soi buakow!!!

[torrenova 644]

It was originally know as the "cheap charlie soi" and with good reason. Everything was cheaper and the people who stayed there would rather have cheap prices and shit quality than good quality at realistic prices. That has changed somewhat.

 

Prices are still cheaper but Walking Street is the "West End" of Pattaya. Budget accommodation is available but to save a couple of hundred baht a day would not make it worthwhile as getting back needs a private hire bus or a bike (coming down is easy on the regular route).

 

Would I stay there ? No, I don't think I would. However I would perhaps go and look at the bars around LK Metro etc. and see if there was a reason to go drinking there. If there was, then maybe I would consider staying there.

 

I know one thing though. Unless they own the freehold, no-one makes any money selling beer at Bt35-45.

[upena 2]

Don't go to Soi Buakhow. It is a complete waste of time. All they have are bars and girls

[davethailand 91]

BTW Dave! Stop by the Climax Rock Bar if you're out and about the end of April and I'd be glad to buy you a drink! 

I don't go in there alot i'm afraid, My business partner goes there most nights though.

[Gabor 296]

Don't go to Soi Buakhow. It is a complete waste of time. All they have are bars and girls

And a hungarian restaurant

[Guest Fatboyfat]

Don't go to Soi Buakhow. It is a complete waste of time. All they have are bars and girls

And the stupid barowners don't even try to overcharge for their bottles of beer !!!!

[cookie 1]

Soi Baukaow in 2003 was nothing, in 2004 it was a building site with the new Leng kee development between Soi Honey and Soi diana, in 2005 it started to come alive, 2006 is now seeing many of the smaller and less palatial places go with new hotels, bars, restaurants opening on a daily basis. As its populairty increases so will the overall quality of the establishments - landlords will want higher rents (doubled in past 2 years) and the cheaper places will not be able to pay them.

 

As the bar and go-go emphasis switches away from Beach Road to more inland Soi Baukoaw is set to be THE main street for Pattaya nightlife.

 

Worth a visit now and then keep comming back to see how it is evolving. You will find some good bars and hotels and there are now two or three go-go's in Soi Leng Kee Metro.

[Sa-teef 44]

Two that I am aware of. And have visited both.

 

Champagne Ago-go:

 

 

 

And Memories:

 

 

For the first timer or someone who prefers ago-go's, there is nowhere quite like Walking Street. But speaking for myself I get a little burned-out after a few nights of the flash and glitz, so one of the smaller, quieter (and CHEAPER...) bars in the Soi Buakow area is the order of the day.

 

I stayed at Jasmine Mansion in April which is less than two years old. I'll be staying in the same area at a VERY NICE PLACE of approximately the same vintage for what will work out to be about 600 baht per day. I did a fair amount of shopping in April and found some very clean and decent places at less than half that price (on a monthly basis). I'll post pics of the place in July when I get back and let you be the judge if it was a good value or not. But you might be hard pressed to find anything comparable for the price inside the loop.

 

A case can be made that there might be more and better ladies to be found in the Walking Street or Soi 7/8 area, but if you're happy with what you go home with at night, who's to say you didn't make a good choice?

 

I'll keep my eyes open and walk safely on Soi Buakow. I was amazed the few times I walked along Beach Rd this April. I forgot how UNPLEASANT it can be with all the beggers, hawkers, tailors and katoeys! During the day (and some evenings) I enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere between 2nd Rd and 3rd Rd personally. But it's always up to you.

 

 

~Sa-teef

[Soi7 1]

Soi Baukaow in 2003 was nothing, in 2004 it was a building site with the new Leng kee development between Soi Honey and Soi diana, in 2005 it started to come alive, 2006 is now seeing many of the smaller and less palatial places go with new hotels, bars, restaurants opening on a daily basis. As its populairty increases so will the overall quality of the establishments - landlords will want higher rents (doubled in past 2 years) and the cheaper places will not be able to pay them.

 

As the bar and go-go emphasis switches away from Beach Road to more inland Soi Baukoaw is set to be THE main street for Pattaya nightlife.

 

Worth a visit now and then keep comming back to see how it is evolving. You will find some good bars and hotels and there are now two or three go-go's in Soi Leng Kee Metro.

Some one posted this elsewhere while it is a nice little area it will never be the main street for Pattaya entertainment just is not going to happen.

[torrenova 644]

So what is going to happen when rents go up, leases need negotiating, prices go up and the cheapness has gone ? No more cheap beer, no more cheap hotels, etc.

[Mont 0]

I used to think that I would never want to live in the soi Boukhao area. I considered it a sleezy part of town, full of Cheap Charlies and crime ridden.

 

I have since changed my mind. I like the neighborhood feeling of the area and the more laid back attitude of the locals. There are many places to go and have a drink or two without having to pay the inflated prices that are asked in the tourist orientated parts of town. I would much rather have a cheap 45bt beer and a warm welcome in the neighborhood bars than pay 85 or 90bt in some cold clip joint on walking st.

[phantomtiger 0]

Most consider this area "sleazy" only because they dont have all the fancy lighting and more upscale shops like on the busier roads.

For now its still more where locals will go rather than the tourist and in a way, this is how I prefer it.

