Kinnaree keeps cracking the Pattaya fats

[Pattaya One]

It’s Soi 6 in an oversized lounge room. Kinnaree Place (in a lane between Pratamnak Soi 4 and 5) garnered a reputation for a ‘touch of class’ for a dine-and-dash establishment from the time it first opened some years ago. A recent visit confirmed that despite ownership changes and the arrival of some nearby competition, Kinnaree is arguably still at the top of the Sierra Tango ‘class’ heap.

Walk right in, no need to knock.

The décor remains fresh and clean and stylish. Try putting those three adjectives in a sentence describing a typical Soi 6 venue. Naturally, the clientele is made up largely of retired expats, semi-retired expats, local businessmen who appear to have got lost between lunch and returning to the office, and regulars who spend some time of each year in Pattaya and elsewhere. No names, but one Englishman I chatted with lives in Vientiane but runs a business which brings him to Fun Town often.

Kinnaree offers thirst quenchers at sensible prices. For example, lolly water is just 50 baht, a standard lady drink 100 baht and a top-shelf liver waster only 110 baht.

The atmosphere is friendly, both among the girls and the many customers. There are plenty of women, of all ages and styles. While they are all professionals, the joint doesn’t have the ‘attitude’ you see among many go-go’s and especially within coyote dens.

I recognised a couple who used to ply their trade out of the Soi 6 bars, while others seem to be warming up for a night on Walking Street, perhaps hoping to get a few loads away so they have the cash to party for the night. If you can’t find someone to your taste here then you’re a hard marker.

©Duncan Stearn

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