Central Festival Pattaya Beach

The lower floors are the usual mix of international fashion, sportswear, cosmetics and phone shops, with a supermarket for self-caterers. The upper floors are where most visitors spend time: a large food court with cheap Thai dishes, a ring of chain restaurants from Japanese to Thai seafood, and on the top level the SF cinema, which shows Hollywood releases in English with Thai subtitles, and SF Strike Bowl, the only bowling alley in central Pattaya. The Hilton occupies the tower above the mall; its lobby on the 16th floor and the rooftop bar have the signature view over the whole bay and are open to non-guests.

Central Festival is the natural meeting point on Beach Road and the best place to wait out an afternoon storm. Toilets are clean and free, ATMs and currency exchange are inside, and the promenade entrance puts you straight onto the beach for the sunset. Prices in the food court are close to street prices; the restaurants charge mall prices. The mall is busiest in the early evening and on weekends when Bangkok visitors are in town.

Walking Street and Bali Hai Pier are about 20 minutes south along the beach, the Pattaya Beach loungers are directly in front, and Terminal 21 with its themed floors is 10 minutes north by baht bus. If you want a mall with more Thai character, the night markets on Thepprasit Road and in Jomtien are the alternative after dark.