya resident of at least 30 years took a dander around Buakhao and Chaiyaphum for the first time since in about 4 months and said it was "underwhelming" compared to the Pattaya of our hedonistic youth. It's probably awesome for those with a low threshold of excitement or live their lives vicariously through the stories of others.

There's a pandemic going on, clearly it won't be as busy as pre covid and the good ole days

Terminal 21 at the dolphin roundabout has lots of very acceptable restaurants --- over twenty and stacks of other shops and facilities AND the Sandbar restaurant in Jomtien is excellent with many live music nights .  

I like the restaurants Youpin's, Akvavit, La Bocca and Simple Simon (for English breakfast). All in Jomtien.

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

You're not right, Walking St is good if you pick the right places, you seem to be just looking for closed places. Soi Buakhao at night is buzzing. High Season? you realise there's a pandemic? 

It was there again this month and not "dead".

Must admit that I was not hunting for Michelin stars.

More like the cheap charlie Soi Buakhao/LK Metro area.

Bars, gogos, live music.

Some top WS gogos are open.

More than enough for a week.

(I didn't miss the crowds and jams of a usual December peak season)

I enjoyed the "quiet" situation, able to scoot here and there without hassle.

Even to the dark side is a breeze.

Areca Lodge for 900 Baht incl. breakfast in December!

(if only they had a pool heating )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

anyone who actually stays in Pattaya knows the name koh larn or koh lan are interchangeable

So funny if such a thread drifts to a useless transcript bickering.

It's Ko Lan, also known as Koh Larn, Ko Laan... (add yours).

I stay around Soi Buakhao in Thaivisa also found as Baukhoa Bhoakow Bokhao Bokhow Boocow Bouakao Boycow Buakaow Buakhaw Buakhou Buakhow Bukaew Bukahao Bukhao Bukouw Bukow Bourkhao

Old Nomad - FYI - Aquavit closed some time ago

not as bad as some are painting it .. yep loads of places closed ..bit how many do you want ..soi B  LK metro stuff still going on .. restaurant still open snack open ....not the same Pattaya but still good ...     

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

My long time friend and Pattaya resident of at least 30 years took a dander around Buakhao and Chaiyaphum for the first time since in about 4 months and said it was "underwhelming" compared to the Pattaya of our hedonistic youth. It's probably awesome for those with a low threshold of excitement or live their lives vicariously through the stories of others.

It’s nice to hear the truth, not from others trying to convince themselves and others that things are great and have never been better 

If you just paid for flights to UTP airport I would change your destination to Koh Chang instead. Pattaya is to go to single, not in a relationship hehe.

 

With some luck it will be like a private island and beach there. Might be a once in a lifetime chance after all..

Hate to bust your chops scuba, but most don’t come to pattaya to hang on Soi bigcow with a bunch of drunkin 70 year olds. I guess everyone has their own definition of excitement. 
enjoy yourself!

11 hours ago, fredob43 said:

It's high season and there's not a sole about. Walking street is as good a closed. M/Shops those that are open are empty. Bars yes, some open but again Not a customer about, fine if you want to sit in and empty bar watching the ladies playing connect 4.  Ko Lan might be ok, cant comment on that, as I said we left asap. So didn't do it, but if it's anything like the rest of Pattaya I would give it a miss.   

I would relymore on the people who live here for advice, not from day trippers. As others have said, it is much quieter than this time last year but definitley not dead. Water is cleaner, roads are quieter. I would recommend a trip down Jomtien. Quite a bit  busier than Pattaya and only a 10baht bus ride or short car journey away. The seafood restaurants at the end of Beach Rd, Jomtiem are very busy most nights but the weekends are really busy.

14 hours ago, 1fortheroad said:

So my plans might change depending on the virus, but I plan to head to Pattaya in early January. 

 

Will probably take the girlfriend.

 

I’m looking for recommendations on:

- what is the absolute best restaurant in Pattaya, higher end/fine dining (if possible)

- Best place for an English breakfast?

- Best place for selection of beers (I like imported/craft beers)

 

- Good day time activity to take the girlfriend and her niece

 

I'll be staying at the Dusit Thani but I have a car so transport is not a problem.

 

Thank you

One of the best fine dining restaurants is Cafe des Amis. 

6 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Hate to bust your chops scuba, but most don’t come to pattaya to hang on Soi bigcow with a bunch of drunkin 70 year olds. I guess everyone has their own definition of excitement. 
enjoy yourself!

You are just negative, we can see that, maybe you left and are bitter. Pattaya has many things to offer that's the beauty of it, not just bars and agogos

18 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Bring the whole family and enjoy the endless world class family facilities!

