While you might be tempted to think that Pattaya leans exclusively to action-packed getaways, the reality is far from that. Over the past six-to-seven years, the city has found its stride as not only an exciting getaway spot but also a place filled with trendy cafes, relaxing beachside restaurants, amazing spas, and enough new restaurants to give Bangkok a run for its money. 

In other words, it’s a great place to rejuvenate if you know where to go. Here are some of BK’s suggestions for a reenergizing escape. 

Spas

Photo: eforea spa offers everything from massages and facials to body scrubs and hair appointments / source

A good old pampering session is a must after traveling, even if you are only staying for the weekend. Pattaya’s spa game has improved a lot in recent years, but one of the best has actually been around for a while: eforea spa. This can be as much of a head-to-toe experience as you want it, with a menu that covers massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures, and even a hair salon. Book a sea-view room to get the most out of the experience here. A dark horse in the spa race is Thai Blind Massage Institute in the Jomtien Complex building. As the name suggests, the therapists here are people with vision impairment that qualify as legally blind. There are a few of these around Thailand, but the one in Pattaya is known across the country for its highly skilled staff and very traditional Thai aesthetic. This is a Thai massage specialist venue, however, meaning there are no body scrubs or other international treatments. Ask them to take it easy on you if it's your first Thai massage experience. 

Dinner and Drinks

Photo: Happy hour at Horizon runs from 4-7pm each day / Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar Facebook

Two of the best ways to enjoy a slow dinner or drinks with a sunset view is to hit up a beach or a rooftop. Head to Oxygen Pattaya for the former. Perched on the rocks of a seaside alcove, the breezy alfresco restaurant and bar remains one of the most popular destinations for evening dinner and drinks, with some of the best fresh-caught seafood in the area and great ocean views. If a rooftop experience is more soothing, check out Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar. The building is smack dab in the center of the main beach and offers some of the best views of the coast you’ll find in the city. Pull for happy hour from 4-7pm and knock back a cocktail or dig into surf and turf while the sun goes down. Make sure to get a photo close to the centerpiece rooftop cutout that lets you peer into the night sky. 

Accommodation

Photo: Hilton Pattaya is the highest hotel in the city and boasts ocean views from every F&B outlet and room / Hilton Hotels

Proximity to the beach is going to be the name of the game here—bonus if you get a view. Hilton Pattaya hits both those points and more. It’s the highest hotel in the entire city, sitting on top of the Central Pattaya shopping center, and offers ocean views from every restaurant, bar, pool, and room in the hotel. 

Go for a soak in the infinity pool and peer out onto the beach from the edge while you float around and catch some rays. Sip on rum concoctions at Drift in the evenings, which features lounge beds suspended above the water for some extra seclusion and ambience. This is also the hotel with Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, arguably the city’s best date night spot with a view. All of the rooms and suites here face the ocean, and given the resort’s elevation you’ll be hard pressed to find a better view anywhere else in town. The location is nigh impossible to beat, too—walking distance from the beach, walking street, the night bazaar and the row of cafes and beach bars that line the main road. 

Keep your next trip to Pattaya as hassle-free as possible by booking a stay at the Hilton Pattaya here. 

Cafes

Photo: Sunset Coffee Roasters blends specialty coffee with beachfront views / Sunset Coffee Roasters

The city has gotten serious about its beans in recent years. Benjamit Coffee Roasters remains one of the OGs of the scene and one of the city’s most well-respected roasters. You can still catch the owner whipping up drinks daily behind his rare 90th anniversary La Marzocco Leva espresso machine—one of only 90 ever produced. Just a few minutes walk from Central Pattaya is Sunset Coffee Roasters, which blends specialty coffee with beachfront views. It’s also a great spot for people watching if you can snag one of the limited canvas chairs out front. Sheeva Pattaya is the go-to place for counter-culture bohemian types that want to sip single origin coffee surrounded by vinyl records, old bean bags, and rock and roll stickers. 

Around Town

Photo: The largest botanical garden in Southeast Asia with vast mazes and dinosaur sculptures  / Nong Nooch Garden

Venturing out of the city center is a great choice that is often missed by folks on a short stay—don’t be one of those. The Sanctuary of Truth is a must-stop on your way out of the city or around town. It’s actually an unfinished museum that’s been under construction since 1981 and likely, if the owner is to be believed, not to be finished until next year. Its Ayutthaya-style architecture is a sight to behold for the IG reel, even from the outside. The Bann Sukhawadee mansion, also just a few minutes away from the main drag, is a monument that feels ripped from the pages of a Wes Anderson film and well worth a visit. For a bit more sunlight and fresh greens, hit up Nong Nooch Garden, the largest botanical garden in Southeast Asia, to wander its vast mazes and lifesize sculptures of dinosaurs. 
 

Whether you are looking to lounge, slow-walk around, or both, Pattaya is surprisingly well equipped for a relaxing getaway that shuns the more action-packed sides of the city. From trendy cafes to fun, family-fit nature outings, the city has developed a lot over the years. This is definitely a place where you can reenergize during a weekend escape. 

Get the most out of your stay with amazing ocean views, relaxing spas, and premium rooftop dining all in one location by booking a stay at Hilton Pattaya for your next visit.