Lisa on the beach

Come for the bands. That's the whole point of this place, a beachfront open-air bar on South Pattaya Road where the house acts work through 80s and 90s rock and metal every night until 3am, and do it with real skill rather than the tired covers you get elsewhere on this coast. Drinks are cheap, the crowd is a mix of tourists and Pattaya regulars, and plenty of fans keep the space bearable on a sticky night.

It's a sit-down-and-stay sort of bar rather than somewhere you pass through. There's billiards, snacks, and hostesses and bar staff who get named in reviews by first name, which tells you something about how often people come back. Fair warning: the service can tip into attentive-bordering-on-pushy if you'd rather be left alone with your beer. Dogs are welcome, which is unusual enough to mention.

I'd get there earlier in the evening if you want a seat with a clear view of the stage, particularly between November and February when Pattaya fills up.