5 Best Buffet in Pattaya Picks: Seafood, Hotel, Grill

Featured image: PattayaPatrol, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What to look for in a Pattaya buffet

Set a price ceiling before you book. A hotel buffet quoted at THB 1,290 net covers food only, so drinks come on top. Compare six things: seafood replenishment, total price per head including drinks, children's pricing, dietary options, booking lead time and distance from your hotel. Evening traffic between Pattaya and Jomtien slows rides, so a buffet that starts at 6:00 PM needs an early departure. Prices and hours checked November 2026.

Best buffets in Pattaya at a glance

Only one buffet here has a published price and schedule: Symphony of Elements, THB 1,290 net, Saturdays from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Other rows say "check current price" until the venue publishes a figure.

5 Best Buffet in Pattaya Picks by Type

Each pick below names the format, one thing worth eating or doing, and who should skip it. Only InterContinental details are named, because its resort publishes them.

1. Symphony of Elements Saturday buffet (hotel-premium)

Symphony of Elements is a Saturday dinner buffet at Elements Restaurant, inside InterContinental Pattaya Resort at 437 Phra Tamnak Road. Service runs 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and follows four themes: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Water means seafood on ice with imported oysters, sushi and sashimi, plus an Italian-style seafood cioppino.

Fire brings Australian prime rib, Thai-style marinated pork neck, lamb ribs, a pasta station and a live crepes Suzette show. Air adds French patisserie such as macarons and mille feuille. Skip it if you want a weeknight, or if you expect drinks to be included, since the listed prices cover food only.

2. Moo-Kra-Ta on the beach (Thai barbecue)

InterContinental Pattaya Resort also lists a premium Moo-Kra-Ta on the beach. This is Thai barbecue with marinated meats, crisp vegetables and signature sauces, timed for sunset views. Pick it if you prefer grilling at your own table over carving stations.

The resort's Kids Eat Free offer lets children under 12 eat free with every paying adult, for in-house and walk-in guests. No price or days are listed for the barbecue, so call 038-259-888 before choosing a night. Skip it if you want a fixed menu with a published per-person price.

3. Budget seafood buffets (value pick)

All-you-can-eat seafood buffets are the usual answer to a tight budget, and shrimp, crab and mussels are the commonly advertised headline items. No venue or price is confirmed here, so ask each restaurant what the headline price includes. Ask whether seafood is unlimited or a premium upgrade, and whether drinks, tax and service are extra.

Arrive near opening for the best choice on the trays. For à la carte alternatives, read our seafood restaurant guide. Skip these if you want a named, reviewed kitchen, or if you avoid shellfish.

4. Japanese and grill buffets (groups)

Japanese and BBQ buffets put sushi, sashimi and cook-it-yourself meat on one fixed price. They suit groups who want to share a table grill and order in rounds. No specific restaurant is named here, because none has a published price and schedule to cite.

Compare the time limit per seating, the rate for children, and what counts as a premium cut. Tighter budgets can look at cheap eats in Pattaya for single-dish meals. Skip this format if anyone in your group avoids raw fish or pork.

5. Sunday Beach Market at InterContinental (casual alternative)

InterContinental Pattaya Resort lists a Beach Market on Sunday evenings, with Thai and international flavours and live music by the Siam Live Music Band. It is described as a market, not as an all-you-can-eat buffet, so treat it as a relaxed grazing option. It fits the evening after Symphony of Elements, when you want a seaside dinner without a set menu.

Prices and opening hours are not listed on the resort page, so call 038-259-888 first. Skip it if you want unlimited seafood or a per-person fixed price.

Best for families, groups and special diets

Children aged 7 to 12 pay THB 645 net at Symphony of Elements, against a listed regular rate of THB 975 net. Children under 6 eat free. Vegetarian and halal diners should ask each venue about separate stations before booking. Vegetarians can compare menus in our vegan restaurant guide. Diners who want halal-friendly cooking can read our Indian restaurant guide.

Where to eat by area and how to get there

InterContinental sits at 437 Phra Tamnak Road, on the hill between Pattaya and Jomtien. For other areas, browse Jomtien Restaurants: Where to Eat by Budget & Style or Walking Street dining. Use a ride-hailing app or a hotel shuttle for evening trips. Allow extra time before a 6:00 PM start, because traffic builds at dusk. Pattaya City's official site is the place for local notices.

Costs and booking tips

Symphony of Elements lists THB 1,290 net per person as a promo price, against THB 1,950 net regular. IHG One Rewards members pay THB 1,115 net. "Net" means the quoted price is final, while "++" means service charge and tax are added. Drinks are excluded either way. Book by phone on 038-259-888 or by LINE at @interconpattaya, especially for Saturday. Promo rates can end, so confirm the price when you reserve.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not assume "unlimited" means no time limit or no premium items. Do not compare a THB 1,290 hotel buffet with a budget seafood spread without counting drinks and tax. Do not arrive late on a Saturday, since service closes at 10:00 PM. If a buffet feels like too much commitment, rooftop restaurants offer a view with à la carte ordering. Prefer à la carte Thai instead? Try our Thai restaurant picks.