Pattaya is just 90 minutes South of Bangkok in Thailand. It’s a favourite area for residents of the capital city to go and spend weekends. Known for its beaches and fun vibe, it gets plenty of tourists from the rest of the World looking for beach holidays. Pattaya is also famous for its reputation as “Sin City”.

With a prominent and noted sex scene, Walking Street has become a mecca for tourists looking for female company.

The Americans started it. The nearby Airforce Base was set up in the Vietnam War, and the Aircrew visited Pattaya for R&R. They soon found the local girls were happy to fulfil their base needs, and Walking Street grew.

From an original row of wooden huts, it is now a brightly lit and well known street, full of gogo bars and girly pubs. However Pattaya also has a major gay scene based around two areas; Boyztown, glitzy, glamorous and top priced, and Sunee Plaza, vibrant, alive and far more friendly, down-to-earth and approachable.

Sunee Plaza is a largely undiscovered gem in the gay crown. Tucked away, it is located just down Soi V.C. off 2^nd road. This is an erotic, exciting area that misses out on the tourist traffic it deserves.

Here’s a map of the location, courtesy of www.SuneePlaza.info

What’s here?

Sunee Plaza has an amazing collection of venues for you to choose from.  There are over 20 different beer bars, where you can enjoy a sit down. There are also around a dozen gogo bars.

It also has three boutique guesthouses, two hotels and one set of apartments to rent in the immediate area. All cater for a gay client and will not mind at all if you bring a guest back.

There are many eateries ranging from places that do set menus, snacks or small meals; to grand dining places. There are many ethnic places to eat. And don't forget three nice Thai restaurants which provide cheap local food.

There are also all the service shops you could require, from laundries to pharmacies; from Internet shops to small supermarkets. Anything you need can be found in the local area. 

There are some highlight places and I’d like to mention just a few to entice you to visit.

Among the gogo bars, three are well worth visiting.

Formerly Topman cabaret, the newly renovated Cocktail Boys is at the corner of Sunee Plaza and says on its signboard, “Do you like Cock or Tail? We have both.” And indeed they do. The bar has an attractive outdoor terrace where one can sit and enjoy a drink.

Euroboys A gogo is a smaller and more intimate bar. There is no stage and the boys dance on a lit centre walkway. The music is loud, the action is fast paced, and there always seems to be a smile on the face of every visitor. Like Cocktail, it has an outdoor drinking terrace and supplies reasonably priced drinks both inside and out.

Krazy Dragon was one of the founding venues in the Soi. Originally Crazy Pub, it converted to be Pattaya’s first gay table top gogo bar over 4 years ago. Since that time it has gained a reputation of being one of the more erotic places to visit.

For host bars, I’d like to mention 6 out of more than 20 similar places. All have a particular style and all are different. You can not fail to find something here which appeals.

Located at one of the main intersections inside the Plaza, Corner Bar (there’s a clue in the name) has a prime position. The boys will take care of you while you sit and watch the people passing by. There’s always something to see in the Plaza, from cute lads going to or coming home from work, other tourists, maybe even an elephant! You don’t see that in Peckham do you?

Don Plaza Terrace Bar is on the adjacent corner and offers the same views. However in style it is very different. Set up in the continental street bar style, it has most of its tables and chairs actually out in the soi. You’re always a part of the action here. Loosely linked to the adjacent hotel, it’s a nice place to sit and soak up the atmosphere.

Duc’s Coffee Shop and Bar features a great range of drinks and coffees. They add interest by having a large range of books for you to browse and there is a book sale every day. They also have a range of International movies and their catalogue is extensive, and features many “Coming of Age” films.

A completely different style and theme can be found at Memories Music Bar. Here music is the key and they play a HUGE range of styles. From opera to pop and rock, there’s always something different to listen to here. Memories has a nice snack range of food and is open from 2pm to feed, water and entertain you.

Another different style can be found at Mike’s Bar La Cage. The guv’nor, Mike, has tried to give the bar a “local” feel and his large contingent of regulars will vouch for that. He has frequent parties with varying themes and a number of unique features. You can play darts here, or sit down and chill to his “Classical music Sunday evenings. He also has a 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 6pm to 9pm.

Finally in this section, you can not miss out on Oud’s Bar and Café. Oud is screamingly funny, and is just as likely to be on duty in his alter ego as his “sister”. His bar is friendly and seems to favour an American crowd. You have to try his food, it’s a good snack range and there’s lots of choice. Look out for the burgers! Not to be missed.

Restaurants

I’ve already mentioned Memories Music Bar and Oud’s café, both of which provide snacks. In addition there are two paces worth noting.

Balkan Express serves a great range of Croatian food. It is a unique dining experience in tropical Thailand. The food, mainly barbecue, is extremely tasty and all freshly cooked. They can make it as spicy as you like and you will not be disappointed with the range. Personally I’d opt for the kebabs every time. Their range of drinks is reasonably priced. 

Mike’s All New White Night has recently started serving a set menu. You can’t beat the four course option for value and flavour. When you add to this the all-day breakfasts, the afternoon teas, the snack menu and the “greasy spoon”, there’s something here for you from morning to night, and in any state of hunger.

Accommodation

The Plaza is spoiled for choice in on-site and very local places to stay. There are two hotels, one set of apartments and one guesthouse actually on site. However just round the corner is our pick of places - Twoguys Guesthouse. Here you can get very reasonably priced rooms, with 24 hour access. They also include a free breakfast in the price of the room. Guests are no problem here and there is night security to ensure a good trouble-free stay.

When you add to this list the local tourist attractions (which have been covered in another article, not forgetting the gay beach, the friendly atmosphere and the cheap prices, Sunee Plaza has to be a choice for every adventurous traveller wanting Asian company.

You can make contact with any of the establishments above by emailing info@suneeplaza.info and your message will be forwarded.

This review brought to you by www.SuneePlaza.info for all the latest news and reviews of what’s going on in Sunee.

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