Shocker (not): Pattaya Walking Street was dead on Monday

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Bars are busy on the weekends. (Photo by Bob James)

Even during good times, Monday nights are slow on Walking Street. So it shouldn’t have been any surprise that, amid the current economic crisis, the South Pattaya nightlife strip was dead on Feb. 8.



Thai media made a big to-do over the fact Walking Street was empty this Monday, news that surprised basically no one.

In fact, only six go-go bars were open on the main strip and three on adjoining Soi 15. Despite Monday’s desolation, those six bars did good trade Friday and Saturday – a result of constrained go-go bar supply and an influx of bar-starved punters from Bangkok where alcohol still cannot be bought in a pub.

Without tourists, many of the Walking Street bars close during the week. (Photo by Bob James)

Bars like Pin-Up, Palace and Fahrenheit were packed to the rafters by 9 p.m. both nights and even did relatively good business on Sunday night.

Outside, there was no vibe, of course, with most of the neon lights out, the music bars silent and large holes in the street where work is underway to bury overhead power and communications lines.

Some have even closed up for good, leaving the building owners looking for new tenants.
Construction outside the front door doesn’t help much, but the area will be free of overhead wires next year. (Photo by Bob James)

In spite of everything else, at least the sign looks good. (Photo by Bob James)




The local beer bars are empty.

There are no customers to rent motorcycles.




Construction is scheduled to take about a year. (Photo by Bob James)

Weekends are bright and full of customers, weekdays are dead. (Photo by Bob James)