Why is Wongamat so Popular and What Does it Have to Offer?

Wongamat is located slightly to the north of Pattaya and would best be described as the area to the west (sea side) of Naklua Road between Dolphin Roundabout and Soi 12. The main beach runs from the bottom of Soi 18 to the front of the Park Beach Condo, mid-way along Soi 16. There are a few smaller coves; two to the north, one called Bamboo Beach in front of The Palm Condo, and one about 200 metres further. To the south of the main beach, there is a small tree-lined cove in front of The Cove condo.

Condos

Wongamat is one of the most exclusive areas in Pattaya and home to some to top condos including the prestigious The Cove, The Palm and Northpoint, to name just three. It is a slightly quieter area in terms of bars so appeals to the numerous expats who are living in the area. In addition to the high-end condos, there are several in the mid-range category including Sky Beach, Nova Mirage, The Sanctuary and Wongamat Tower.

Hotels

Naklua Soi 16 and Soi 18 have an abundance of upmarket hotels with the most prestigious in the area being Centara Grand Mirage. In a similar area, is the Long Beach Hotel and The Pullman with Cape Dara slightly to the north. Again, there is an eclectic mix of medium-range and budget hotels in the area to suit any budget. The area is particularly popular with Russian and Chinese tourists although there are many western Europeans.

Restaurants

Although Wongamat doesn’t have quite the same number of restaurants as other areas of the city, there is still an excellent choice. The Glasshouse, which is a beachfront location in the grounds of The Zire condo and the Ronin Japanese Restaurant, are two of the standout options. On Soi 18, there is the excellent Da Lino Restaurant, a typical Italian restaurant with plenty of character and on the beachfront at the bottom of Soi 18 is the Rim Talay Restaurant, a quality seafood restaurant.

Shops

The leading shops in the area are the Terminal 21 shopping complex which is situated at Dolphin Roundabout with the junction of North Pattaya Road. It is home to exclusive brand name shops as well as an extensive range of boutiques, department stores and electrical shops, not to mention restaurants. There are other shops in the area, but most tend to be quite small and aimed more at the tourist market except for the 7-Eleven’s and Family Mart.

Transport

There are plenty of transport options in the area, including baht buses and motorbike taxis, not to mention regular taxis and Grab Taxi. Motorbike taxis and baht buses are relative cheap although unfortunately many taxi drivers (cars) in the area choose to charge extortionate prices so you should get a price before you travel. There are several places in the area when you can hire a motorbike for the day, week or month, which can give you more freedom and flexibility.