Just back from a short trip to Pattaya. Many of you will already know this but I thought i would just say how wonderful a drink at the sky bar at the Hilton Hotel is. For a modest amount of money one can have a truly unforgettable drink - the view, setting, etc is out of this world. Definitely something for any visitor to Pattaya imo.

Comparable experiences exist in Bangkok (which must be the world capital of sky bars) and there is the sky bar at the Hilton in Hua Hin but for me the view across Pattaya Bay beats all of them.

The broader point is that many people (mistakenly) think Pattaya (sex aside) is a complete dump with no redeeming features. Imo it has the best proper pubs in Thailand (P&W, Berts, Dicey Rileys), one of the best restaurants in the country (Mantra), a great shopping centre (Central Festival), great golf and a really diverse expat scene. And it is an easy place to get around (unlike Phuket or HH). Of course it has many problems which have been well discussed but that is true of any city in Thailand.

Dicey Riley's is basically a pub themed hotel food outlet so wouldn't call it an authentic pub. Mantra is a pretentious and over-priced dive. The Pig and Whistle and Tropical Berts are nice. Agree that Central Beach mall and the Hilton on top are very nice and have some good food and beverage outlets.

Will the topic of this post fool the haters into thinking this is just an innocent post? Methinks not! They will have smelt the positivity and are, at this moment baying like hounds to the moon as they get ready to turn this into another trashing session for Pattaya.

BTW I agree totally with the OP. So sue me.

Dicey Riley's is basically a pub themed hotel food outlet so wouldn't call it an authentic pub. Mantra is a pretentious and over-priced dive. The Pig and Whistle and Tropical Berts are nice. Agree that Central Beach mall and the Hilton on top are very nice and have some good food and beverage outlets.

A good analysis.

Dicey Riley's is basically a pub themed hotel food outlet so wouldn't call it an authentic pub. Mantra is a pretentious and over-priced dive. The Pig and Whistle and Tropical Berts are nice. Agree that Central Beach mall and the Hilton on top are very nice and have some good food and beverage outlets.

A good analysis.

Please elaborate on why you both consider Mantra a "dive". Pretentious and over-priced maybe but a dive.......?

The Sky Bar atop the Hilton is very chill,

but I also enjoy the lounge below it, with the huge bean bag type couch / chairs outside the bar on the veranda,

awesome views.

The Sky Bar has the best view of Pattaya I've seen so far. A great place to chill out after stuffing yourself at the Hilton buffet. No tank tops and tattoos in sight, and the h@@kers there are drop dead gorgeous (not that I'm looking ).

Elaborate on "a modest amount of money".

The Sky Bar has the best view of Pattaya I've seen so far. A great place to chill out after stuffing yourself at the Hilton buffet. No tank tops and tattoos in sight, and the h@@kers there are drop dead gorgeous (not that I'm looking ).

Those were the ladyboys.

The Sky Bar has the best view of Pattaya I've seen so far. A great place to chill out after stuffing yourself at the Hilton buffet. No tank tops and tattoos in sight, and the h@@kers there are drop dead gorgeous (not that I'm looking ).

Those were the ladyboys.

Well, I'm seriously not into ladyboys, but if they were, even I would be tempted!