 

PT

[dotcom_OD 0]

With Sa-teef and Mont giving the thumbs up on Soi Buakhao area, don't you think that the veterans should show us newbies a bar crawl through the beauties of Eastern side of Pattaya???

 

 

I will definitely do a bar crawl in that area to check out the sights and sounds hopefully Sa-teef and Mont/Ellobo are available to give me a tour~!!!

[blueeyes 0]

Soi Buakow is my home away from home. I am a devotee of the markets, restaurants, and various bars in the area. It's also home to the bulk of working girls. This photo is facing South towards the Buakow Market. I enjoy sitting on the small metal tables alongside the Thais trying some of the multitude of foods available at the market.

 

My only gripe is that it's a narrow soi with traffic in both directions. When slower moving vehicles such as baht buses hog the lane, most (all?) drivers of ALL vehicles will attempt to overtake the slower vehicles which can have some painful results.

[thechairman18 174]

As the bar and go-go emphasis switches away from Beach Road to more inland Soi Baukoaw is set to be THE main street for Pattaya nightlife.

I have just returned from Pattaya, and rented a Condo off Soi Buakhao, and what you say is very true.

EXCEPT ,

What little pavement was put down, has got tables and chairs, food carts, cars, and motor bikes on it.

If car drivers need to go in a shop, 7/11 or the Chemist, well just park outside, cause a traffic jam, who gives a shit.

The cut through off Soi Buakhao to Soi Diana (past Lolita's, Memories, and Thai Archer) could be a place to rival Walking St, except its been taken over and used as a parking lot, with cars for hire parked up, motor bikes for hire, and of course food carts.

What a missed opportunity, still TIT.

Regards

thechairman18

Edited May 20, 2006 by thechairman18

[mbiggs 1]

I am starting to like the area myself, there are a few bars there that I will go to on my visit, one is Barlyn owned by a middle aged couple from Yorkshire in England. Great little bar, they do a great food and are excellent hosts.

 

Another one not far is Lloydies bar, great atmostphere and some good girls as well.

 

I usually only make about one or two visits up there in a week but I will try to make more when I am back this time.

[stevoman 2]

So what is going to happen when rents go up, leases need negotiating, prices go up and the cheapness has gone ? No more cheap beer, no more cheap hotels, etc.

Having just returned from another 4 week stay in this area,I have nothing but praise for the variety of quality well priced food,beer,shorts,accomodation and cheap b-f's plus max 1000 morning tip.Never had any of the Walking Street GoGo bar girls BULLSHIT about must go home after one pop and a stay of 2 hours if your lucky.this after paying highly inflated prices for these so called "Stunners" that suddenly turn into cold "Starfish" at the business end!

Rents going up,beer prices going up? My how do you know this my friend have you suddenly developed physic powers to see the future,in any event for now IMO this is the go ahead area,good hotels springing up at bargain prices especially on a 4 week stay basis,something almost unheard off in your so called "Posh" W/S hotels,finally you would be surprised at the amount of fellow board members that I met who were both staying eating and drinking all over this area.By no stretch of the imagination would you refer to these guys as "Cheap Charlies",my guesthouse incidently was 50 metres down the rd from Sa-Teef's and was exeptional value for 11000 BAHT per month ALL-UP!I say each to his own and again IMO you can stuff W/S and Beach Rd in general where the sun don't shine.

[ranger 0]

stevoman, thanks for the contact details for the C&B.

 

I will staying there for 3 weeks from june 18th.

 

Any tips/advice or opinions would be appreciated

not just for the C&B but the soi LK metro in general.

 

Thanks.

[cookie 1]

Soi Baukaow is changing every day - the cheap charlie places are closing down and this past week has seen Nicon Court (a well known place for long stay residents at around B5000 per month) issue a 'please leave' notice to all of its guests as it is being refurbished and made into a "proper" hotel.

 

Rents are undoubtedly increasing and significantly so - just ask the bar owners and shop-keepers who are at the end of their leases and in discussions with landlords!!

[marklatham 0]

Deadman......sa-teef gave a good report its a very lively spot and central to everything,and if you like fellow poms ,,well there everywhere,if you want a quiet beer or what ever there are heaps of bars,and lots of resturants.the place is alive.

paul

You definitely cheap charlie and butterfwy duay...

[stevoman 2]

Soi Baukaow is changing every day - the cheap charlie places are closing down and this past week has seen Nicon Court (a well known place for long stay residents at around B5000 per month) issue a 'please leave' notice to all of its guests as it is being refurbished and made into a "proper" hotel.

 

Rents are undoubtedly increasing and significantly so - just ask the bar owners and shop-keepers who are at the end of their leases and in discussions with landlords!!

Nicon Court is really closer to 3rd I think and really is a dump,IMO this by NO means reflects the true picture of Soi Buckaou,more and more guesthouses,bars and eating places are in FACT opening weekly and not CLOSING as you said,however if you are in fact in position over there at the moment then I would really appreciate some further information about these so called iminent/constant closures,so that I can modify my Oct plans as by your posted facts there might indeed be a shortage of decent accomodation,and what there is might be priced out of the market for many of us.!!