Find eight great restaurants in Pattaya that are perfect for a sunny escape from Bangkok’s rain.

Pattaya has spent years being accused of being “too touristy”, which is really just another way of saying people enjoy being there. Beyond its beaches, Pattaya also has a thriving food scene, making it a destination that offers far more than first impressions suggest.

This edition of Koktail Kuisine rounds up eight great restaurants in Pattaya, giving a taste of what’s happening food-wise in the east. They offer a great excuse to ditch Bangkok’s rain and head for some sunshine with friends and family along the Gulf.

Castaway Restaurant Café & Pool Bar

A Mediterranean hideaway serving specialty pastries by a seasoned pastry chef, African coffee and creative cocktails shaken up by expert mixologists

If being a castaway means savouring Mediterranean feasts and warm poolside evenings, then this is the kind of place you’d happily get stranded in. Castaway Restaurant Café & Pool Bar at The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya nails the castaway fantasy: cocktails by the pool and Mediterranean comfort food done right, with pizzas and pastries to change things up.

The menu balances hearty flavours and freshness: smoky baba ganoush, grilled chicken and bean bowls, refreshing salads and grilled salmon all feature prominently. Among the highlights are the drinks and desserts: tropical cocktails, fruit smoothies, pastries and macarons are well worth a detour. What’s better than Mediterranean flavours in the sun?

The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 38 222 222. Open daily from 10.00am–10.00pm.

Elements Restaurant

On Khao Phra Tamnak, this open-air restaurant plays with the “elements” of sea and sky, shaped by Chef Faii’s expert cooking

Set high above the Gulf on Khao Phra Tamnak, Elements Restaurant makes a convincing argument that food tastes better when it knows it has a view. The al fresco setup ensures every dish arrives with a touch of sunlight. Chef Niphaporn “Faii” Phasom embraces these natural theatrics, serving food that feels pared back to its elements, so to speak.

Yum pak kut goong sod arrives with heat, where the pako (fiddlehead fern) and shrimp are sharpened by a tongue-prickling dressing. Khao haeng Ban Bueng leans into smoky flavour, carrying that intensity only a hot pan can deliver. Moo hong offers a softer contrast: braised pork belly rendered beautifully to bring out the inner sweetness that cuts through the spice.

InterContinental Pattaya Resort, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 38-259-836. Open daily from 12pm–10pm.

Goji Kitchen Grill and Bar

Chef Wittawat leads a menu built on ingredients sourced from nearby areas, ranging from ocean-fresh buffets to Thai homestyle lunches 

Goji Kitchen Grill & Bar inside Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa, Na Jomtien, thrives on diversity: international buffets featuring juicy seafood. Yet during weekday lunches, the restaurant turns its attention closer to home, showcasing Thai cuisine crafted by Chef Wittawat Plangplung using locally sourced ingredients, resulting in dishes packed with homely appeal.

Expect a progression of flavours that begins with crunchy som tam and citrusy pomelo salad before giving way to richer signatures such as wagyu beef noodle soup, southern yellow curry and stir-fried noodles with prawns. Flavours are calibrated with international palates in mind, making the menu an approachable gateway into classic Thai cuisine.

Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 33 168 542. Open daily from 6.30am–10.30pm.

Infiniti

Sweeping sunsets and sea breezes turn this Khao Phra Tamnak Italian-Mediterranean restaurant into a place built for lingering

At Infiniti, Italian and Mediterranean fare arrives with sweeping views from Khao Phra Tamnak, where sunsets seem designed to stretch dinner well into the evening. The al fresco dining area welcomes just enough light to keep everything golden, while the breeze does the rest, transforming seats into places meant for lingering rather than merely sitting.

It begins with Parma ham and melon, a simple start with cured sweetness. Then comes a Neapolitan classic, pizza diavola, executed perfectly. Chorizo is offset by a marinara sauce with caramelised shallots adding depth. The highlight is a seafood platter of rock lobster, tiger prawns, sea bass, squid and mussels, with a sweet sauce tying everything together.

InterContinental Pattaya Resort, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 38 259 842. Open daily from 11.00am–11.00pm.

La Familiare

An open-kitchen restaurant where Chef Piacentini showcases authentic Italian flavours with Milanese influence

La Familiare brings the familiar warmth of Italian cuisine to Pattaya, but familiare also points to the family-like vibe of the dining space, centred around an open kitchen. Under Chef Marcello Piacentini, the menu showcases his Milanese roots through expert cooking, with Manager Suttipong Aiamnu offering insight into ingredient sourcing and selection.

The menu spans homemade pastas, meats, grills, pizzas and more. Locally caught yellowfin bonito tuna is served as tartare with watermelon, truffle aioli, chives and charcoal bread croutons. Make sure to order pasta absorbed in vodka-tomato sauce, lifted by the heat of imported ‘nduja. Classic tiramisu rounds off the meal, rich and sweet in equal measure.

Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 33 168 542. Open daily from 5.30pm–10pm.

My Chef’s House

Chef Nielsen’s cosy restaurant serves generous international food, premium meats and wines in a setting that feels like a gathering at home

The name My Chef’s House refers directly to its chef-owner, Morten Nielsen, who prides himself on a “passion for food” shaped by experience in five-star hotels around the world. Despite its homely feel, the restaurant in East Pattaya is anything but simple; inside the cosy setting lies high-quality international cuisine, with a strong selection of meat and wine.

Size matters here and the portions do not disappoint. Caesar salad stacked with chicken breast, bacon, croutons and parmesan is filling enough to stand on its own, while half-rack ribs arrive juicy, tender and glazed in chipotle BBQ sauce that brings just the right amount of heat. All sauces are made fresh in-house – never stale and always flavourful.

Porn Prapa Nimit Soi 17, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 94 405 5963. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm–2.30pm and from 5pm–9pm.

THE TRAM Restaurant, Bar & Wine Cellar

A themed restaurant inspired by African gem-carrying trams, where Chef Ekarat serves international dishes with an African edge

The name of the restaurant, THE TRAM, ties closely to the mining theme of The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya, referencing the tram cars once used to carry gems and stones in Africa. Chef Ekarat Boonsri builds on that idea with an international menu shaped by prominent African flavours, something seldom seen in Thailand’s dining scene.

South African lamb kebab highlights the restaurant’s African influence, though the menu stretches far beyond that. Fresh seafood, steaks and lamb chops sit alongside Thai dishes such as crab omelette, chicken jungle curry served in a coconut shell and stir-fried squid in black ink sauce, all matched with striking décor and tempting drink specials.

The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 38 222 222. Open daily from 6.30am–11pm.

The Collective Pattaya

A sea-facing restaurant combining US-style smoked meats with Thai cuisine and pizzas, complemented by a cocktail bar overlooking the ocean

The Collective at Holiday Inn Pattaya offers a beachfront smokehouse concept, where meats are prepared using a smoker imported from the United States, alongside Thai dishes and pizzas. Its direct sea-facing location sets it apart from typical steakhouses, complemented by a cocktail bar with ocean views and regular happy hour deals.

Expect Australian beef brisket, BBQ ribs and other smokehouse staples, plus pizzas with a variety of toppings and pulled pork pizza roll in baked dough. Sandwiches, salads and Thai dishes round out the menu, including steamed sea bass and deep-fried fish. End the meat-heavy meal on a sweeter note with Guss Damn Good ice cream, with 10 flavours to choose from. 

Holiday Inn Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri. Tel: +66 38 725 555. Open daily from 12pm–midnight.