ur first, and only previous end-to-end survey of Soi Bua Khao was in September 2006 <link>, almost eleven years ago.   Even at that early date we were impressed with the scope, the potential and the quality of the Night Entertainment Venues within, especially the contiguous area of L.K. Metro.   

      So, two years ago in April of 2015 we set out to resurvey and publish an update - however, we had not set aside enough time in Pattaya for the task at hand.   Due to the vast increases in Nitespots, we ended up resurveying just L.K. Metro <link> on its own.   This time around, we set aside an extra two days for the whole Bua Khao magilla - mapmaking, photography and getting the lay of the land from the denizens.

L.K. Metro went from 21 bars in 2006
to its current 37 bars - and of those original bars,
only 4 remain today...

      In the intervening ten-plus years, Soi Bua Khao has gone from huge to gigantic.   Some comparative figures will give an idea of the increases (not counting side-sois, but counting L.K.Metro):   In 2006 Soi Bua Khao had sixty (60) Night Entertainment Venues, today it has just on 170 - that's not a typo.   An increase of over 280%.   L.K. Metro went from 21 bars in 2006 to its current 37 bars (and it looks like another one will be opening soon).   - And here's the kicker, of those 21 original L.K. Metro bars, only 4 remain today - Champagne, the Drunken Duck, Murphy's Law and Fcuk.   (That might give you an insight as to whether or not bars are a good long-term investment.)

Why wouldn't holiday-makers come directly to Soi Bua Khao for the duration of their holidays?
The answer; they do....

      In previous write-ups of Pattaya's Nightlife, we noted that nothing on planet Earth compares with the sheer volume of Night Entertainment available to the Pattaya tourist.   As gigantic as Soi Bua Khao is on its own, we have yet to mention the side-sois running from Bua Khao to Pattaya 2 and Pattaya 3 roads (some of which appear on the map).   Virtually all of these sois have multiple bar-beer clusters (covered areas with as many as 12 to 16 separate bar beers under one roof), and as-yet uncounted numbers of massage parlors of various ambiguities.   These Night Entertainment Areas are certainly beyond the scope of this report - and a full accounting of these Venues would be nearly impossible without someone surveying full-time.

      Of course, Soi Bua Khao is not just about Night Entertainment Venues.   There are restaurants, the usual shopping outlets, banking outlets, a hospital, taxi services, beauty and barber shops, hotels, guest houses, travel agents... you get the picture.   It therefore begs the question, why wouldn't a number of holiday-makers come directly to Soi Bua Khao, and settle in for the duration of their holidays?   The answer; they do - in ever-increasing numbers.   These tourists (and not just budget-tourists) find they rarely venture out to other areas such as Walking Street or Soi 6 or the other connecting sois (Soi Post Office, etc...)   We spoke to an L.K. Metro bar manager who lives on a connecting soi to Soi Bua Khao, and walks to work every day - rarely breaking the routine to go to one of the major supermarkets in the area.   Soi Bua Khao has become a satellite destination as did Jom Tien beach many years ago.

      This giant, Soi Bua Khao, is just over one mile in length, and there is something going on somewhere 24/7 - which is part of the attraction.   So, if you are looking for yet another 'Pattaya reality', or just an exploratory night out on the town checking out the A Go-Go bars in and around L.K. Metro, you won't find Soi Bua Khao wanting.

 

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Graffiti #960
Spy Vs Spies
16 ft high x 22 ft

Graffiti #961
Wet Tag
8 ft high x 15 ft

Graffiti #962
Freeky-Dreamer
14 ft high x 19 ft

Graffiti #963
Skyline Crown
6 ft high x 9 ft

Graffiti #964
Bad Diamond
8 ft high x 8 ft

Graffiti #965
Committee Men
8 ft high x 17 ft

Graffiti #966
The Stickler
8 ft high x 21 ft