I cannot even start to think how many restaurants there are in Pattaya. At least several hundred. The TripAdvisor traveler has reviews of 585, and there’s more!
For the Pattaya Mail’s Dining Out team, we review around 50 each year, trying as far as possible to review new venues, but still keeping abreast of the developments in the well established restaurants as well.
So here are some of the new, outstanding restaurants we tried this year (2014):
Curry and Chips – a ‘chippy’ that has produced excellent meals. Difficult to beat this place, Pratamnak Road (between Soi 6 and Tara Court), open seven days from 12 noon until 11 p.m., telephone 038 251 791, on street parking. And yes it has WiFi.
Mantra’s Japan Peking Duck.
C47 Cafe, a quirky place behind Big C South Pattaya with décor relating the C47s and WW2, Duck Square, 225/123-124 Soi 1 Pattaya Tai (come in at the Big C entrance), telephone 038 411 314, plenty of on street parking. Open seven days from 7.30 a.m. until around 8 p.m.
Steak and Co., new venue in Soi Leng Kee with inexpensive imported steaks and a passionate Scottish chef. 312/53-54 Moo 9 Soi Leng Kee, telephone 038 425 001, mobile (chef Gerry) 098 738 7453), hours 12 noon until 11 p.m., seven days, on-street parking.
PumPui Bar and Grill, an amazing, very French restaurant way down Soi Siam Country Club, just before the traffic lights 4 km from Sukhumvit. 222/9-10 Moo 7 Soi Siam Country Club, open 7 days, 12 noon until 11 p.m., tel 098 369 5060, parking outside the restaurant.
With the well-established restaurants, and always worth the effort in going there, we dined at four venues during the year. In no particular order:
Magg’s Restaurant, very inexpensive for the standard of food and décor. 315/60 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, telephone 038 251 164, 081 153 4733, open six days (closed Mondays) from 5.30 p.m., but open for traditional roast lunch Sundays 1 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. Plenty of on-street parking.
Café des Amis. A wonderful experience and definitely not just a café. 391/6 Soi 11, Thappraya Road, Jomtien, telephones 038 364 327, 084 026 4989, facebook.com/cafedesamispattaya; email [email protected]; open six days 5 p.m. until late (closed Sundays). Plenty of parking outside.
Mata Hari Restaurant and Bar. One of Pattaya’s ‘gold standard’ restaurants. 482/57 Thappraya Road (ground floor Nirvana Place), telephone 038 259 799, fax 038 259 798, email louis@ mataharirestaurant.com, www.mataharirestaurant.com. Open six days (closed Mondays), Bar from 4 p.m. and restaurant from 6 p.m., secure on-street parking. Book!
In the ‘ethnic’ restaurant group, Ali Baba Indian Restaurant has stood the test of time (and the taste of time as well). 1/13-14 Central Pattaya Road (on the left hand side, about 100 meters to the beach), telephone 038 361 620, home deliveries 038 423 227, email nainigroveralibaba @gmail.com, on street parking, open seven days 11 a.m. until midnight.
There are several top class restaurants under the aegis of some of our hotels. We dined at:
Horizon Restaurant, spectacular views from the 34th floor Hilton Pattaya, above the Central Festival center, Beach Road. Open seven days for dinner 6.00 p.m. until 11.30 p.m. Dress code smart. Valet parking available. Booking recommended 038 825 3000.
Acqua Italian Restaurant, in the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. Under Chef Alberto and memorable dining. Open daily, 6.30 p.m. until 10.30 p.m., telephone 038 301 234, www.centara hotelsresorts.com, secure parking in the resort car parks.
Mantra Restaurant and Bar, always a delight. Sunday Brunch probably the best in Pattaya. Beach Road (down from the Dolphin Circle), telephone 038 429 591, fax 038 428 165, [email protected]. Open seven days, Bar from 5 p.m., restaurant from 6 p.m. but 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for Sunday Brunch. Secure parking within the Mantra car park.
Ruffino for excellent dinners, with hostess Amy making sure everything is correct. Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya, 352/430 Moo 12 (down Soi 5 Pratamnak to the bottom and then turn right and you are there), Telephone 038 306 337, secure parking under the hotel.
Royal Grill Room and Wine Cellar. Difficult to fault this venue in any way. The Royal Cliff Hotels Group, 353 Pratamnak Road, Pattaya, tel 038 250 421, fax 038 250 511, www.royalcliff.com, secure parking in the hotel grounds.
There are many others, but these were the ones we reviewed this year.
