Below is a description of most of the bar types you will come across in Pattaya. Some bars cross the boundary between the various styles.

Beer Bar: or open-air bar. They usually consist of stools arranged around a tight horseshoe bar and perhaps a few tables. You can pay bar for ladies at beer bars. They are often grouped with other bars in a beer bar complex.

Short-Time (ST) Bar: this is usually a closed, air-conditioned establishment. The ladies in ST bars generally give you much more personal attention than those in a beer bar. They have rooms attached to the premises or close by. As the name suggests, these places concentrate on providing ladies that go short time. It is possible to take a lady long-time, but it will cost you more than a beer bar, and the ladies are only sometimes keen to go long-time. Soi 6 has many short-time bars.

Blowjob Bar: blowjob bars are similar to ST bars except that they specialise in blowjobs. In some bars, you can enjoy conversation with your mates while the girl does her work.

AGoGo (or Go-Go bar): a closed and air-conditioned bar. These establishments have ladies that dance for your viewing pleasure. You may pay the bar for any of the dancing ladies who are willing to go with you. Many go-go bars also have showgirls. These ladies perform special shows, which may be sexually explicit or choreographed dancing. These ladies may also be bar fined, but most establishments will cost more than the dancing girls. There is also a third option in these establishments. The service personnel (i.e., the ladies serving you drinks) may also go with you if they like you. To confuse things a little more, some go-go bars also have hostesses. Bar fines and drink prices are higher in these establishments than in beer bars.

Hostess Bar: Hostess bars are closed, air-conditioned bars and occupy the middle ground between beer bars and go-go bars. They are somewhat classier than beer bars but lack the dancing ladies of the go-go bars on regular nights. There are ladies you can pay bar for if you find one you like. Bar fines and drinks are between those of beer bars and go-go bars.

Gentlemen’s Club: This is more or less another name for a hostess bar. They provide the same service.

Coyote Bar: this type of bar is similar to a hostess bar except that it employs coyote dancers. These ladies dance fully clothed, although the clothes tend to be skimpy. As with the hostess bars, only some ladies will go with customers.

Pub: If you think of a British pub, that is more or less what you will find in Pattaya. These places do not have ladies that you can pay bar for. Some of these types of businesses have live music. However, you can try your luck with the service personnel just like anywhere in the world. You probably stand a higher chance than in your home country.

Disco: These are more or less like what you will find at home, with one rather significant exception. You are almost guaranteed to ‘pick up’ a lady at these places. Freelancers swarm to these establishments. Many are sponsored ladies, students, or ‘normal’ ladies looking for some fun and/or extra money. In Pattaya, discos have no entrance fee, but the drinks are comparatively expensive.

Soapy: While not strictly a bar, they are a popular alternative for having some fun. These places are massage parlours where ‘extras’ are part of the deal. Typically you will pick a lady from one sitting in an area behind a glass screen (commonly known as the goldfish bowl) and head to a private room. The lady will wash you and then give you a massage with lots of soap and bubbles. It is something that everyone should experience at least once. If you are still up for it, proceed to the bed for more fun.

Massage Parlour: again, while not a bar, these establishments may offer sexual pleasures. After your massage, you will be blatantly or subtly advised that extra services are available. Not every massage parlour offers extras.