Best Pre Party Restaurants in Pattaya Before the Nightlife

The area around Bali Hai Pier, at the quiet end of Walking Street, is the real move for dinner before the street gets loud — arriving between 5–8pm gets you a calmer meal and an easier walk in once the crowds build.

Lobster Pot — the anchor seafood restaurant

On Soi 14 off Walking Street, built out on a jetty over the water. Operating since 1986 (reopened under new management in November 2019). Known for its seafood platter — fish, mussels, crab, prawns, cockles, calamari — and, less expectedly, an Irish coffee. Outdoor seating puts you over the water with the waves audible underneath. It's pricier than competitors according to reviews, but the jetty setting is the actual draw, not just the food.

The Bali Hai Pier seafood cluster

Several seafood restaurants near the pier display live catch — prawns, crabs, fish — on ice, where you pick what you want and how it's cooked. This end of Walking Street is quieter than the main strip and, per multiple local guides, often better value than the location would suggest.

Street food, if you want to keep moving

Carts along Walking Street serve moo ping (grilled pork skewers), chicken satay, pad thai, fried rice, spring rolls, and mango sticky rice — cheap, fast, and better suited to grazing your way toward the bars than a sit-down meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time should I eat before heading into Walking Street's nightlife?

5–8pm is the window most guides converge on — early enough that restaurants aren't slammed, late enough that you transition straight into the evening.

Is Lobster Pot worth the reportedly higher prices?

Reviews are mixed on value, but consistent on the setting — dining on a jetty over the sea is the actual selling point, not just the seafood itself.

Is the Bali Hai end of Walking Street actually quieter?

Yes — it's described consistently across sources as the calmer end of the street, useful if you want dinner before the crowd builds toward the main strip.

Photo: Bali Hai, Pattaya Beach — Khaosaming via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Sources

• Lobster Pot (restaurant) — Wikipedia
• Lobster Pot — Tripadvisor

More Pattaya travel guides

• How Many Days Should a Pattaya Detox Retreat Last
• Surviving the Waves: Proven Tactics to Dodge Jet Ski Scams
• Monkey Encounter Safety: Avoid Aggression & Attacks
• Is Getting a Tattoo in Pattaya Safe Best Studios to Visit
• Is it Safe to Walk the Beach at Pattaya at Night
• Is Visiting Tiger Park Pattaya Dangerous

Cover photo: Plage au nord de Pattaya.JPG by Jipe29910 · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons