Anyone can stick up a shack on the sand, stock it with beers and call it a beach bar.
But what makes a great beach bar?
It could be the sand-in-your-toes factor or the washing and hissing of the waves nearby or the sunsets or the people you meet.
The truth is there’s no formula, no magic ingredients that guarantee a place in a list of the best beach bars.
Boasting a bounty of beachside bars, Pattaya and Jomtien is a great place to grab a drink looking towards the ocean, especially at sunset. With dozens of bars and restaurants lining the ocean, you really are spoilt for choice.
+ 81 712 0698
Guests of Bamboo Beach love coming here for its laidback vibes — the establishment is a warm and cosy option for those with families or anyone near the Wongamat area looking for a chill night out.
Just kick back on a deck-chair, order some Thai food, a pint of beer or two, and watch the golden rays as the sun descends beyond the horizon.
DRIFTERS BEACH CAFE AND APARTMENTS
+ 87 743 2319
This small seaside cafe right on the water’s edge is Pattaya/Na Jomtien’s worst kept secret. If you’re dreaming of long, lost afternoons Drifters is for you!
The mood at Drifters is unpretentious with an emphasis that lies on a rustic, easygoing aesthetic that blends with the surrounding environment, be sure to try their wood fired pizzas and frozen margheritas.
+90 909 9207
A ruined factory transformed into a forest by the beach equipped with a coffee-station, fully stocked bar that serves anything from milkshakes, beer, whisky to elaborate cocktails and Soju Specials.
The food menu at DAM is vast and varied, there is a beach-zone with a camp vibe, an open air-zone with décor inspired from ancient timber rice mills and a fully air-conned indoor-zone.
+ 97 245 7050
Friendly and casual, this beach café can be found at Botany Beach Resort Pattaya.
Contemporary feel in the décor and music with an indoor restaurant and outdoor seating, as well as a boho-inspired beach bar. Good Old Sea serves both international and Thai cuisine.
Good Old Sea is perfect for after-work sundowners, somewhere you can just unwind, it’s located in a secluded beachfront area for guests to enjoy a little bit of privacy and serenity.
This cool spot is popular with young Thai’s, skate surfers and those who like to chill by the ocean breeze.
