Pattaya’s critics often claim the city, once known as “Sin City,” is in decline. Gentrification—where upscale buildings replace bars and clubs—and a shift in demographics, with families increasingly choosing it as a holiday destination, have reportedly transformed the city. The once-thriving community of Western expats, particularly retirees, has shrunk, with many returning home or succumbing to health issues. “It’s not like it used to be,” laments a British retiree, sipping beer with friends while watching traffic crawl along Soi Buakhao.
However, this pessimistic outlook doesn’t capture the full story. According to Dave the Rave’s insider webpage, the new Shark go-go club is set to open soon on Walking Street, occupying much of Soi Diamond. The club spans three stories, covering three shophouses in length and five in depth, with a downstairs area of 230 square meters. Over 100 young women will ensure guests—who are as likely to be South Korean or Singaporean as they are American or European—feel comfortable without being pressured to buy more drinks while enjoying the entertainment.
Pattaya’s Gentlemen’s Clubs, a consortium of local bars and clubs, is also continuing to expand. They offer members a place to relax in style with perks like discounted drinks, menu selections, and weekly pub crawls announced via email newsletters. A 28-room adult-themed resort with a club is set to open in Jomtien by January next year, replacing the current ISOL residential block. Located just 700 meters from Jomtien Beach, the new resort will feature rooms with small kitchens, an onsite restaurant, coin-operated laundry facilities, and a large swimming pool.
Pattaya’s gay scene, by contrast, remains smaller in scale. The main hubs are still Jomtien Complex Super Town and Boyztown in the city center. These areas are known for their glamorous, professional cabaret shows, though the audiences tend to be mostly older Westerners. The whereabouts of younger gay Russians, Chinese, and Indians is a mystery to local bar owners. However, in a significant development, a gay bar—Secrets in Soi 14—has opened in the traditionally heterosexual Walking Street, a first for the area in many years.
Photo Dave the Rave