It is also the world center of sporting activities as we have been told.

Well, you can start off with breakfast at the Dusit....they have a pretty nice breakfast buffet.....or head down Soi Buakhao near Soi 15 and stop into Nicky’s for the monster feed (see photo).  After head to Koh LAN for a lazy day on an empty beach.  Night life is pretty much restricted to the Soi LK Metro area of town....pretty much jumping all the time after 7pm or head to Maibrew at the A1 Hotel on Beach Road?  Terminal 21 will give you a good selection of eats on the top floor as well?  I think the Hilton EDGE and Horizion Bar are open as well?  Since you have the car go and sniff out along Jomtien Beach....the Sandbar would be nice for dinner and quiet for sure.  The town is far from dead unless you hang near Soi 7 or 8......it is VERY QUIET for the most part and certainly not Bangkok, but you should not be too bored.....ask the kind ladies at the Dusit front desk...they just might steer you to parts unknown.....????????????????????????????????????

24 minutes ago, chicowoodduck said:

Well, you can start off with breakfast at the Dusit....they have a pretty nice breakfast buffet.....

Do you know for a fact that they are still offering the buffet?

I have been disappointed at a few hotels lately that have dispensed with buffets as they really don't have sufficient custom to justify the effort. And many will agree, a hotel buffet, or monster feed as you show from Nickys, is what many look for... A hotel standard serving of an undercooked snotty fried egg or two, warmed up slices of boiled ham and a deep fried butterflied hot dog  with toast served up 10 minutes prior, gone cold, isn't good enough. . 

Rent a Gogo bar. 

 

 

  

Pattaya is such a dump anyways.RIP.

 

Why not this opportunity to visit a nice place in Thailand, like Koh phi phi or phangang etc. sans tourists?

It's like no one even reads past the first sentence in the OP's post.

He's probably bringing his g/f, so presumably not looking for P4P fun and not looking to hang around LK Metro with a bunch of mooches that are 1 viagra away from pauper's ceremony at the local temple.

He's looking for "the best restaurant", the "best selection of beers" and the "best English breakfast". (Most of those are debateable as one man's slop is another man's banquet.)

He's staying at the Dusit, not some fleabag, pay by the hour flop on Soi 6. 

He has a car so he probably won't be needing baht buses to get to Jomtien (and I'm guessing he won't be flying from Bangkok to U-Tapao either).

As I said before, I'm not a beer drinker so I can't advise on that. Not a fan of the "English Breakfast" either. TripAdvisor list the "top 10 English Pubs in Pattaya" (and gives you 48 choices) - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g293919-c7-Pattaya_Chonburi_Province.html

One of the things I've always liked about Pattaya (and the general area around it) is that there is pretty much something for everyone, regardless of what you are into.
Some people live to go to the beach and do "water stuff" (Sailing, snorkelling, diving, wind/kite surfing, jet skis). 
Some like the "tourist attractions" like the Crocodile Farm, Elephant ranch, Dolphinarium, Magical Frost of Siam, Nong Nooch Gardens, etc.
Some like the shopping (Central Festival, Central Marina, Terminal 21, The Avenue, etc) or the wide variety of dining options.
Some like the nightlife (discos, beer bars, go-gos, karaokes).
Some may like "ATV adventures" or paintball or bunji jumping or bowling or go karts or water parks.

The hard part is trying to suggest things for a complete stranger to do when he/she/they are here, especially when you don't know what they are into. There are so many options beyond "sitting in a beer bar on LK Metro wishing you could afford to go into a go-go bar and barfine one of the hot dancers".
(Luckily the soi is already named otherwise, in Thai style, they'd probably call it "Soi Geriatric Ward".)

Of course, if the OP has specific interests he could always google those and see if there are any in the area and then ask if anyone has any experience with them. Some people here have probably visited some of the "touristy" attractions around the city outside of Walking Street and Soi 6.

Sheesh, I've been here for years and haven't gone to half the "tourist" attractions around the city. Far less than half actually. It seems almost every time I ride around the city (or Darkside) I spot some attraction I never noticed before. Most hold little interest for me but might be just the thing someone else is looking for.

If you knew what they were interested in of course.


 

20 hours ago, fredob43 said:

We booked for 3 nights left after 36 hours.

 

What happened, did you run out of money staying in that top end guesthouse called Sutus court? Not surprised you were the only ones staying there, its a complete dump, plenty of better hotels around with deals.

4 hours ago, elgenon said:

It is also the world center of sporting activities as we have been told.

Are you aware of sporting activities in and around Pattaya? even Saturday they had bird racing, no not agogo girls, but cockatoos and mackaws. It was quite a sight when i walked past Bali Hai on Saturday