Discos and Dance Clubs
Pattaya Walking Street is the bustling epicenter of nightlife and entertainment in Pattaya, Thailand. Stretching approximately one kilometer, this vibrant street transforms into a lively party hub each evening, lined with a dazzling array of bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. The area is renowned for its energetic atmosphere, with neon lights, loud music, and a constant flow of visitors from around the world. Walking Street offers an eclectic mix of entertainment options, including go-go bars, live music venues, and nightclubs, each providing a unique experience. It's a place where you can enjoy everything from thrilling performances and international DJs to street food and lively social scenes, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking an unforgettable nightlife experience.
Pattaya Walking Street has evolved significantly since its early days in the 1960s. Originally, Pattaya was a small fishing village, and Walking Street was just a quiet, unpaved road along the waterfront. The area began to change in the late 1960s and early 1970s when Pattaya started to gain popularity as a beach resort destination, primarily catering to military personnel and expatriates.
By the 1980s, Walking Street began to develop into a lively entertainment district, as more tourists and international visitors started to flock to Pattaya. The street's transformation into a vibrant nightlife hub accelerated during this period, with the establishment of bars, nightclubs, and go-go bars catering to the growing demand for entertainment.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw Walking Street’s prominence rise, with significant investments in infrastructure and the opening of high-profile nightclubs and entertainment venues. The street became famous for its neon lights, bustling atmosphere, and diverse range of nightlife options. The development continued with the introduction of international restaurants, upscale bars, and themed entertainment, making Walking Street a key destination for tourists.
In recent years, Walking Street has faced challenges, including changing tourism trends and economic fluctuations. However, it remains a vibrant and essential part of Pattaya’s nightlife scene, continually evolving to cater to the preferences of both new and returning visitors. Today, Walking Street is a bustling, colorful epicenter of nightlife, showcasing the city’s dynamic and ever-changing character.
Disco Vs Agogo Clubs
In Pattaya, Thailand, discos and go-go clubs are both popular nightlife venues, but they offer different experiences and cater to varying preferences:
Disco
Music and Dancing: Discos primarily focus on music and dancing, with large dance floors and DJs playing a mix of genres, such as electronic dance music (EDM), hip-hop, and pop hits. The emphasis is on creating an energetic environment where patrons can dance and enjoy the music.
Atmosphere: Discos tend to have a lively, club-like atmosphere with high-quality sound and lighting systems. They often feature light shows, laser effects, and sometimes live performances by musicians or DJs.
Crowd: The crowd at discos is usually diverse, with both locals and tourists looking for a night of dancing and socializing. Discos are typically more about enjoying the music and dance rather than personal interactions with performers. Layout: Discos are generally larger venues with bars, seating areas, and spacious dance floors to accommodate many guests.
Atmosphere: Discos tend to have a lively, club-like atmosphere with high-quality sound and lighting systems. They often feature light shows, laser effects, and sometimes live performances by musicians or DJs.
Crowd: The crowd at discos is usually diverse, with both locals and tourists looking for a night of dancing and socializing. Discos are typically more about enjoying the music and dance rather than personal interactions with performers. Layout: Discos are generally larger venues with bars, seating areas, and spacious dance floors to accommodate many guests.
Go-Go Club
Entertainment: Go-go clubs focus on performances by dancers, often referred to as go-go dancers, who entertain patrons from elevated stages or podiums. The emphasis is on visual entertainment and interaction with the performers.
Atmosphere: Go-go clubs have a more intimate and interactive atmosphere. The music is usually upbeat but secondary to the performances of the dancers.
Crowd: The clientele at go-go clubs often includes tourists and expats interested in the unique entertainment format. Patrons may have the opportunity to interact with the dancers or buy drinks for them.
Layout: Go-go clubs are generally smaller and more intimate, with seating arranged around the performance area to allow for better views of the dancers. They often have multiple stages and a bar.
Atmosphere: Go-go clubs have a more intimate and interactive atmosphere. The music is usually upbeat but secondary to the performances of the dancers.
Crowd: The clientele at go-go clubs often includes tourists and expats interested in the unique entertainment format. Patrons may have the opportunity to interact with the dancers or buy drinks for them.
Layout: Go-go clubs are generally smaller and more intimate, with seating arranged around the performance area to allow for better views of the dancers. They often have multiple stages and a bar.
Key Differences
- Focus: Discos focus on music and dancing, while go-go clubs focus on entertainment by dancers.
- Atmosphere: Discos have a more club-like atmosphere, whereas go-go clubs have a more intimate and interactive setting.
- Activities: Discos are centered around dancing and music appreciation, while go-go clubs emphasize watching performances and socializing with performers.
- Ladies: Ladies working in a disco are usually a mixture of girls looking for a night out or freelancers. There are regualr girls in the club looking for a good time, but best to ask first before you take them home. Ladies in a gogo club work for the establishment and the gogo has a price for taking the lady out of the club. This is know as barfines. Depending on the lady and time of day, you will also have to pay the lady for her services, but we will get into that later
Both venues offer distinct experiences, and the choice between them depends on individual preferences for nightlife activities.
Lately we have heard that some of the Gogo clubs are catering to asian tourist mainly from Korea and Japan. If you are a westerner in one of these places and you are not getting the attention of a lady, just get up and move on to another place. Or try buying them a drink and even taking a shower can help!!!
$$$Walking Street Prices$$$
Whether you have FU money or are ballin' on a budget, there’s fun to be had for everyone.
Drinks: Beers range from 95 baht during happy hour and can go up to 160 baht. Mixed drinks range similarly. Lady drinks start at 150 baht and can climb as high as 250 baht.
Just a heads-up: if you enter a go-go club and sit at the stage or anywhere else in the club, it's expected that you'll buy a drink. If you’re there for the free show, you’ll be politely shown the door. These aren't the places for Cheap Charlies! If you expect the company of a lady, she'll likely ask you to buy her a lady drink. If you don't, you'll quickly learn the meaning of "no money, no honey."
Bar Fines: This can be a bit tricky. It’s best to ask when you arrive. If you come early, expect to pay higher bar fines. This isn't the case everywhere, but don't be surprised if you're asked for a higher bar fine at 9:00 PM than at midnight. Bar fines can range from 500 to 1200 baht.
Lady Prices: Let’s start by knowing the difference between long time and short time. Long time means staying the night, more like a girlfriend experience. Short time is when you drop your load, usually within an hour. If you’re not done by then, you might be paying more. Timers aren't set, but if you have stage fright or drank too much whiskey, that's a "you" problem. Prices on Walking Street range from 2000 to 3000 baht for short time, and 3500 to 8000 baht for long time. Now, 8000 baht is quite high for Pattaya; you’ll mostly find prices around 5000 to 6000 baht for long time. Prices might go up for kinky stuff—like if you request to put her in a dog collar and have her drink from a bowl. Or if you ask her to peg you... In fact, don’t ask a lady to peg you; just go get a ladyboy!